Cookies!

I made another cookie for Christmas that I thought I'd share, but first I am going to make a couple of corrections to the No-Bake Recipe from the previous post.  One, don't add the vanilla.  Two, use 2/3 cup of peanut butter. 

And now for the new cookie!  This comes from The Pampered Chef and I will tell you what I use from them with this recipe because I do love some of their products!

Chocolate Cluster Cookies (name is misleading)

1 Tube of sugar cookie dough (I used Pillsbury since I like them the most)
1/3 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of M&M's
1/2 cup of chocolate chips (Nestle is the best in my book!)
1/2 cup of instant oats

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  I highly suggest getting your hands dirty and doing it by hand because it is a lot of work to do with a spoon.  For the peanut butter, I use the Measure-All Cup since the peanut butter literally slides out of this with no problems.  After it is all mixed, use a cookie scoop, I recommend the Small Cookie Scoop from PC, and drop onto cookie sheets about an inch apart.  It makes about 45 dollar coin sized cookies and they are delicious!  I will suggest eating these warm and they will warm up in the microwave in about 25 seconds.  Enjoy!

Christmas Cooking!

Today, I've been busy making some goodies for Christmas, and of course I'm sharing them!

No-Bake Cookies

What you Need:

1/2 cup of butter (or 1 stick, however you look at it)

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup of milk

3 tbsp. of unsweetened cocoa

3 tbsp. of creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. of vanilla

3 cups of instant oats

Put the first 5 ingredients in a pot over medium heat while stirring until it comes to a boil.  When it comes to a boil, let it boil for 1.5 minutes, then take if off of the heat and stir in the vanilla and oats.  When oats are evenly distributed, spoon onto waxed cookie sheet and allow to cool.  This makes about 2.5 dozen cookies.

I have to say, not sure what to call this next one, so I'll call it:

Chocolate Christmas Pretzels

Here's what you need:

1 bag small pretzels (I used Pretzel Snaps, they look like squares)

Hershey's Kisses and/or Hugs

M&M's (I used the Christmas colors)

Set oven to 275 degrees.  

Place pretzels on waxed cookie sheet.  

Place Kisses and/or Hugs on top of pretzels.  

When oven is preheated, place cookie sheet in for 2-3 minutes(if you're using Hugs, only put in for 2 minutes).  After you take them out, place M&M's on top and let cool.

The first time, this is how they turned out, so I would suggest using 2 cookies sheets and just leaving them on the sheet until they are cooled down.

I made 100 of these, but from my calculations about how many are in a bag, you could make up to 153 and they are very easy to make and don't take any time.

I hope you enjoyed my recipes.

Food!

So, after much thought I've decided that I want to do a cooking blog. Here's what I made for dinner last night!

Slow Cooker Italian Smothered Steak

This is a very easy dinner to make.  It consists of 4 ingredients (6 if you include the salt and pepper) and is all done in a slow cooker.  

First, you need stew meat, 26 oz of spaghetti sauce (I used twice as much, although I only really needed about 1.5 cans of sauce), an onion, and cheese-filled tortellini.

  

In the slow cooker, add the onion, chopped however you like (I did quarters), the stew meat, seasoned with salt and pepper, and the spaghetti sauce.  Put it on low for 8-9 hours.

After the 8-9 hours, add the tortellini and cook for another 20 minutes.  I did this part on the keep warm setting, and it turned out perfect.  When it's all done, serve with bread or a salad.