Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

https://www.averiecooks.com/soft-and-chewy-pumpkin-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Beyond fabulous, my favorite. There is a non-oatmeal version as well that is wonderful.

Brown Sugar Granola

1/2 cup oil
1 cup brown sugar
3 T butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract

5 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups raw almonds


Mix oil and brown sugar in heavy saucepan. Heat at #6 (just above medium) until brown sugar starts to flow within the oil and bubble. (it will not dissolve). Separately microwave the butter, and mix in the cinnamon and vanilla.

Pour butter mixture over oats/almonds in very large bowl, mixing it well thoughout with rubber spatula. Then pour oil/sugar into bowl and stir quickly, taking care of the heat. Distribute into oats as well as possible.

Prepare two half sheet pans with parchment paper (both need to have paper. Do not use silicone for one as they will cook unevenly.)  Spread half the granola mixture onto each pan.

Put into oven, one on each side on different shelves. Bake at 325 for no more than 25 minutes. Stir granola every ten minutes, and rotate pans from upper to lower shelf. Do not let it burn. Let fully cool before transferring to storage.

Note: At 28 minutes one pan was getting quite dark so was too long.

Based on this recipe https://www.kitchentreaty.com/how-to-make-granola/. Using all brown sugar is much cheaper than honey or maple syrup. It might be easier to use white sugar and molasses, might experiment with that another time.

Notes: 6/7/2020 I tried half honey half brown sugar. I also realized that the black cookie sheet cooks the granola faster than the light cookie sheet. So I baked the granola in the black cookie sheet 20 minutes and the light cookie sheet was 30 minutes.

Cafe Rio Pork, instant pot method

3 lb pork roast
1/4 cup worcestershire
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 Tb dried minced onions
salt/pepper

Cut up roast into 4-5 chunks. Salt and pepper meat.  Add sugar and Worcestershire sauce and all other ingredients and toss, let marinade for a couple hours in instant pot, while off.

When ready to cook, add half cup water to pot and 4 oz tomato paste. Cook on high pressure for 1 hour, then let natural pressure release for 20 minutes.Then shred with forks.

Serve with trader joes cilantro dressing over salad, with beans, rice, sour cream, guacamole, crunchy corn chips topping, flour tortillas, etc. Rice and beans recipe to potentially use is here http://www.melandboyskitchen.com/2009/02/16/shredded-sweet-pork-salad-2/

This was sweet enough but not too sweet. Store in cooking liquid and use fork to pull out pork as needed.

Acorn squash with brown sugar and butter

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/classic_baked_acorn_squash/
Acorn squash with brown sugar and butter

Mrs. Field's Cookies

2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
2 cups butter
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

mix well

2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour

mix well

Mix all together

Then add 5 cups quick oats
20 oz choc chips

Bake 400 for 6 minutes, will be soft.

1/2 inch at most deep in sheet pan.

Jello Shamrock Cookies

Original:
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 pkg 3 oz lime jello (mom revised to 6 oz jello)
1 cup shortening (mom revised to 1/2 cup)
3 eggs
1-2 tbsp milk

Add shortening to dry, then eggs, then roll out and cut into shapes. bake 350F for 8 minutes

Notes: better with lime extract added

3/13/2021: I made the original recipe using lard instead of shortening and 1 tbsp milk. I added a tsp of lime extract which boosted the lime flavor quite a bit and was very nice.

3/17/2024: By weight, three cups flour is not enough (i.e. 360 grams). Do cups by volume next time, or use 154 grams per cup rather than 120 grams.

Onion Dip with Veggie Sticks

This is a really nice dip for veggies. From the 100 Days of Real Food cookbook

16 ounce container sour cream
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1.5 tsp onion powder
1.25 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp salt

Mix and store in sour cream container.

For a serving option, divide the dip between 8 small serving cups and put carrots, cucumber, and celery sticks in the cups.

NOTE: This is great when you use 8 oz sour cream with 4 oz miracle whip (approximately). The kids liked the stronger seasonings and it made a better consistency.

Black Eyed Peas + Creole Okra side dish

https://www.simplyhappyfoodie.com/instant-pot-black-eyed-peas/

This was delicious, made it for new years with corn bread. Definitely add to rotation.

and a creole okra side dish:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/77400/creole-okra/
Tasted pretty well for okra that had been frozen over a year. Would make again if had okra that needed to be used. was maybe a 3.

Mung Bean curry soup

Based on this with alterations in parenthesis:
https://www.heynutritionlady.com/mung-bean-and-coconut-curry/

4 Tbsp sunflower oil
1 Tbsp whole cumin seeds
9 cloves garlic crushed (about 3 Tbsp crushed garlic)
14 oz can crushed tomatoes (i used stewed)
2 Tbsp freshly grated ginger (i used frozen cubes from trader joes)
2 Tbsp ground coriander (omitted, did not have)
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper (1/8 tsp only)
4 cups water (only did 3 cups)
1 cup mung beans picked over for stones and well rinsed (I used less water because I used split yellow mung beans.)
14 oz can coconut milk
1-2 medium limes juiced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped (omit, did not have)

This turned out to be a very delicious soup. I served it with flatbread and it is really great. I used the instant pot to saute and did ~30 minutes on low after the beans went in. The beans still had some bite which was nice.

Tomato and Cream soup

garden fresh roma tomatoes, about a dozen (peels removed, frozen fine)
1 quart chicken broth
1 minced onion
2 tsp "justice" from penzeys
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup cream
salt

boil tomatoes in broth. Puree in blender on low so there are still a few little chunks. Add spices and bay leaf, boil for 15 minutes. remove bay leaves, add cream. Then add salt to taste (a couple tsps at least?)

Serve with jalopeno cheese bread or cheese toast or breadsticks.

Banana Cake

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/banana-cake/

Banana cake

This was good. I topped it with sweetened whipped cream with a ~3 tablespoons of peanut butter in it. Was a nice combo.

Baked meatballs

https://www.yummyhealthyeasy.com/best-ever-easy-baked-meatballs/
meatballs

These were quick and easy. I used 85/15 ground beef and it made it SOOO good and helped fry the onions in the oven. Definitely would do this again. I also baked it for 20-25 minutes at 400.

Instant Pot Lentils

https://www.rainbowplantlife.com/blog/how-to-cook-lentils-in-the-instant-pot

6 minutes
twice water for lentils

with onion and salt.

Pear Balsamic pizza

https://www.inspiredtaste.net/18331/easy-pear-pizza-recipe-with-balsamic-and-walnuts/
Pear balsamic pizza

This is my favorite pizza, but it's not popular with my 2 and 5 year old. I don't add the brown sugar and i used a vidalia onion. You can do 1-2 pears depending on what needs to be used. I used pecans too.

2023 note: My former 5 year old has been converted to this pizza. My former 2 year old remains skeptical. I used balsamic glaze and regular yellow onion. Entry in mfp.

Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers with Spaghetti Squash

https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/keto-sheet-pan-sausage-peppers-whole-30/
Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers with Spaghetti Squash

So good!