Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies

I ran out of time to make these from "scratch," and found this recipe on the web. Quite tasty! It makes 34-36 cookies.

1 (19.5 to 19.8 ounce) package brownie mix

1/3 cup vegetable oil or melted unsalted butter

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks

1 cup chopped nuts, any variety, sprinkled on top of cookies before baking (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick cooking-spray.

In a large mixing bowl combine brownie mix, oil, and eggs with wooden spoon until just blended and all dry ingredients are moistened; stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto prepared cookie sheets. Sprinkle with nuts, if desired.

Bake 11—14 minutes until cracked in appearance and just barely set at center when lightly touched. Cool 1 minute on sheets. Transfer to wire racks with spatula and cool completely.

Whole Wheat Beer Bread

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
1 T butter, in "pats"

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar. Pour in beer, stir until a stiff batter is formed. It may be necessary to mix dough with your hands. Scrape dough into prepared loaf pan. Place butter pats on top of dough before putting pan in oven.
   
3. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

Best Basic Homemade Pancake Mix

I had some buttermilk on hand, so I found this recipe online. It made wonderfully fluffy pancakes. It was good alone or would be a perfect base recipe for any additions! You'll want to double this one. Oh, and I added a tsp of Watkins DS Vanilla (Yum!)

"It only takes a few minutes longer to make from scratch pancakes, and they're so much better than box mix versions. You can even mix these up the night before. Very easy! You can use regular milk, but the buttermilk makes the pancakes lighter and fluffier."

Buttermilk Pancakes
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup plain flour
1 TBS sugar
1 TBS cooking oil
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Beat the egg and then add the buttermilk and soda. Stir in flour, sugar, oil, baking powder and salt. Stir until blended. Try to get any lumps out but don't overdo it on the stirring. Heat a griddle or frying pan with a little oil or butter. You want medium heat and for the oil/butter to be hot but not burned. Dip out enough batter to make pancakes about 3 to 4 inches around. You can, of course, make big ones or little silver dollar sized. When the edges "set" and have bubbles, flip the pancakes. As you're cooking, you'll probably need to add a little more oil or butter as you go. Just add small amounts as needed. You can keep a plate warm in the oven and complete the whole batch. This recipe makes 8 to 10 medium pancakes."

Double Chip Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 c butter, softened
1/4 c shortening
3/4 c granulated sugar
3/4 c firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 t vanilla extract
2 1/3 c all-purpose flour
1 t salt
1/4 t salt
1 2/3 c (an 11oz pkg) of peanut butter and milk chocolate chips
2 c (1pgk) semi-sweet chips
1/2 c uncooked regular oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional - sometimes I just do a whole cup of the oats)

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until blended. Add eggs and 1 t vanilla, beating until blended.

Combine flour, soda and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in chips, oats and nuts.

Drop by tablespoons onto lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-15min or until golden around edges. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 c butter, softened
3/4 c granulated sugar
3/4 c firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
2 1/2 c plus 2 T all purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 c peanut butter
1 12oz pkg semisweet chocolate chips

Beat butter, sugars, and peanut butter at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating until blended. Combine flour, soda and salt in a small bowl; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in morsels. Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 8-14min or until done. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Chip Supreme Cookies

1/2 c shortening
1/2 c butter, softened
3/4 c firmly packed dark brown sugar (if you only had light brown, that would be ok but not as good)
3/4 c white sugar
1 large eggs
1 (3.4oz) pkg vanilla instant pudding mix
1 T vanilla extract
2 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 T baking soda
1 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/2 t salt
2 c semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 c chopped pecans (optional)
1 c uncooked quick cooking oats

Beat shortening and butter at medium speed w/electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, blending well. Add eggs, beating until blended. Add pudding mix and vanilla; beat until blended.

Combine flour and next 4 ingredients. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in chips, pecans and oats.

Shape dough into 1-1.5inch balls; place on lightly greased cookie sheet and press to 1-inch thickness.

Bake at 375 for 10-12min. Remove cookies to cool on wire racks.

Makes 3-5 dozen cookies.

Jewel's Amazing Beef

This one sounds kind of weird but it's *so* good.

Amazing Beef (I know, stupid name, but it really is amazing! )

1 pot roast (2 to 3 pounds)
1 jar pepperonicini
3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped

dump the jar of peppers and liquid over the pot roast in the slow cooker, add garlic, and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

So easy and so good!