Snickerdoodles!

This is an old standard as far as cookies go- here is my Granny's recipe for Snickerdoodles:

You will need:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 3/4 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons sugar mixed with 3 tablespoons cinnamon

Mix all but the last bullet point together in a large bowl.

Roll the dough into tablespoon sized balls.

Roll the balls in the cinnamon and sugar mixture

Flatten the balls onto a baking sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Enjoy!

Peachy Pork Chops

This recipe is the perfect segue from summer into fall.  The end of summer peaches are a great compliment to pork chops.  It's pretty tasty, if I do say so myself!

For two servings, you will need:

• 2 pork chops
• 2 peaches (I used Colorado peaches), sliced
• 1 ounce of honey
• 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar
• Small amount of oil for the pan
• Salt and pepper to taste

 Heat the oil over medium to medium low heat.  Once the oil is hot add the pork chops, and cook on each side until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes per side).  Make sure the pork is cooked thoroughly to at least 145 degrees.

Add the peach slices, and drizzle the honey and balsamic vinegar over the pan.  Cover, and let the flavors combine for another 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

Macaroni and Cheese Pie

Okay, I'm not sure how this idea happened but I'm so glad it did.  This is so good (but so bad for you!)!  I'm really excited to try all sorts of variations of pasta pie :)

You will need:

• A double pie crust (homemade or store bought)
• Macaroni and cheese (homemade or out of the box)

Make the macaroni and cheese according to your directions.  Then, roll out your crust and place it in a pie tin.  Fill it with macaroni and cheese, and top with another crust.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.

Enjoy!

Cilantro Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

 

Another take on macaroni and cheese- this one was John's favorite.

You will need:

• 1 box of macaroni and cheese (or a homemade recipe)
• Handful of cilantro leaves
• 1 chicken breast, cooked and diced (I used a precooked package)
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced

While you macaroni is cooking, saute the bell peppers.  Then, simply stir all of your ingredients together and enjoy!

Basil Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

This week is a week of macaroni and cheese.  I have three different recipes I'll be sharing with you, and you can make them either with homemade macaroni and cheese or, like I did, straight out of the box.

You will need:

• 1 box of macaroni and cheese (or one homemade recipe)
• Handful of basil leaves
• 1 vine ripened tomato per serving (we used two for the two of us)

Simply make your macaroni and cheese, and stir in the extras!  It's a simple way to elevate an old standby.

Enjoy!

Mounds Bars

This is such a dangerous recipe.  I made John take what was left of our pan of bars to work with him so I wouldn't sit at home all day eating them while Inga judged me.

"Really?  You're going to have another?"

The recipe is one of many in a box of my Granny and Grandpa's recipes.  I'm excited to share them with you as I work my way through :)

You will need:

• 2 cups crushed graham crackers
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups coconut flakes
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 12 ounce bag of chocolate chips

To make your graham cracker crumbs, you can use a food processor or mash them up in a zip lock bag.  2 cups ends up being just a few crackers short of two full sleeves. 

Mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar together. 

Press into the bottom of a casserole dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Mix the coconut flakes and sweetened condensed milk.  Layer on top of the graham cracker crust and bake for another 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Finally, melt the chocolate chips (I did this in the microwave, but you could use a double boiler too) and spread on top.

Cut, serve, and enjoy!  These can be eaten warm and gooey, or they gradually firm as they cool.  Either way, they're delicious!

DIY Waxed Paper

 

Another project I stumbled across on Pinterest: make pretty waxed paper to wrap your baked goodies in!

You will need:

• Pretty tissue paper
• Wax paper
• Iron and ironing board

All you need to do is iron (on low) a sheet of tissue paper in between two sheets of waxed paper!  I put an old towel down just in case, but it seemed to be an unnecessary step.

Voila! 

Carrot Soup

With fall weather in the air, I'm in the mood for soup more and more often.  I love homemade soup, and this method is so easy.  You can do it with basically any kind of vegetable, and the flavors are wonderful.

For carrot soup, you will need:

• 2.5 pounds of carrots
• 1 small onion
• 4 cups water
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

While bringing the water to a boil, chop the vegetables.  Once the water is boiling, add the carrots to the pot.

Meanwhile, saute the onion.

When the carrots are tender (about 20 minutes), add the carrots, water, and onion to a blender in batches and puree until smooth.  Make sure you leave a crack in the top of the blender so the heat can escape.

Then, add the cream and blend again

I'll be making this with broccoli next... Enjoy! 

Zucchini Egg Bake

 

This is a tasty dish I made for dinner, but it's great to heat up in the morning for breakfast, too!

You will need:

• 1-2 large zucchinis (depending on the size of your casserole dish)
• 1 yellow onion
• 8 eggs
• Feta cheese

Cut the zucchini and onion into bite sized pieces and place in the casserole dish.

Beat 8 eggs and pour over the zucchini and onion.  Bake for 40-50 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the eggs are set.

Top with crumbled feta, and enjoy!

Autumn Updates: Decor

 

 I've updated my art, and now I've updated some decor around the house!

Before: Nice and bright runner on our sideboard

After: Deep teal runner with gold accents

Before: A pretty light vase (and our fish, Sebastian!)

After: Painted pine cones in a glass hurricane

I love this dish my mom gave me- full of little acorns!

 Are you doing anything fun to update your home for the new season?