Health Cookies

Yummy old fashioned "Health Cookies"

for the road.

We're taking a quick road trip down to Boston this week

and some of these cookies are coming along

to sustain us on the way!

The farmer has a two day conference

and I'm looking forward to the sights and sounds

of this lovely coastal city and a 5 star hotel!

I don't know exactly how healthy these cookies

really are,

but they have lots and lots of healthy ingredients

(except for the sugars course)   ;)

This recipe makes 4 dozen 2 3/4" cookies,

at least if you don't eat too much of the raw cookie batter while making them, that is!

Health Cookie Recipe:

These taste very similar to the ones we can buy from our local Guenther’s Bakery.  If you use real butter and fresh eggs you will not be dissappointed!

1 C. Butter

¾ C. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

¾ C. White Sugar

2 eggs slightly beaten

Cream together and add:

2 C. Whole Wheat Flour

1 tsp. Baking soda

1 tsp. Baking powder

½ tsp. Salt

Mix into butter mixture and add:

1 C. rolled oats

1 C. raisons

½ C. sunflower seeds (unsalted)

¼ C. chopped walnuts

1 C. coconut

¼ C. sesame seeds

¼ C. flax seeds

Mix well with wooden spoon.

Drop onto baking sheet - I used a cookie dough scoop which helps keep the cookies uniform in size. Bake at 325F for 12-18 minutes.  Adjust baking time according to thickness of batter.

Make sure you have lots of milk on hand 'cause these will be gobbled up quickly!

Till next time ................... thankful for a full cookie jar once again!

“www.weekend waffles”

Found these on a wonderful Saturday morning – on the internet!  Thus the “www.” They’re lemony, light and delicious!

2 Cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 Tbsp. white sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 egg whites – beaten till foamy in a separate bowl

2 egg yolks

2 Tbsp. grated lemon zest – I used the zest of a whole lemon

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 Cups milk

6 Tbsp. butter - melted

Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together in a small bowl; set aside. Beat egg whites until foamy in a separate mixing bowl. Whisk the egg yolks, lemon zest, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl or large glass measuring cup; whisk in the milk. Stir in the flour mixture until smooth. Fold in the melted butter and then the beaten egg whites until just incorporated.

Cook the waffles until golden brown.

Slather on some butter, a sprinkle of icing sugar, a squirt of lemon juice and a splash of maple syrup, grab a mug of coffee and enjoy this with the one you love!  It actually makes enough for 4 people if you care to share J.

Till next time .................... try some waffles next time for a weekend breakfast!

Peace Prayer

This beautiful prayer was written by Carol Penner who writes on her "Leading in Worship" blog.

http://carolpenner.typepad.com/

No taking sides prayer

God of our side, and God of our enemies’ side,
hear our prayer:
we need your help here on planet earth.
With heavy hearts we confess
the brokenness of our beautiful blue planet
which is spinning out of control.
Hear the sound of gunfire,
see the bomb craters,
taste the bitterness of people hating people,
smell the fear that permeates our lives,
touch the hearts of the wounded.
Hear the sound of children being hurt,
see people running away from their homes,
taste the hopelessness of shattered communities,
smell the despair of refugee camps,
touch the inconsolable on both sides.
Feel our pain as we spin through space.
Touch the pulse of the earth as it beats wildly.
God of our side, and God of our enemies’ side,
you are the God of no sides at all.
You call us to a new place,
to step with faith outside this world of taking sides.
You lead us to an inside out world,
an upside down kingdom,
where our enemy is our brother,
where our foe can be our  fondest friend.
You call us from the sidelines,
to centre stage,
to be a community of global resurrection,
firm believers in love that cannot die,
love that cannot be killed,
love that never lets us go.
You call us to be firm believers
in the one who crossed heaven and earth
to show us that even between God and human beings
there are no sides.
It is in the name of Jesus Christ,
whose arms embrace us all,
that we pray for peace today.
Amen.




Peace to you and yours as we remember on this November 11th of 2012!

For a few years now, I've been gathering

favourite family recipes 

to someday make a family cookbook.

I've got all the recipes now and just need to

buckle down and finish the stories and

get some pictures together!!!

Might need a few more years......

My niece Heidi sent me this recipe that

she remembers from Grandma's house and

wants it to be in the cookbook.

Heidi is a fabulous cook and took a real interest in my

Mom's recipes and cooking methods.

