Ranger Cookies

I first had one of these cookies at Yum Kitchen and Bakery and decided I needed to find the recipe. I found this one online and modified it slightly.  The cookies are really chewy and delicious (duh)!

Ranger Cookies

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup coconut
1.5 cups chocolate and toffee chips/candy pieces

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, sugar, and vanilla extract and beat until creamy.
4. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated.

5. Gradually add flour mixture and mix well.

6. Stir in oatmeal, coconut and chocolate/toffee pieces and stir just until blended in.

7. Roll into small balls and flatten with your hand.
8. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 10-12 minutes or till light brown on the edges.

Jalapeno Walnut Pesto

This recipe is super versatile for using in many different dishes.  I like to use it as a pasta sauce, a pizza sauce or spread it lightly on french bread and top it with tomatoes. 

Jalapeno Walnut Pesto

Serves 4-6 people

2 cups packed basil leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup walnuts
1 roasted jalapeno
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

1. Heat skillet and roast a jalapeno until brown/black on all sides and softened.
2. Place walnuts, garlic, sun dried tomatoes and jalapeno in blender or food processors and process until finely minced.  You could remove jalapeno seeds first if you want it to be less spicy.

3. Add basil pulse.  Add olive oil between pulses.  Once basil is blended in then add cheese, salt and pepper and process one more time.

4. Enjoy on bread, pizza, pasta or whatever you choose!

 A pizza and a pasta dish both made with the pesto.  Stay tuned for those recipes!

Note: When using as a pasta sauce reserve 1/4 cup pasta water and add to thin mixture before coating pasta.

Baked Onion Rings

This is a recipe that I found on Taste Spotting and despite the fact the onion rings aren't fried, they are still delicious.  I didn't have a whole onion, so I scaled the recipe down for what I had, but the original recipe is below.  I also had a few jalapenos, so I breaded and baked them along with the onions.  Its a great side for black bean burgers or spent grain burgers.  Or for a late night snack. :)

Baked Onion Rings

• 2 Sweet Onions
• 1/2 Cup Flour
• 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne powder (optional)
• 2 Tsp Table Salt
• 2 Cups Panko Bread Crumbs
• 3 Eggs
  
  

1) Preheat oven to 450.
2) Start off by peeling your onions and cutting them into approximately ½ inch wide slices.  You can make them into rings, or wedges.
3) Get three bowls for your breading station. In one bowl, combine your flour, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and table salt. Put your panko crumbs in a second bowl and whisk the eggs in the last bowl. 

4) To bread the onion rings, dip them in the egg, lightly coating them, then into the flour, and into the egg once again, and finally into the panko.   Place the breaded onion rings on a pan coated with non-stick cooking spray. Repeat this process until you have breaded all your onion rings.

Pre and Post Cooking

5) Give them a generous coating of cooking spray, to help brown them, and bake for 20-25 minutes (or until they are browned) flipping halfway through.

6) Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!

Mexican Rice

This recipe is a great compliment to any Mexican meal.  Its easy to make and you can focus on cooking the rest of your meal while it bakes in the oven.

Mexican Rice

1 medium white onion
2  jalapenos, tops removed
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
 2 cups long grain white rice
 1/3 cup canola oil
 4 garlic cloves
 2 cups vegetable broth
 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
 1 tablespoon chili powder
 1 limes
 diced cilantro (optional)

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 350.

2) Process tomato, onion, garlic and jalapenos in a food processor or blender until pureed and thoroughly smooth. Transfer mixture to measuring cup and reserve exactly 2 cups.
3) Place rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until water runs clear- about 1 1/2 minutes. Shake rice vigorously to remove excess water. This step removes the starch from the rice so it will not stick. IF YOU OMIT THIS STEP YOUR RICE WILL NOT BE DRY AND FLUFFY.

4) Heat oil in heavy bottomed oven safe 12 inch straight sided sauté pan or Dutch oven with tight fitting lid (tin foil also works) over low-medium heat about 2 minutes. Drop a few rice grains in and if they sizzle then it is ready. Add rice and fry stirring until rice is light golden and translucent, about 6-8 minutes. Be careful that the oil doesn't get too hot too fast or the oil will splatter.

5) Reduce heat to medium and stir in broth, pureed mixture, chili pepper and salt. Increase heat and bring to a boil.
6) Cover pan and transfer pan to oven to bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 30-35 minutes. Stir well after 15 minutes.
7) Sprinkle cilantro on top and serve with a lime wedge.

Roasted Garbanzo Beans

This recipe is super easy to make and it is a tasty, yet healthy, snack.  You can sub in other spices that you prefer too. You can also easily double or triple the recipe.

Roasted Garbanzo Beans

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 teaspoon garam masala

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 400.

2. Place drained and rinsed beans into bowl and add lemon juice, olive oil, curry, masala and cayenne pepper.  Stir until well mixed.

3. Spread beans onto a cooking tray and sprinkle with salt.

 

4. Bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring once halfway through.  

Mac & Cheese

This is an awesome recipe I got from my friend Kevin's mom.  It never fails to please a large crowd and is easily doubled to make a 9x13 pan (as I did below).  I've used all different combinations of cheese and it always turns out delicious as long as I still use a little bit of Velveeta which helps give it the creamy, smooth texture. Make it for your next big gathering!

 

Mac & Cheese

8 oz noodles (elbow or shells)
2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves minced
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 oz. Velveeta
4 oz. Pepper jack
4 oz. Cheddar
1/2 cup bread crumbs

*Makes one 8x8 pan

 

1. Cook pasta, drain and set aside.
2. Heat oven to 350.

 
3. In medium pan melt butter and add garlic.  Gradually stir in flour whisking constantly. 

 
4. Stir in milk and continue to cook while stirring over medium heat until thickened.  Add salt and pepper.

 
5. Slowly add cheese and stir until melted.  It should have a thick, but liquid consistency.

 
6. Pour cheese over noodles and mix.  Sprinkle bread crumbs on top.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the sauce has thickened and is bubbling. 

 

Sugar Cookies

This is a recipe I created when I was living in London.  I was bored a lot so I decided to develop the perfect sugar cookie and I experimented a lot with it to develop, in my opinion, the best sugar cookie recipe out there! I'll let you all in on my sugar cookie secret: brown sugar.  I use about 1/3 brown and 2/3 white instead of all white like most recipes call for.  I personally think it gives the cookies a lot better flavor.  And since they are always gone in about 30 minutes, I'd say Randin, Toby and Colleen agree.  Try them and tell me what you think! 

Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter, room temperature 
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder 
1 1/3 Flour

it makes about 15 large sugar cookies if you don't eat all the dough first :)

1. Turn oven on to 375.   Mix butter and sugar in the mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes, scraping down the edges every minute.
2.  On low mix in the egg and vanilla.

3. Combine the flour, baking soda and baking powder.  On low, slowly mix in the flour until just combined.

4. Form balls about 1 inch by 1 inch.

5.  Bake 7-8 minutes.  If you want soft cookies, be sure to take them out as soon as the edges even start to look brown.  They may seem really doughy, but trust me they firm up if you let them sit on a plate for a bit.  If you let the whole cookies get golden brown before removing, they will be really hard.  Which is great if you like them like that, but I don't! :)
6. Try not to eat them all yourself!