toasted coconut & chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

For some reason or another, a favorite cookie from my childhood popped into my head a couple of days ago. It was a store bought cookie with coconut, chocolate chips, and oatmeal. I loved it! These days I'd rather bake my own, it's much more fun and, of course, there aren't as many strange ingredients to wonder about.

My mom is going to be reading this so I would like to clarify one thing, we did bake plenty of our own cookies as well. Our favorites were Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip and peanut butter with those cute little fork marks.



I would have loved to use whole wheat pastry flour in these. Unfortunately, I used it all and haven't gone out to pick up more. I will definitely use it the next time, it's much more nutritious.



I did buy the cheapy chips but they really weren't bad at all.



I love the the toasted coconut in these!



My kid's were thrilled when they arrived home from school and discovered these dandy cookies were waiting for them in the kitchen. :)



Toasted Coconut and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
by theUngourmet

makes about 2 dozen

Printable version

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp coconut extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup toasted shredded coconut
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups rolled oats

In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and coconut. Beat butter for 30 seconds until creamy. Add the egg, extracts, and sugar. Mix well. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix well. Fold in the chips and oats.

Place tbsp sized scoops on baking sheet. Press down each scoop just a bit. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.

My, oh my, these are disappearing faster than I can say cookie!!

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I also wanted to say a very big thank-you to Claudia and Sweet and Savory for this lovely award! Thank you so much for thinking of me!

Thanks for stopping over today! Have a sweet weekend!

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Mocha muffin bites

I have been craving a warm and delightfully chocolaty Grande Mocha for about a week now. I've been resisting the temptation to drive on thru and hand the barista four bucks for twenty ounces of heaven in a paper cup.



I decided there was a much more economical way to satisfy my cravings.



I baked up a big batch of these yummy mocha muffin bites.



I did a search and found that Joy of Baking had a nice recipe for mocha muffins. Of course, I made quite a few changes, one of which was to add a big dollop of Nutella to the mix. Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven!



Mocha Muffin Bites

makes approximately 30 mini muffins

3 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup non-fat Greek style vanilla yogurt
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup strong black coffee (room temp)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup Nutella
2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup ground golden flax seed
1/3 cup quality cocoa powder
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Spray oil a mini muffin pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine the eggs, milk, yogurt, oil, coffee, vanilla, and Nutella. Whisk until smooth. In another large bowl combine the flour, flax, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk well. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and stir just until combined. Fold in chips.

Bake in a 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Remove from muffin pan and cool completely. Frost with Nutella if desired.

Print recipe

Trust me, you won't be able to eat just one of these cute little muffins so don't even try to resist. Eat two or three! :D

I am sending this over to Bellalimento for this month's Nutella Challenge.




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I also wanted to say a great big thanks for a couple of recent award I've received.



This first one is from Kallay. Go check out her blog. She is a fabulous writer, fellow word lover, and a coffee junkie just like me!

This second award is from Jill. You must go visit Jill's blog. She is an amazing baker and she recently made the most fantastic gingerbread houses I've ever seen!

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!

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Mini burritos and a big bowl of picante sauce for Super Bowl Sunday

Being a part of Foodbuzz is so much fun! As a participant in the Tastemaker program, I have the opportunity to try delicious food products. I was thrilled when they asked if I'd like to make a Super Bowl Sunday recipe using Pace Picante sauce. I love Pace!

Here are some fun facts: Picante sauce is smoother than salsa, making it a better choice for cooking. David Pace created picante sauce in 1947 for the specific purpose of adding delicious flavor and kick to his meals, and Pace Picante sauce is still made today using David Pace's original recipe.

I thought these little mini burritos would be a great finger food recipe for Super Bowl. They are super easy and taste fabulous!

Print recipe

Mini Burritos
by theUngourmet

18 small tortillas
1/2 cup brown or white rice
1 can refried beans
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup Pace Picante sauce (mild or medium)
1 cup cheddar cheese
several dashes of hot sauce

sour cream
guacamole
Pace Picante sauce
anything else that sounds good to you

Cook the rice according to directions. Stir in the beans, corn, Pace Picante sauce, cheese, and hot sauce. Cook over medium heat until hot. Warm tortillas in the oven or microwave. Place a scoop of bean mixture on each tortilla. Wrap up tightly. Place in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until nicely browned, turning once.