When I met with her to consult about the cookbook

last fall, she served these very yummy cookies with tea

as we looked over the recipe submissions.

These are a soft and delicious cookie,

just how I like them!

GRANDMA'S PUMPKIN COOKIES

1 Egg

1 Cup Sugar

½ Cup Shortening

1 Cup pumpkin

1 tsp. Baking Soda

½ tsp. Salt

1 sm. pkg. Butterscotch Chips

2 Cups Flour

½ tsp. vanilla

Chopped pecans, raisins and dates - optional

Beat egg with sugar.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Form into small balls and place on baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 10 minutes.  Let cool and ice with Maple Icing or Brown Sugar Icing.

MAPLE ICING

½ Cup Butter – softened

1 Cup Brown Sugar

½ Cup Milk

1 tsp. Maple Extract

1 ¾ Cups Icing Sugar

a tsp. or so of cream

Beat together and ice cookies

BROWN SUGAR ICING

Mom used this icing on many things such as cookies, cakes and cupcakes. 

1 Cup of brown sugar

½ Cup of cream

Butter the size of a small egg. Boil till soft ball stage, let cool a little if it is not thick enough I just add some icing sugar. The icing should be a little warm so it sets nice on the cookies.

Till next time ................. still working on the family cookbook.

All in a Pre-Wedding Week

The week before the wedding

was a busy and fun time!

I can't believe it was two months ago!!

The first shower was hosted by my sister and nieces

It was so great to see all the "big and little" girls.

Such a fun evening of reconnecting with aunts and cousins,

and great food - as always!!

Shower #2 was a Leis Family Spa night

What a great time - getting pampered

with a relaxing pedicure and snacking on wonderful appies

made by my amazing sisters-in-law!!
It was so great for Becky to see her aunties and
cousins - so rare these days!

Next was a practice make-up session
by Jen, bridesmaid and friend for many years.
Jen is a great make-up artist and wonderful Arbonne Representative.

Last minute decor items were finished.

Then all of a sudden it was the night before!!!!
The rehearsal went well,
our wonderful friends Heather and Steve,
my awesome sisters Ev and Marilyn came to get
all the food ready for the rehearsal party while we went off
to "practice".
It was a great night, the huge bonfire kept the
party warm, and a nice casual time was had by all!
After everyone left, the sauna was
preheated for a relaxing "night before" the big day.

Till next time ...... trying to organize some thoughts and pictures for a Wedding Day post!  Please bear with me on this.

Hurry-Up Monday!

When the phone rings first thing on Monday morning

and the farmer excitedly answers with OHHH-KAYYYY!

you know that today's the day that the

corn harvest is about to begin....

He's been starting to get a wee anxious

as the rain keeps coming and the stalks are 

"starting to go down" - so this is a good day!

Meanwhile, I had my day "off work" planned.

Guess I need to rearrange it to include:

- Take the truck in for a brake job

since the farmer is too busy to do it,

- Make dinner for the harvesters,

Yikes - what shall I make?????

Okay - I have all morning so I'll

bake a cake, thaw some pork sausage and

some frozen corn, peel some potatoes,

bring up a few jars from the fruit cellar -

all before I have to leave for the afternoon!!!

Oh yes - and clean the bathroom and kitchen - eek!

This is the cake my mom often made when she was in a hurray.

It's the perfect cake for today!

HURRY-UP CAKE:

2 Eggs – beaten

1 Cup White Sugar

2 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 Cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

Last add ½ Cup hot milk

Bake in an 8 X 8 greased pan for 30 minutes at 325 degrees

Icing:

½ Cup Brown Sugar

3 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. thin cream

1 Tbsp. fine coconut

Spread on hot cake and brown under the broiler

The cake was baking while the first 

loads of corn were being hauled away....

The afternoon was spent waiting for the

truck to be serviced - so.....

I had to go shopping, right?

I had some success at Winners (I don't usually have any

luck there - so that was good)

Went back to pick up the truck only to find out

that the part had not come in and that I had

spent 2 1/2 hours shopping when I could have been

at home working - hmmmm!  (insert smirk)

I guess it was just one of those

Hurry Up and Wait Days!

It's a good feeling to have the farm work

being completed with such a bountiful harvest!

We are so thankful for the way

the Lord continues to bless us. 

Till next time ............ when you need a quick dessert, bake mom's Hurry-Up Cake!