Chocolate chip cookies

Far warning, this makes A LOT of cookies

8 cups flour
8 sticks of butter, melt
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tbsp salt
3 cups sugar
3 cups brown sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
8 eggs
small bag chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix everything down to the chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl, until smooth. Next stir in chips with strong spoon until the chips are evenly distributed. Bake 12-15 minutes-just until the edges are slightly browned.

Oatmeal cookies

1 1/2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp salt
6 cups oatmeal

Mix everything together very well. Scoop out small amounts for each cookie and place in an oven that was preheated to 350 degrees. Bake 15-17 minutes.

To rename a snack...

I would love suggestions on a new name for this snack. It's been called some rather unappetizing names like White Trash and Puppy Chow and I hate both of those. So come, suggest.

1 box of Cinnamon Life cereal (or you can use any kind of Chex or Life or Golden Grahams)
1 large box of raisins
1 cup peanuts
1 stick butter
1 small bag of chocolate chips
2 cups chunky peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 box powdered sugar

Pour cereal, nuts, and raisins into a large paper sack.
In a saucepan, put butter, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and vanilla together. Over medium heat, mix everything very well.
Pour sauce over cereal mix in paper bag.
Pour in box of powdered sugar and shake really well.
Serve when cooled.

Peanut butter rice crispie treats

Fair warning: The marshmallow, peanut butter mixture is really hard to stir. Share the responsibility with someone else, so you won't have sore arms

1 cup chunky peanut butter
2 bags of marshmallows
8-10 cups rice crispies
melted butter or cooking spray

Melt marshmallows and peanut butter together in a large pot. When the mixture is completely melted, stir in rice crispies. Spread mixture, while still warm, onto a large bar stone/pan. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container.

Brownies

8 squares of unsweetened baking chocolate
3 sticks butter
4 cups sugar
6 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Spray 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Microwave butter and chocolate squares for 30 second intervals until they're melted together.
Mix other ingredients into chocolate mixture. Stir thoroughly.
Pour batter into pan/stone and bake for 35-40 minutes, or unitl toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.

Sugar cookies

8 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups butter
2/3 cup shortening
4 eggs
3 cups sugar
1 tbsp vanilla

TOPPING:
colored sugar
sprinkles
icing

Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl, stirring until all flour has mixed in very well. Put plastic wrap over bowl and set in fridge for 1 hour, to help dough stiffen up.
After an hour, turn dough out onto flour surface. Kneed and roll dough until it's thin enough to make your cookies. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on cookies sheets/pans/stones. Pour sprinkles or other toppings over each cookie.
Bake on 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned.

Snickerdoodles

I'll have to post the ways I make soap later, when I have time to actually make some.

4 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1 1/4 cups shortening
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup buttermilk (milk will do in a pinch)

TOPPING:
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp cinnamon


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix together all dry ingredients in 1 bowl. Mix together all wet ingredients in another. Slowly combine the two until mixture is smooth. Mix together topping ingredients and set aside.
With a small scoop, put balls of cookie dough mixture onto pans/stones.
Press flat bottomed glass into topping mixture. (if it becomes too sticky, you can dip the glass into cooking oil, then the topping) Press on each cooking ball to flatten.
Bake 12-15 minutes. These are not supposed to brown, so keep a close eye on them!

M&M cookie bars

1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, melted
1 tbsp vanilla
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups m&ms

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Beat together all ingredients (except the m&ms) until smooth. Stir in candy. Spread into a 13x9 inch baking pan/stone. Bake 20-30 minutes, or until slightly browned around the edges.

Applesauce

I don't usually make my own applesauce, but if we have a large enough batch of apples that the kids haven't eaten and need to be used, I'll throw this together. Then, of course, my kids love to eat it warm, just because I made it.

About 3lbs. of apples (we had Granny Smiths and Galas)
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup lemon juice
About 8 cups apple juice

Core and peel apples. Put them in a pot with lemon and apple juices (this prevents so much discoloration of the apples and prevents having to put in sugar at the end). Boil until very tender. Drain and put apple chunks in large bowl. You can either mash or mix apples to desired consistency. Add cinnamon. Pressure can whatever the kids don't devour.

Cracker Jack cookies

3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soa
1 tsp salt
2 cups butter, melted
2 cup brown sugar
2 cups sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
4 cups oatmeal
4 cups Rice Krispies

Mix together everyting down to the Rice Crispies. After mixture is smooth, hand stir in the cereal. Drop into heaping spoonfuls on baking pan/stone. Bake on 350 degrees until they are evenly browned. Cool.