Serve these up with big bowls of sour cream, guacamole, and Pace Picante sauce.

This recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled depending on how many fans you're inviting.

Go Team(s)! :D




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Easy Minestrone

We are experiencing some unusually cold temperatures around the Portland area right now. This basically means that WE ARE FREEZING OUR BUNS CLEAN OFF!

My son's spelling words for tonight's homework were as follows: Freeze, Frigid, Temperature, and Cold. Very fitting!

All of this blustery chilliness puts me in the mood for a nice piping hot bowl of Minestrone Soup.



I have used this recipe for years. It's quick, easy, warm, and wonderful. The only change I made this time was to use whole wheat penne.

Easy Minestrone
by theUngourmet

1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove chopped garlic
3 cups chicken, beef, or veggie broth
1 cup cooked kidney beans
2 chopped carrots
1 cup fresh green bean, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 cup marinara sauce
1 cup whole wheat penne
cracked pepper
grated parmesan (optional)

Heat olive oil in a 4 qt saucepan. Add garlic and saute for about 1 minute, stirring. Add the broth and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes until noodles are al dente.

Serve with grilled cheese sandwiches, or a loaf of warm, crusty bread.



This really hits the spot!

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I also wanted to take a moment to say thank you to Teresa of A Blog About Food for passing me this fabulous award. Teresa's blog is one of my most favorites. She is such a sweetheart. Even though we've never met, I have a feeling if we ever did meet, we would be instant friends!

I also want to thank Olive of Latest Recipes Home Cooking and Baking. I recently discovered Olive's blog and I have to tell you it is beyond full of terrific recipes!

I am supposed to list a few things about myself for each of these award. I forget how many so I'll just see how many I can come up with.

1. I have Raynaud's Disease so I really hate the cold. I wish I could enjoy the cold, crisp air as much as (most) everyone else does. Waaaa!

2. I love making sweet treats but I don't really like eating my creations. I just don't have much of a sweet tooth.

3. I suffer from social anxiety. I feel really uncomfortable at parties or in large groups and would much rather be home in my jammies.

4. My kids are my best friends. They fill my life with more joy than words can express.

5. I am terrible at video games of any kind. I hate them, I stink at playing them, but I am very impressed with people (my kids) that are great at playing them.

6. I can never sit through an entire movie without getting up at least one time to use the bathroom. Consequently, I've never seen a movie from beginning to end in my entire life.

7. I wish I was a vegetarian but I have a meat eating family so it's just too much work for me to make separate meals each night so...woe is me.

8. I truly think the hardest part of going veg would be giving up bacon! :D

Well, Zip Zap. That's a wrap! Happy Tuesday!

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This wrap is a super star!

This wrap is so good I actually asked for it's autograph! The paparazzi have been camped outside out the house all evening! Geez, can't a wrap get any privacy! ;0)



Makes 4 wraps

You will, of course, need a bit of bacon. 4 slices of chopped turkey bacon will do just fine. Pour a bit of oil into a pan, throw in the bacon and brown it up really well. Remove from the pan and set aside.



Add a touch more oil to the pan and cook up 4 diced chicken tenders. When they are about done, toss in 4 or 5 leftover creamy baby yukons from last night's mushroom and pork chop dinner. Cook, stirring often, for 3 or 4 minutes until the taters are hot. Stir in the bacon.



Spread a tbsp of Trader Joe's Organic Ranch Dressing onto a large flour tortilla. Place a nice helping of chicken, bacon, potato mixture on top of the Ranch.



Top this off with some steamed fresh green beans, halved cherry tomatoes, and some sliced green onion.



Wrap it up snug as a bug!



Come to Mama!



Strike a pose. There's nothing to it. Vogue.

