Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I LOVE Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. . . This recipe is classic, from the canister of oats themselves. . . just one important note. Use regular oats, not quick ones. Enjoy! (photo: faithostanhall.com)

Ingredients:

1 cub butter (softened)

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

3 cups old fashioned oats (uncooked)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together margarine and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla, beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, and cinnamon, mix well. Stir in oats and raisins, mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool about a minute then remove to a wire rack. Makes about 4 dozen. Cheers! Brett

Spiced Pork with Pineapple Salsa

Halfway through this I thought it was a flop- but then it all came together. (photo: faithostanhall.com)

Ingredients:

1 cup pineapple, chopped

8 half dried apricot halves, chopped

2 Tbsp red onion, finely chopped

1 tsp jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped

1/4 tsp lime zest

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped

1/4 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp ground allspice

1/4 tsp ground red pepper

16 oz lean boneless pork chop, trimmed (4 pieces)

1 spray(s) cooking spray

Combine first seven ingredients in a bowl; cover and chill 30 minutes.

While salsa chills, combine salt and next three ingredients. Sprinkle both sides of pork with salt mixture; let stand 10 minutes.

Prepare grill.

Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray; cover and grill 6 to 7 minutes on each side or until pork is no longer pink. Serve with salsa.

What do you think? Cheers! Brett

Southwestern Chicken-Bean Salad

This is one of my favorites. It is amazingly fresh-tasting and the combination of flavors is excellent. (photo: faithostanhall.com)

Ingredients:

2 medium scallions, chopped

1/2 medium sweet red pepper, chopped

1/2 medium bell pepper, chopped

15 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained

2 pieces corn on the cob, kernels removed

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

1 Tbsp corn oil

8 oz chicken breast, cooked, skinless, chopped

2 Tbsp reduced-sodium taco seasoning, about 1/2 a 1.25 oz packet

4 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped

4 Tbsp fat-free sour cream

Combine scallions, peppers, beans and corn in a large bowl; toss until well mixed.

Add lime juice and oil to bean mixture; toss to coat. Add chicken, taco seasoning and cilantro; toss. Top with sour cream and serve. Yields about 1 1/2 cups salad plus 1 tablespoon sour cream per serving

Give it a shot and let me know what you think! Cheers! Brett

A Quick Note

I just wanted to write a quick, recipe-free, post. Primarily, I want to thank all of the readers for making this a great first month. I really enjoy the comments and discussion that it has generated- plus it is a lot of fun! On a smaller note, I updated the description a little bit, to better reflect my liking for healthy dinners, but also to acknowledge my sweet tooth.

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

Blueberries were on sale, so I thought I would take advantage of that fact and make up some blueberry muffins. They came out well, but a bit dense. (I think I used too much whole-grain flour, next time I will do less.) (photo: faithostanhall.com)

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons melted butter

2 cups flour (I used 1 regular, 1 whole wheat- try 1 1/2 regular and 1/2 whole wheat)

1/2 cup sugar (more for topping)

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup blueberries

1 tsp ground cinnamon (more for topping)

3 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease or line muffin tin (for 12 muffins.) Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Beat together the egg, milk and butter. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into it. Combine the ingredients swiftly, stirring and folding, not beating. Stop as soon as all dry ingredients are moistened. The batter should be lump not smooth and thick but quite moist. Add a little more milk or other liquid if needed. Add the blueberries at the last minute.

Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, distributing it equally. Now, mix about 1 tbsp of cinnamon, sugar and/or brown sugar. Sprinkle on top of muffins and bake.

Bake 20-30 minutes or until the muffins are nicely browned.

S'mores Brownies

Although this is a bit of a cheat, it may help you out when you need to bring a dessert last minute to a party, or you have unexpected guests. It's a small twist on your classic brownie that is bound to bring good results. (photo: faithostanhall.com)

Ingredients:

Favorite brownie mix

1 cup mini-marshmallows

4-5 graham crackers

chocolate syrup

Simply mix and begin to cook your favorite brownie recipe or store-bought mix. (I used No-Pudge for a fat free brownie base.)

Allow brownies too cook for the recommended amount of time per box instructions, subtracting 3 minutes. At that time, spread mini-marshmallows over the top and place back into the oven to finish cooking.

After 3 minutes have passed, remove and top with graham cracker crumbs, then drizzle chocolate syrup.

Very quick, very easy. Cheers! Brett

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting

DISCLAIMER: This is not healthy whatsoever. . . but everyone deserves a treat now and again.

I was very happy with how these came out. . . the frosting was a bit of work, but worth it. (Actual result is pictured here.)

Photo: faithostanhall.com

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 cup and 2 tbsp all purpose-flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 large egg

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated white sugar

1/2 cup and 2 tbsp whole milk

1/3 cup espresso or strong brewed coffee

1/2 cup (1 stick) melted unsalted butter

Preheat over to 350 degrees, line 12 cupcake molds or muffin tins with paper liners or spray with nonstick spray.

Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar and white sugar. Whisk in the milk coffee, and melted butter. Whisk in the dry ingredients. Divide the batter evenly into the cupcake molds, filling them about 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Using a small spatula or knife, remove cupcakes from the pan. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature.

White Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:

6 oz white baking chocolate

4 large egg whites

1 cup and 2 tbsp granulated white sugar

1 cup and 2 tbsp (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup white chocolate chips

Melt the white chocolate on top of a double boiler, stirring constantly. Remove chocolate from heat when melted and let cool to room temperature.

While chocolate is cooling, combine the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Place the bowl in a pot of summering water so that the water comes 1/3 of the way up the bowl. Lightly whisk the egg whites just until hot to the touch, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and whisk on high speed until very thick and cooled to room temperature, about 5 minutes. Decrease the mixer speed to medium-low and add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time (about 1 minute should pass between each tablespoon being added.) Add the white chocolate and vanilla and mix until smooth.

Frost the top of each cupcake and sprinkle with white chocolate chips.

These really were a tasty trip. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Cheers! Brett

Banana Bread

I love Bananas (did I mention that?) and I love Banana Bread. I haven't found a Banana Bread recipe that compares to my Mom's, but I always forget to ask her for it. So, I go back, time and time again to the recipe that I am sharing with you today. It's pretty good and have tweaked it a bit here in there to make it a little less bad for you. (Thanks Kendra for reminding me and Rachel for encouraging me to post tonight.)

Ingredients:

Cooking Spray
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup sugar
3 1/2 tbsp baking powder
3 tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup milk
1 "heaping" cup mashed bananas
1 egg
1 cup finely chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease loaf pan with cooking spray and then flour it. Measure and combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for about 1/2 a minute. Pour into a loaf pan and bake for about 55 minutes. (Test center with a toothpick.) Let it cool, slice and enjoy.

Like I said, I think this one is good, but not *great*. If you have one that you love, post it in a comment. (And if it looks good enough to me, I will make it and post about it.) Cheers! Brett