The BEST Oatmeal Cookies

I have been on the search for a good oatmeal cookie recipe. My husband's favorite cookie is oatmeal and I never much liked making them since I really didn't have a great recipe. When I found this one and made he said, "Even my dad would approve!!" That was all I needed to hear!! These are soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The perfect oatmeal cookie for my husband. My search is now over!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (Yup, that is right!)
  
• 3 cups rolled oats
• Raisins, chocolate chips and even coconut can be added
  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening, brown sugar and white sugar. Stir in the egg, water and vanilla. Combine the flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon, stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the rolled oats. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool on baking sheets for a couple of minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.
4. (The dough will seem really soft, but don't add any extra flour. I bake mine for exactly 12 mins.)

Whole Wheat Bread

Don't be afraid to make homemade bread!! This is really easy. Requires no kneading!! EASY!! Especially good right out of the oven with butter and honey or homemade raspberry jam!!

5 cups warm water
3 TB. yeast
1 TB. white sugar
2/3 cup powdered milk
1 TB. salt
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup yogurt
1/3 cup honey
2 TB. dough enhancer (Found in the baking aisles)
3/4 cup gluten (Found in the baking aisles)
5 cups whole wheat flour

In your mixer (like a Bosch, Kitchen Aid, etc,) use the whisk attachment, and mix for 3 mins. Change to the kneading bar attachment. Add an additional 6 - 6 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour. Mix 3 mins. more. You want the dough to clean the bowl. Meaning, dough should not cling to the sides.(I add just the additional 6 cups of flour and it always works for me.) Shape dough and place in 4 greased bread pans. Let rise for 1 hour. Bake at 350 for about 30 mins. (Depending on your bread pans. Some of mine actually take longer than others. )

Tortellini Tomato Spinach Soup

Cold and wet weather was here this week, and so I made soup, again!! This is a really healthy soup!! The kids like the cheese filled pasta.


1/2 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
6-8 cups chicken broth (Depending on how thick you like soup. I add 8 cups)
2 (14 ounce each) Italian diced tomatoes (One can I like to put in blender and pulse
a few times.)
1 (9 ounce) pkg. tortellini (I use frozen)
10 ounces fresh spinach (I just add a couple of handfuls)
1 cup corn
1 cup diced carrots
1 can great northern beans
1 tsp. Italian season
1/2 tsp oregano (powdered form)


Add everything to the crock pot except the spinach and tortellini. Cook on low for 6 hours. The last hour, add the tortellini. Then 10 minutes before serving add the spinach. Serve with grated parmesan cheese. Makes 8-10 servings.