Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal raisin cookies are my hubs' favorite. He wanted to bake some this afternoon so I found us this great recipe that makes perfect, chewy oatmeal raisin cookies. Now, the hubs is technically the one who made them, but I found the recipe. I scooped and dropped. I supervised the chilling and bake times. Really he only mixed a few ingredients- and, not to discredit him too much, but the KitchenAid did most of the mixing labor. Anyway, they were super delicious. This recipe yields just the perfect amount- enough that our little family can enjoy them but not so many as I have to worry about excessive amounts hanging around the kitchen and threatening my hips with extra cushioning and width.

S'mores Bars

Mm, Mm! We had some friends with small kiddies over for a casual dinner on Sunday and I made these delicious s'mores bars for our dessert. They have been my go-to treat whenever I haven't had the time to get something else together. They are delicious with chopped peanuts on top with the toasted mallows and chocolate chips or with just peanut butter chips like I used in the picture above. Sweetness!

I am definitely in a baking mood. I just ordered myself a french pastry cookbook and some new crinkle cookie cutters. I had to hurry and just do it before I talked myself out of it, seeing as how my baking repertoire is pretty plain-jane basic. French pastries are a bit ambitious, right? Well, I guess I am feeling gutsy and, for the moment, committed. I hope that I don't lose this drive before the dark brown truck backs into my driveway in 3-5 business days and Mr UPS guy hand-delivers them to my door. Meanwhile, I am tearing pages out of my favorite magazines with fun Valentine's Day ideas to adorn my nightstand and occupy my thoughts while I wait for sleep to find me at night.

Sweet Dreams!

100% Whole Wheat Goodness

So, as a first posting to this new blog, I think it is fitting for me to introduce at least a couple of my newer interests in one fabulous loaf! 100% Whole Wheat Bread!

Some of my new year's resolutions are to a) help myself and my family to a healthier eating lifestyle, b) contribute to my family's finances by saving money that would have been spent, which to me is the same as making money and c) to pick up and develop at least one new hobby during 2010.

This loaf fulfills the 3 resolutions above. Well, at least it is a vessel to carry me towards fulfillment. I am trying to use more whole grain goodness and ease my husband and little girls into the acquired taste for health. They eat this up. By baking the bread at home I am making money because I would be spending it on bread and more than it costs me to make it. And finally, I am learning the art of baking- at least a bit of it.

I got the recipe off the bag of King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour, but you can also get it here. The only thing I did differently was to add about 1 Tbs of wheat gluten.

It is tasty!