BIG & CHEWY OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES!

OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES:

Make going back to school sweeter by tucking one of these cookies into the kids' lunch boxes. My daughter made these cookies today for her grandchildren and they are the best oatmeal cookies I have ever had. You simply have to try them.

 INGREDIENTS:

11/2 Cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt (use ¼ tsp. if starting with salted butter)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. freshly grated NUTMEG
2 sticks butter,unsalted softened
1/2 tsp. PURE VANILLA EXTRACT
1 Cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 Cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3 Cups oatmeal
11/2 Cups raisins

DIRECTIONS:

Adjust oven racks to low and middle positions and preheat oven to 350°.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and NUTMEG; set aside.
Beat the butter and VANILLA until creamy.
Add the sugars and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix well.
Fold in the oats and raisins.
Roll the dough into generous 2-inch balls. Place the balls on the cookie sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between each ball.
Bake at 350° until the cookie edges turn golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

Halfway through the baking time switch the cookie sheets from top to bottom and turn them from front to back.
Place the cookie sheets on a cooling rack and let the cookies cool completely before removing.
For chocolate chip cookies, substitute chocolate chips for raisins and omit the
nutmeg.
Recipe from Penzeys

STEWED TOMATOES IN CROCKPOT!

STEWED TOMATOES IN CROCKPOT

Homemade stewed tomatoes from the crockpot for freezing. When the tomatoes are abundant this is a great way to use some of them and have stewed tomatoes for dishes when the winds are cold and the snow is blowing outside and you're all warm and ready to dig in to some good food.

INGREDIENTS

6 to 8 ripe tomatoes

2 tablespoons margarine (I use bacon grease)

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

3/4 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

3 tablespoons sugar (more or less)

1 small bay leaf

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS

Core tomatoes; place in boiling water for about 15 to 20 seconds, then into ice water to cool quickly; peel.

Cut tomatoes in wedges. In Crock Pot, combine all ingredients.

Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours.

Remove bay leaf. Sprinkle top with parsley, if desired.

 Serve as a side dish or freeze in portions for soups or other recipes.

Serves 6.

Recipe may be doubled.

BUNNY CUPCAKES

BUNNY CUPCAKES

These cute-as-can-be cupcakes are perfect for spring celebrations, Easter, baby showers and birthday parties!

INGREDIENTS:
1 container (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
McCormick® Assorted Food Colors and Egg Dye or McCormick® Assorted NEON! Food Colors and Egg Dye
2 cups flaked coconut
12 unfrosted cupcakes
12 plain donut holes
12 large marshmallows
6 pink jelly beans, halved crosswise
Chocolate sprinkles
Miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
Tint frosting pink or blue, using 4 drops red or 4 drops NEON blue food color. Place coconut in resealable plastic bag. Add 4 drops red or 4 drops NEON blue food color to coconut in bag; shake until coconut is evenly tinted.

Spread top of each cupcake with tinted frosting. Press each cupcake into tinted coconut to cover top completely. Spread donut holes with remaining frosting. Press a donut hole into top of each cupcake to form the bunny’s head.

For the ears, cut a 1/4-inch slice off the flat ends of each marshmallow to make 24 slices. Dip cut sides of the marshmallow slices into the coconut until completely covered. (Reserve remaining marshmallow pieces.) Attach 2 marshmallow slices to the head of each bunny with frosting to create ears.

Press a jelly bean half into the face for the nose and sprinkles for the whiskers. Use the chocolate chips for the eyes. Press the plain marshmallow pieces into the cupcakes for the belly.
TIPS:
To make 6 each pink and blue cupcakes, use 2 drops of each food color in each half batch of frosting and coconut.

For ease in frosting donut holes, first insert small wooden skewer into donut. Use skewer as a handle when frosting donut. Invert frosted donut onto cupcake then remove skewer.
Recipe from McCormicks

Washing Clothes Recipe!!

Never thought of a "washer" in this way before...imagine having a recipe for this!!!
Years ago a southern grandma gave the new bride the following recipe:
This is the original recipe, with spelling errors and all.

WASHING CLOTHES

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke won't blow in your eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in bolin' water.

Sort things, make 3 piles
1 pile white,
1 pile colored,
1 pile work britches and rag's
To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water:

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil. then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch. Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench and starch,

Hang old rags on fence.

Spread tea towls on grass.

Pore wrench water in flower bed, Scrub porch with hot soapy water. Turn tubs upside down..

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea. sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

Paste this over your washer & dryer. Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, then kiss that washer & dryer and give thanks...Every morning you should hug your washer & dryer, and also your toilet...those two-holers used to get mighty cold! And we thought we had it rough!