Sweetest Chocolate Chip Scones**

These scones are delicious- the perfect pick-me-up for a cold morning.  Try with hot chocolate or warm milk.

INGREDIENTS:
Scones:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) cold butter, cut in 8 pieces
2 cups mini chocolate chips or finely chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup to 2/3 cup fat free half-and-half or milk

Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
5-7 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Work in the butter with your fingers or a pastry blender (or two butter knives) just until the mixture is unevenly crumbly. Stir in the chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate.

In a separate mixing bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, vanilla and 1/2 cup half-and-half or milk.

Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is moistened and holds together. Don’t over mix! The key to tender scones is not over mixing the dough. It shouldn’t look as cohesive as cookie dough – you are going more for the pie crust look but if it seems overly dry, stir in additional milk or half-and-half until the dough comes together.

Scrape the dough onto a well-floured work surface. Pat it into a long, thin rectangle, about 17-inches by 3-inches and about 1-inch thick. Make sure the surface underneath the dough is very well floured. If necessary, use a large spatula to lift edges of the dough and sprinkle more flour underneath.

Cut the rectangle into alternating triangles (see picture below). You should be able to get about 12 or 13 scones. Carefully transfer the scones (using a spatula, if needed) to a parchment-lined or well-greased baking sheet. I fit all of them on one large, rimmed baking sheet (about 18-inch by 12-inch).

Bake the scones for 12-15 minutes, or until they’re golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the scones to cool right on the pan. Make the glaze by stirring together the sugar and vanilla. Whisk in the milk gradually until the glaze is pourable.

Let the scones cool until still a bit warm or room temperature (too hot and the glaze will melt right off). Drizzle the glaze evenly over the scones. Serve warm or at room temperature. These keep well-covered for 2-3 days (and reheat beautifully in the microwave for a short 15-20 seconds).

Breaded Pork Chops***

I am writing this as the smell of cooking meat fills my nostrils.  MM!
So I thought, I think other people might enjoy this, too,
Well, here you go!



What You'll Need:
Four large pork chops,
One cup of bread crumbs,
One forth of a cup of Parmesan cheese and
One egg

 And:
 A  baking sheet covered with aluminum foil,
 and two large bowls!

What To Do:

1.  WASH YOUR HANDS!!!
2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Crack the eggs into the first bowl.
3. Put the bread crumbs into the other bowl.  Get out the pork chops.
4. Dip a pork chop into the egg. Then, dip it into the bread crumbs. 
5. Repeat.
6. Put the pork chops in the oven. Cook depending on the thickness of the chops.
7.  Serve with brown rice and green beans, if preferred, or with mashed potatoes and cooked carrots. 
8. ENJOY! 
 
 
 
 

 

Country Rotini **

A good old pasta-and-veggie combination!



What You'll Need:

One pound colored rotini (twisted pasta)
One fourth a cup of olive oil
One and a half cups cooked ham or chicken
One teaspoon garlic
Three fourths a cup chicken broth
Three cups of sliced yellow and red pepper
Three fourths of a cup chopped spinach
One cup of sliced mushrooms
Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
And:
A large pot,
a microwavable cup,
and a frying pan!
What To Do:

1. Cook pasta until al dente.  Drain.

2. Heat the olive oil. 
Put water and bouillon cube in the cup and heat for two and a half minutes on HIGH.

3. Put the heated olive oil on the frying pan and saute mushrooms, peppers, and ham
 or chicken for two minutes.  Add garlic, salt, and pepper and cook for another four minutes.

4. Put broth in and simmer for two minutes.  Add pasta and mix well.

5. Add spinach just before served and cook the in the mixture till it wilts.
Add Parmesan, mix and serve. Yum!

Bon appetit!

Beef stew ****

I rated this **** because it takes a long time.
Mm-mm.  Nothing like some hearty beef stew on some cold evening!


  What You'll Need:
Three carrots, peeled and sliced
Three potatoes, peeled and chopped
Two pounds stew meat
One cup water and one beef bouillon cube
 One clove garlic
One bay leaf
 Two onions, quartered
One stalk of celery, top off
Salt and pepper to taste
Worcestershire sauce (optional)
And:
A large pot!

 What To Do:

1. Put into pot in order and stir.
Start this early and leave it in your Crock Pot for 10-12 hours while you go about your schedule.

Then eat it!!

You can serve it with rice, but it is a meal all in itself.

Happy cooking!

Mac n Cheese **

Macaroni and cheese... mmm!  A kid favorite!
Plus it includes tomato sauce!
Trust me it's good.



What You'll Need:
 About 5 cups whole-wheat macaroni
  A large block of cheese
  A small can of tomato sauce
 And:
 A good sized pot,
  cutting board,
 cheese-cutting knife,
 and a can opener!

What To Do:

1.  Fill the pot with water.  Then, put the pot on the stove.
Meanwhile, chop the cheese.

2. When the water has boiled,  put in the pasta and stir occasionally.

3. When the pasta has cooked to al dente,  drain it but DO NOT cool it.
Put it straight back in the pot, and put the cheese in.  Put on the lid and wait.

4. Soon, the cheese should have melted.  Open the tomato sauce and pour in.
Stir thoroughly until cheese is spread evenly throughout the pasta.
Serve while warm with a side vegetable such as carrot sticks and enjoy!

Three Cheese Chicken Bake ***

A hearty casserole, perfect for when you have guests and an hour or so to prepare dinner.


What You'll Need:

One half a cup chopped onion
One half a cup chopped green pepper
Three tbsp butter or margarine
One can (or ten and three fourths ounces) of condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
One can (eight ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
One jar (two ounces)
One half a tsp dried basil
Eight ounces pasta, cooked and drained
Three cups diced cooked chicken
Two cups Ricotta or cottage cheese
Two cups (eight ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
One half a cup grated Parmesan cheese
One fourth a cup buttered bread crumbs
And:
A greased 13-in x 9-in x 2-in baking dish,
a skillet,
and a large bowl!

What To Do:

1. In the skillet, saute onion and green pepper in butter until tender. Remove from the heat.

2. Stir in the soup, mushrooms, pimientos and basil; set aside.

3. In the large bowl, combine pasta, chicken and cheeses; add sauted mix and stir well.

4. Transfer to the greased baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly.

5. Sprinkle with crumbs and bake for 15 more minutes.

Enjoy immediately!

World's Best Cookies **

What You'll Need:

One cup butter
One cup brown sugar
One cup white sugar
Two large eggs
One tsp vanilla
One half a teaspoon of salt
Two cups flour
Two and a half cups of oatmeal, ground in a blender
One tsp baking soda
One tsp baking powder
Chocolate (and/or butterscotch) chips
Chopped nuts (optional)

And:

A cookie sheet,
a mixing bowl or Bosch TM ,
and some cooling racks!



What To Do:

1. Cream butter, sugars, vanilla, and eggs together until fluffy.

2. Sift dry ingredients and mix into wet ingredients.

3. Add chocolate and/or butterscotch chips and nuts.

4. Roll the dough into balls and place on cookie sheets.  Flatten.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  They are best when slightly underbaked.

Cool and enjoy!