Oatmeal Cookies

I read Anna's Cookie Madness blog every day. No doubt, if a blog is titled Cookie Madness, then surely the cookies will be great. This recipe for oatmeal cookies was posted the other day and I had the ingredients on hand so gave them a try. They are very good. I had hired someone this weekend to do some projects around the house and gave him some for his hard work. Following is the recipe as I made them.

OATMEAL COOKIES

3/4 cup shortening

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 large egg

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup chopped pecans (toasted)

Beat the first 6 ingredients (shortening through vanilla) together in a mixing bowl. Combine flour, salt, cinnamon, soda, and oats. Add pecans. Stir dry ingredients into creamed mixture. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or grease cookie sheets. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls spacing 2 inches apart and bake at 350 degrees 15 minutes. I used a cookie scoop and got 3-1/2 dozen cookies.

A Great Giveaway

I'm not big on entering blog giveaways, but this is one I would love to win. Diana (Freestyle Mama) over at Custom Blog Designs is giving away a blog makeover in honor of her one year blog anniversary. I can attest to her designs as she made my little signature. The best part is that when you purchase a blog design a portion of it goes to a very good cause, the Starfish Foster Home. So, in addition to getting a great blog design, you get to help out a deserving charity.

Valentine's Day and a Bake Sale

I love hearts and so it would only go that I love Valentine's Day. The Heritage Society of my little community had its annual bake sale held on Valentine's Day, so a good reason to make something that fits the occasion. I love a reason to use this particular bundt pan so I looked for a good pound cake recipe. This recipe makes a huge amount of batter. It calls for a 12 cup pan, I think this pan is about 10 cups maybe. I made this cake and also a small loaf pan with the batter. This rises quite a bit, so next time I would fill the bundt pan about 2/3 full and use a large loaf pan to use all the batter. It is a good cake. I just made a simple glaze of milk and powdered sugar and vanilla to pour. It would be fine without that too. There were some beautiful cakes and goodies at the bake sale.


CREAM CHEESE PECAN POUND CAKE
3 sticks butter, softened
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
3 cups granulated sugar
6 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans (toasted)

Cream 3 sticks butter with cream cheese until blended well. Add 3 cups of sugar and continue to cream mixture. Add 6 eggs, one at a time. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Blend together 3 cups flour with 2 teaspoons baking powder and a pinch of salt. Add pecans. Pour batter into prepared pan that has been greased well. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour 20 minutes. Check at 1 hour. Cool completely. Glaze if desired.

Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk -- enough to make a nice consistency
1/2 teaspoon vanilla


I also made these 'Truly Different Cupcakes'. I don't know why they are called that, as they are basically just a brownie cupcake. I don't know who thought they were truly different, but I've always seen them called that.


TRULY DIFFERENT CUPCAKES
2 sticks butter, blended together
4 squares baking chocolate
4 large eggs
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 cup chopped pecans (toasted)
Melt together butter and chocolate. Stir in sugar, flour, and vanilla. Add eggs and stir. Do not mix with a mixer. Pour into cupcake papers 2/3 full and bake for 25 minutes at 325 degrees. makes about 18 cupcakes.