NOTES: 1-This dough is very thick.
2-These cookies are to be chewy, so when you start to remove them from a hot pan, they bunch together. Let them cool for a few minutes, then try to remove them.

Makes 13 dozen

Candy corn popcorn balls

8 cups popped popcorn
1 cup candy corn
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (10-ounce) bag marshmallows
Cooking spray



Combine popcorn and candy corn in a large bowl.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; stir in salt and bag marshmallows. Reduce heat to low; cook until the marshmallows melt and the mixture is smooth, stirring frequently.
Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn mixture, stirring to coat well. Lightly coat hands with cooking spray; shape popcorn mixture into 20 (2-inch) balls.

Peanut butter cookies

I have been searching and searching for the perfect recipe for peanut butter cookies for what seems like an eternity. I do believe, tonight, that I finally found it. Chewy, sweet, yummy! Disclaimer, though: not in any shape, form, or fashion low fat.

4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups butter, melted
6 eggs
2 cups peanut butter
1 tbsp vanilla

Mix ingredients together very well in a large mixing bowl. Scoop onto baking pans/stones/sheets. Use a fork dipped in flour to make the criss cross shape on top of each cookie. Bake on 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until edges are very slightly browned.
YIELD:10 dozen

Applesauce cookies

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup applesauce
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all ingredients together. Place dough in heaping spoonfuls on baking pan/stone.
Bake 12ish minutes, until cookies are SLIGHTLY browned at the edges.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, soft
2 cups brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
4 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
5 cups oatmeal
1 package peanut butter chips

Heat oven to 350°F.
Beat butter, brown sugar and sugar in bowl until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in oats, and peanut butter chips (batter will be stiff). Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Pineapple ice cream sandwiches

This was sent to me this morning from my stepmom and it sounded so good, we made it this afternoon. Simple, great way to get the kids to help out and easy ingredients to have on hand pretty much all the time. We made a double batch and used 1 1/2 boxes of graham crackers. Great thing to make ahead for summer snack times!

1- 16 oz container whipped topping, thawed
1- 20 oz can crushed pineapple, drained
1- 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding
36 graham cracker squares

In a large bowl, beat together the thawed whipped topping, crushed pineapple and vanilla pudding mix for 2 minutes. Spread pineapple mixture 1/2 inch think between two graham crackers. Wrap gently in plastic and freeze for 2 hours.

Peanut butter surprises

1 cup butter, soft
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup peanut butter cups, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream all ingredients together, saving peanut butter cups for last. Stir those in with a scraper. Drop by spoonful on baking sheets. Bake for 15ish minutes, or until LIGHTLY browned.

Dirt pudding

2 cups sugar
1 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup flour
4 cups water
1 1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 tbsp vanilla
chocolate sandwich cookies
gummy worms

In a saucepan, mix sugar, flour, and cocoa. Add water and milk, stirring until smooth. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil. Cook until it thickens. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool completely.
Crush sandwich cookies. Once pudding is cool, pour 3/4 of cookie mixture into pudding. Pour into serving bowls. Top with crushed cookies and gummy worms.
While I prefer to make my own pudding, you can also use boxed and it comes out just as well.

Chocolate chip peanut butter bars

Bottom layer (standard chocolate chip cookie recipe)
2 1/4 cup flour
1 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
12 oz package chocolate chips

Top layer:
2 cups peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Mix together ingredients for chocolate chip cookies, saving the chips for last. Spoon about half the mixture into bottom of lightly greased 9x13 in pan. Spread evenly.
Mix together ingredients for top layer. Spoon over bottom layer of cookie dough, spreading evenly.
Bake on 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until browned and firm to the touch. Allow to cool for 30 minutes. Slice into squares.

Monkey Bread

One of our favorites for Sunday breakfast!

Ingredients:
Frozen bread dough-cut into bite sizes
Sauce:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp cinnamon
Sprinkles:
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
Directions:
Mix together sugar and cinnamon for dipping dough balls into. Dip each dough ball, covering generously. Place in bundt pan no more than 2 layers deep.Mix together all ingredients for sauce in pan. Heat on medium until smooth. Pour over dough.Place in warm spot in your kitchen, letting dough double in size over the next 30 minutes. Bake on 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until browned.Loosen immediately and invert over plate.