the last few months...if you want a recipe let me know. but here are some pics

the first is hootenanny, you've all had that.
next is some blueberry pancakes. the blueberries were good and juicy, the pancakes weren't very sweet, they were very bland and needed lots of syrup.
then there's some shepherd's pie. it's the best shepherd's pie i've ever had. serious.
this is a copy of the apple pancake from the original pancake house. it was kind of close...but some parts were almost "omelette-ey." It's similar to hootenanny but with some added ingredients like cinnamon and apples.

Double Chocolate Dream Cookies

I made these cookies and put them in the mail to Danny for his birthday. Ethan and Laura also ate some of them, and I ate a couple, too. Yum. I forgot to take a photo again. Maybe next time.

2 1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. baking cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 c. (2 sticks) butter
1 c. brown sugar (packed)
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 c. (1 pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat over to 375 degrees. Beat butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually add dry ingredients. Add chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool a little before using spatula to remove cookies from baking sheet.

Baked Blackberry French Toast

OK . . . so I didn't really make this yet . . . but I ate it at school made by our new principal, Linda Ventura, who made it so that we would all stay for Parent-Teacher Conferences that night. It's yummy, and I think Janette would particularly like it since she likes to cook new things for breakfast. Maybe we can have this for one of our Christmas breakfasts when everyone is here. Any volunteers to make it?

Baked Blackberry (or Raspberry) French Toast

2 T. corn syrup
1 cube butter (no marg)
1 c. brown sugar

Mix syrup, butter and sugar in sauce pan and bring to gentle boil. Spray 9 x 13 glass baking dish with Pam. Pour in mixture.

Place 6 slices of a white bread (sourdough is good) over syrup. You may have to “squish” them to fit. Spread 1 c. of whole (fresh or frozen) blackberries or raspberries evenly over bread. Top berries with 6 more slices of bread.

6 beaten eggs
1 ½ c. milk
1 t. vanilla
¼ t. salt

Mix eggs, milk, vanilla, salt then pour over bread. Cover and chill overnight.

Bake, uncovered, @ 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Garnish with extra berries.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I went to Chili's the other day and love their broccoli cheddar soup. I tried to make something kind of similar. I think I will do things a little different next time- but it is still good!

2 cans Cream of Potato Soup (next time cream of broccoli or something similar)
1 cup of Skim Milk
1/2 small brick of Velveeta cheese cubed ( I think next time 6 oz of grated cheddar)
2 Medium stalks of Broccoli steamed (I cut off the stems because I think they're yucky)
Grated cheese to put on top
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the cream of whatever soup in a pan with milk and let simmer 10 minutes. Add cheese and let simmer until melted. Add steamed broccoli and salt and pepper to taste. Put in bowls and top with extra cheese- serve in bread bowls or with rolls.

thai chicken green curry

I forgot to take a picture of this recipe, so you may have to use your imagination.
recipe:
1 lb chicken, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons green curry paste
2 green onions with tops, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon ginger
2 cups coconut milk
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup cilantro leaves, for garnish
Toss chicken in 1 tablespoon soy sauce, then in the flour, coating pieces evenly. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place the chicken in the skillet, cook and stir chicken until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken.
Reduce heat to medium and stir in the curry paste. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in green onions, garlic, and ginger. cook an additional 2 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet, stirring to coat with the curry mixture. Stir the coconuut milk, fish sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and sugar into the chicken-curry mixture. Allow to simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes until the chicken is tender. Serve garnished with cilantro leaves.

I thought this recipe was pretty good, not overpowering with the curry but still had a little bit of a kick to it. next time i make it i'll try to remember to take a picture.

Chocolate Covered Spiders

These are really good and no-bake. I took them to a party, and they were a hit.

1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. butterscotch or peanut butter chips
1 3-oz. can chow mein noodles
1 c. salted Spanish or cocktail peanuts
1 c. mini-marshmallows

Melt chips in microwave.
Stir in noodles, peanuts and marshmallows.
Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet.
Refrigerate til hard.
Take to party.

ever heard of chocolate chip cookies, anyone?

yeah, yeah, all I did was add 1/2 cup softened butter and an egg. Gotta start somewhere!