Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are Jaxon's favorite cookies! He especially likes to snitch the cookie dough.

1 c. butter, softened (the best way is to leave it out on the counter until it reaches room temperature. Don't warm it up in the microwave!)

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 c. (or more;) chocolate chips

Cream together butter and sugars in a mixing bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture a little at a time. Use a 1 inch cookie scoop to form balls on a cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

I place as many 1 inch balls of cookie dough on a cookie sheet as I can and place them in the freezer until they harden. Then I put them in a gallon freezer bag and save them for those moments when you just have to have a fresh baked cookie.

Cornmeal Blueberry Pancakes

This is a recipe that I go off of the foil top of Dannon yogurt. The original recipe calls for plumped raisins, but we use fresh blueberries instead.

Dry ingredients:

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. cornmeal

3 Tab. granulated sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

Wet ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Vanilla, Strawberry, or blueberry nonfat Yogurt

2 large eggs

1/4 c. canola oil

1/2 c. fresh blueberries, rinsed

Whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, stir together yogurt, egg and oil with a fork. Stir this into the flour mixture just until incorporated.

Heat a lightly greased large nonstick skillet or griddle over moderately low heat until hot.

Pour 1/4-cup of batter onto skillet in batches, forming 3 1/2-inch cakes. Add blueberries to the individual cakes. Cook about 3 minutes, or until golden, turn and cook 1 minute more.

Serve immediately or transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in a 250°F oven while cooking remaining cakes.

Serve warm vanilla buttermilk syrup or maple syrup.

Chicken Cordon Bleu in a Blanket

This is a recipe that my SIL Aubrey came across. It is simple and tasty. I tweaked it just a bit.

1 tube Grands! Flaky Layers Buttermilk Biscuits

8 chicken tenders

8 pieces hearty sliced, deli ham

8 slices swiss cheese

In a skillet add 1-2 Tab. oil. Place chicken tenders in the oil and sprinkle with lemon pepper. Cook on medium-high heat till done and juices run clear.

Roll biscuits out in a rectangle. Place one slice ham, one slice cheese and one chicken tender on top of each. Fold ends and edges and pinch to seal. Place on a greased baking sheet and cook at 350 for approximately 20 minutes.

Serve with dipping sauce:

1/4 c. mayo or miracle whip

1 Tab. honey

1/4 c. Apricot Spread

1 Tab. mustard

1 Tab. sour cream

1/4 tsp. poppy seeds

Apple & Sage Pork Chops

I go this recipe from my friend, Erin. It is a recipe from McCormick. You can find a pack of spices at the store with this recipe. I have changed a few things, however. I used cayenne pepper instead of paprika, and garlic powder instead of minced garlic.

1 1/2 tsp. rubbed sage

1 tsp. thyme leaves

1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. ground allspice

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 Tab. flour

4 boneless pork chops 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick (about 1 1/4 lbs)
2 Tab. olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 red apples, thinly sliced (I use pink ladies, they are my favorite)
1/2 c. apple juice
1 Tab. brown sugar

Mix flour, salt and all spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of chops with 1 tablespoon of the seasoned flour.

Cook pork chops in hot oil in large skillet on medium-high until browned on both sides. Remove from skillet. Add onion; cook and stir 3 minutes or until tender. Add apples; cook and stir 2 minutes.

Stir in remaining seasoned flour, sugar and apple juice. Return pork chops to the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160. I always use a meat thermometer when cooking so meat doesn't get tough and dry.

Shrimp Skewers

1 lb. uncooked jumbo shrimp

1/2 of a fresh pineapple

6 Tbsp. orange marmalade

1/2 c. water

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

4 servings cooked rice

1/4 c. snipped fresh cilantro

Peel and devein shrimp (I buy mine raw with this already done); thread on 4 *skewers. Cut pineapple in 4 crosswise slices, core if desired, then quarter each slice to make 16 wedges. Thread on 4 skewers.

In a small saucepan, combine 4 Tbsp. of the marmalade, 1/2 c. water, and the soy sauce. Brush some of this mixture on shrimp and pineapple before grilling.

Place skewers on rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium heat. Grill 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until shrimp are opaque and pineapple is heated through. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.

Bring remaining marmalade mixture in saucepan to a full boil. Use this as a side for dipping.

Stir cilantro and remaining 2 tablespoons of orange marmalade into rice and serve on the side.

*Tip* To save time, soak skewers well ahead of time and put them in a plastic bag in the freezer. That way they are always ready when you feel like a kebab.