Coconut Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These are my signature, go-to cookies that are a true crowd pleaser. Everyone I have made these rave about them. They are so easy and so yummy. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 cup oats
3/4 cup flour
1/2 shredded coconut
1/2 golden raisins
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 stick unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
Heat oven to 350*. Combine oats, flour, shredded coconut, raisins, pumpkin pie spice, and baking soda in a bowl. Beat butter and sugar together in separate bowl… Add egg and vanilla until just mixed. Stir in dry ingredient mixture. Take heaping tablespoon amounts and drop onto nonstick pan. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about two dozen cookies, depending on size.

M&M Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 white sugar
1 cup vegetable shortening
2 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups m&m’s

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350*. Electronically mix together brown sugar, white sugar, shortening, eggs, and vanilla on low speed until well mixed. Add flour, baking soda, and salt… do not overmix this part. The dough will feel very thick and dry. Stir in m&m’s by hand. Roll into large balls and flatten slightly on the pan. Press extra m&m’s into tops. Bake about 12 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and transfer to cooling rack. Enjoy!!!

The Best Blueberry Muffins

I just have to share the yummiest, moistest, best blueberry muffins I have come across… They seriously are going to blow your mind! My family gobbled them up in a matter of days. This recipe produces 12 small-tinned muffins and 6 large-tinned muffins but you can feel free to cut the ingredients in half if you are looking for one or the other. Are you ready?! 🙂

Ingredients:
1 1/3 Cups White Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2/3 Cup Milk
2 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 1/2 Cups Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Sour Cream
2 Cups Blueberries

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375* and grease muffin tins.
-Combine sugar, eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla in a bowl.
-Add flour, baking powder, and salt in another bowl.
-Stir dry and wet ingredients together until lumps disappear. Don’t overmix.
-Add in sour cream and fold in blueberries.
-Distribute the batter into muffin tins. Fill them close to the top if you want high crowned muffins.
-Bake for 30 minutes for small-tinned pans and 35 minutes for large-tinned pans.
-ENJOY!!! XOXO

 

Summer Cucumber Salad

I whipped this up tonight in order to use up a bunch of veggies that needed to get gone. My mother-in-law has a huge garden and lately I have been finding myself wanting to experiment with new and creative ways to gobble them up.

This summer cucumber salad is a no-brain recipe that tastes fresh and crisp. I think you’ll love it!

Ingredients:
-2 large cucumbers
-8 roma tomatoes
-1/2 large yellow union
-10 fresh basil leaves
-garlic salt
-pepper

Directions:
Seed the cucumbers and tomatoes, dice. Finely chop the onion and basil. Mix all ingredients together in bowl. Season with garlic salt and pepper. Chill several hours or overnight. Enjoy, XOXO!

Georgia Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:
4 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
3 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In one bowl mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place peaches in a greased 4-quart glass baking dish. Evenly sprinkle 1 cup sugar over the peaches. In another bowl, cream together the butter and remaining sugar. Stir in flour mixture a little at a time. Add the eggs and vanilla and be sure to mix all ingredients well. Lather the batter mixture over the peaches. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, XOXO.

Angel Food with Pineapple Lush

Ingredients:

1 package vanilla instant pudding

1 20oz can crushed pineapple

1 cup thawed whipped cream

1 10oz angel food cake

2 cups mixed berries

 

 

Directions:

Mix dry pudding mix and undrained pineapple together. Fold in whipped cream. Cut angel food cake horizontally into three layers. Place first layer on serving platter. Spread 1/3 pudding mixture on top. Repeat this with the second and third layer Refrigerate for hour. Top with mixed berried prior to serving. Enjoy, XOXO!

Balsamic Glazed Chicken Breasts

If you read my first recipe post, you are well aware that I enjoy dabbling in easy recipes. Here is another one I recently tried in my own kitchen. It turned out great and I think you’ll love it too, XOXO.

BALSAMIC GLAZED CHICKEN BREASTS

Ingredients:

-4 Chicken Breasts

-1/2 Cup Balsamic Vinegar

-2 Tbsp Minced Garlic

-1 Medium Onion

-1 Tbsp Brown Sugar

Directions:

Place chicken in ziploc bag or large bowl. Add balsamic vinegar, garlic, chopped onion, and brown sugar. Marinade in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, pour the contents of bag or bowl on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes at 375*. Enjoy!!!

Peanut Butter Blondies

I grew up with a mom who loves peanut butter and married a man who is equally as obsessed. These bars are a quick, easy-to-bake treat for those who just can’t seem to get enough peanut butter in their lives and in their mouths!

 

INGREDIENTS

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

1 cup light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup peanut butter

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a glass 8×8 baking dish and set it aside.
2. Combine the melted butter and light brown sugar. Add in the egg and vanilla extract. (I used my Kitchenaid, but a hand mixer would also work.)
3. Mix in the peanut butter. Make sure all of the wet ingredients are thoroughly combined.
4. Add in the salt and flour.
5. Spread the mixture evenly in the greased baking dish. (The batter will be very thick, so it is important that you spread it out as flat as you possibly can otherwise they may turn out a little lumpy.)
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
7. Cool, cut into 9 bars, and ENJOY!

I used this Pyrex, which is one of my favorites. It’s nice to use the same dish to bake and transport treats in! I believe that baking should be fun, easy, and yummy. This recipe definitely fits that definition, XOXO.