Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake

1 1/2 c boiling water

1 c. oatmeal

1/2 c. butter, melted

1 c white sugar

1 c brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 c flour

1 t soda

1/4 t salt

3/4 t cinnamon

Pour boiling water over aots in bowl. Cover for 20 min, with towel over bowl. In anothr bowl cream butter, sugars and egg until fluffy, stir in oats. Add flour, salt, soda, cinnamon and mix well. Pour in greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle the top of cake with 1/2 c brown sugar, 1 c. choc. chips and 1 c chipped nuts. Bake for 35 min at 350.

Let cake stand 20 min to cool, pour on glaze and serve.

Glaze

1 c. powdered sugar

1 t vanilla

3 T butter

2-3 T milk

mix with whisk to mix well

Coconut Macaroons

2 packages flaked coconut (7 oz each)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
1 egg white

Preheat oven to 325. Line cookie sheet with tin foil, then grease and flour sheet. Combine liquids, then add coconut. Put cookies on sheet by teaspoonfuls, slightly flatten. Put in oven for 15-17 minutes. Makes 4 dozen cookies.

German Waffles

Yesterday I was in the mood for waffles but realized we didn't have waffle mix. I looked up recipes online but they all called for buttermilk, which I also didn't have. So I found this recipe, and it was pretty dang good.

3 cups flour
2 Tbsp. baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. nutmeg
3 whole eggs
3/4 cup canola oil
3 cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and nutmeg. Add oil, eggs, milk and vanilla. Beat well and bake in hot waffle iron. Serve however you like your waffles. We put yogurt and fruit on them, (I used the yogurt with fruit on the bottom cups because we already had them in the fridge. They're also a lot cheaper than getting fresh fruit and a big tub of yogurt, but probably not as healthy or tasty. Oh, the joys of being poor... ;) ) Oh, this makes a lot of waffles, so if you only have a few people to feed I suggest either halving the recipe or cooking them all and freezing them (which is what we did, now we have frozen eggos!)

Vegetable Pizza

Not a good picture, but so good and fresh and healthy.

1 can Pillsbury Pizza dough (or homemade pizza crust) - bake according to package

Sauce:
1 package cream cheese, fat free
1/2 cup mayonnaise, fat free
1 package ranch dressing mix

Toppings:
Any fresh veggies of your choosing.
I do carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, zucchini and cheese.

Cheesecake Brownies

One of my favorite things to bring to a potluck. Super easy and always a hit.

1 package brownie mix (9x13 family size)
1- 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Make brownies according to directions on box and pour into 9x13 pan.
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Mix in sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Pour mix over brownies and swirl with knife for marbled look. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Okay- so I just looked and I guess mom put this one on here already. Oh well. It is so good it can be on twice :)

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Cookies

(This is the bag of cookies after Logan got hold of it.
He just turned them into cookie bites.)

This is my all time favorite cookie recipe. I think they taste a lot like Great Harvest cookies.

Cream Together:

3/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup water

Add:

1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour (I do 1/2 cup white and 1/2 cup wheat; half as healthy,twice as tasty)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups oats
a few handfuls of chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes. Makes approximately 3 dozen small cookies.

Baked Penne Parmesan

I made this recipe up and I have to say it was a hit with the fam.

8 oz penne pasta, boiled until tender
6 strips bacon (use the precooked - much easier, quicker, etc.)
12 oz ricotta cheese
1 c. milk
1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese
1 clove crushed garlic
1 c. fresh sliced mushrooms
1 tomato, diced
2 c. mozzeralla cheese

After boiling the pasta, put in casserole dish. Mix the ricotta, milk, parmesan and garlic in a bowl and then stir into pasta. Add bacon, mushrooms, tomato and stir into mixture. Sprinkle the cheese on top (I also sprinkled a bit more parmesan cheese on top, too) and bake at 400 degrees for 30 min. Delish.