Baked Oatmeal

This is stolen from Rad Recipes but it's so good I have to make it part of my collection. You have to refrigerate it over night so don't forget! It is awesome with fresh peaches but I also like frozen raspberries if peaches aren't in season. I've also tried it with some substitutions to lower the calorie content (from ~670/serving to ~360/serving). They are in parenthesis. If you do this the texture will be the same but it won't be a sweet so you'll have to adjust the sugar to your taste.

1 C. oil (1 c applesauce)
2 tsp. salt
1 C sugar (1/2 c sugar)
1 C packed brown sugar (1/2 c brown sugar)
1 TBS + 1 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
5 C. REGULAR oats
2 C. milk*

Mix oil, salt ,sugars, baking powder, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and oats together until well blended. Slowly add milk and continue mixing until well incorporated. Grease a 9 by 13 pan with spray. Pour mixture into pan, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Uncover in the morning and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until firm and golden brown. Serve with peaches (fresh is the best but canned will do) and cream* (I use whatever I have on hand milk, 1/2 & 1/2 or the best is cream). You will have a different consistency if the oatmeal does not sit overnight. Enjoy!

*Use low fat milk

Chili

This chili was and still is a staple in the Whipple household. It goes great with Perfect Cornbread from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (1970s edition).

1 pound hamburger
1 large onion chopped
½ bell pepper chopped or two stalks of celery
2-3 (16 ounce) can cut tomatoes or a qt jar, depending on how tomatoie you want it
4 tablespoons chili powder
¼ - ½ tsp salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans
1 can pinto beans

Cook and stir hamburger, onion, green pepper, celery. Drain off fat if any. Stir in tomatoes (with liquid), chili powder, salt, Worcestershire sauce. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 1 hour. Stir in beans. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until hot, about 15 minutes.

Chocolate-Coconut Bars

3 c finely ground cookies (graham crackers, oreos, combination)

1/4 c sugar

3/4 c butter, melted

1 c pecan pieces (or walnuts)

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 c sweetened, shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 10x15" baking sheet with parchment or foil.

In a large bowl stir together cookie crumbs, sugar and butter until combined. Evenly press into bottom and sides of lined baking sheet. Bake, rotating half way through, 10 mins. Transfer to a wire rack to cool ~20mins.

Sprinkle cooled crust evenly with nuts and chocolate. Pour condensed milk over the top, spreading to cover completely (do not let it drip over edge to avoid sticking). Sprinkle with coconut.

Bake until coconut is toasted, 10-15 mins. Transfer to rack, cool completely. Cut evenly into pieces.

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

This recipe is courtesy of Holly Stoker. Thanks, Cuz! :)

Mix:
2 cups flour
4tspns. baking powder
1 tspn. salt
1/4 cup margarine (don't use non-fat margarine)
2/3 cup milk-maybe more

Cut margarine into mixture with pasty cutter or 2 knives, then press mixture together with hands adding more milk as needed.

Add:
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 heaping cup shredded cheddar cheese

Put onto greased baking sheet in globs, use hands or large spoon.

Mix and brush on top of biscuits:
4 Tbs melted butter
1/4 tsp parsley flakes
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ranch dressing mix (this can be omitted but I like them better with it)

Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-17 minutes until biscuits begin to turn light brown

Brown-Sugar Barbecue Chicken

This is my study while you cook special. I usually halve the sauce and it's plenty. For low prep dinner throw some baked potatoes in the oven 15-20 mins before the chicken goes in.

2 c ketchup

1 c brown sugar

2 T Worcestershire sauce

2 T cider vinegar

Salt and Pepper

Chicken (breasts, thighs, drum sticks -- whatever you have)

Mix first four ingredents to make the sauce. Spoon/brush about half of the sauce onto chicken.

Bake uncovered at 425 degrees for 25-40 mins (until the juices run clear and the flesh looks white when you cut into it).

Warm up the rest of the sauce in the microwave for dipping (make sure not to contaminate it when you put it on the raw chicken).

Coconut Bread Pudding

butter for baking dishes

1 loaf white country bread (1 lb), cut into 1" cubes

4 large eggs

3/4 c granulated sugar

1 can (13.5oz) coconut milk

2 c whole milk

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

confectioner's sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center. Butter eight 6-oz ramekins or custard cups; set aside. Arrange bread in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets; bake until crisp, tossing once, 15-20 mins. Remove from oven. Reduce heat to 300 degrees.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, milks, cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Stir in toasted bread; let sit, tossing occasionally, until bread has absorbed liquid, about 5 mins.

Divide bread mixture evenly among ramekins. Place on a baking sheet; bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a pudding comes out clean, 50 mins to 1 hour. Let cool. Serve dusted with confectioners' sugar

Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325° F (165° C).
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in egg then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes then remove sheets from oven and cool cookies on sheets for 5 minutes then remove to rack and cool completely.