Speaking of Vogue...I received ThIs MoSt AmAzInG award from my dear and oh-so-far-away bloggy friend, Dustjacket Attic! If you haven't been over to this Feast For The Eyes Fashion Extravaganza of a Blog, you should get your buns over there pronto! I like to visit everyday!

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Lemon Basil Parmesan Chicken Wraps and Roof Tiles

Wrap wrap bo bap, banana fana fo fap, me my mo map, wrap.

If I was as talented as The Blonde Duck I believe I would have already written an ode to wraps. She recently wrote an ode to biscuits that I found to be quite lovely. I thought of writing a rap about wraps but my mind was as blank as...as...a chalkboard that your children's teacher hasn't written any assignments on yet. Do they still have chalkboards???

Anyway, I digress.

This is another humdinger!

You will need the following items for this wrap:

1 lb ground chicken
1/2 cup or so panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup sliced green onion
2 or 3 cloves minced garlic
juice from 1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients thoroughly, place into freezer for a bit to make it easier to work with. Put a little oil on your hands so the meat mixture doesn't stick. Form into patties and grill until done.

This recipe will make four wraps.

You will of course want to whip up a bit of yummy mayo to go with this wrap.

1/3 cup mayo
juice from 1/2 a lemon
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp sliced green onion

Mix well and chill until ready for use.



HoLy FiShPaStE! Look at the size of those zucchini!!



I wrapped the patties up with some of the yummy mayo, a little green leaf lettuce and some tomato slices. These were simply fabulous!



I also wanted to share the latest on the roofing project. Let's take a close look at these tiles, shall we?! Aren't they just beautiful?



Now, let's see them from another angle. Delightful!



I also would like to take a moment to thank a couple of my favorite bloggers for the following awards.

A big thanks to Juliana for this lovely blog award. Juliana's blog is called Simple Recipes and it is really wonderful. She has a cool bit at the end of each post called Curiosity Corner that I just love.



I also want to thank Rebecca of Chow and Chatter for this Tasty award. Rebecca's blog is very Tasty as well! Thanks for the recent FB help, Rebecca. It was a pleasure chatting with you! :0)



Well, that's all I've got for now. Hope you all are having a most pleasant week!


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Friday's Try a Bloggy Friend's Recipe Day and a Couple of Awards

Today's recipe is from a super terrific blog called Eats Well with Others. The proud owner of this blog is Joanne. Joanne resides in the Big Apple and is studying to become a doctor. She is bright and ambitious, a devoted runner, a fabulous cook, and such a beauty. What a catch! ;0)

I saw this Summer Squash Casserole recipe over at Joanne's place and I knew I would LOVE it!

I only made a couple of changes to this fabulous recipes. I added some chopped garlic to my cheese sauce and I used Panko bread crumbs in my topping. Please click HERE for Joanne's recipe!

I could NOT stop eating this! I kept sneaking back into the kitchen and eating it right from the baking dish. It is so cheesy and delicious! You must try it!

Be sure to hop on over to Eats Well with Others!


I also wanted to send out a very big thank you to Stephanie for this sweet award. Stephanie is such a sweetheart. Her blog is called The Creative Side of Me and it is full of wonderful recipes and great giveaways. Please hop over and say hello to her as well!

This award is from a very Cool Cat that goes by the name of Doggy Bloggy! You will find him over at Chez What?, which is one of my new found favorite blogs. Me thinks he has missed his calling. He really should have his own restaurant. Go check out the wonderful Julia Child videos Doggy Bloggy has in his last couple of posts!

I am supposed to share 7 or so things about myself. I really prefer to toot other people's horns, but since I haven't really played along in a while I thought I would give it a shot.

1. I have a huge crush on Johnny Depp. (How lame is this?!)
2. I have only been to one big concert and that was Alan Jackson and Martina McBride.
3. I was a PK. (Preacher's Kid)
4. I have Raynaud's Syndrome so I really hate the cold.
5. I lived on a houseboat for a while in my twenties. I loved it.
6. When I was in high school I had a guinea pig named Benny.
7. I would love to get a cupcake tattoo.

I would like to pass these two awards on to all of you! Thank you so much for stopping over my way every day. It's such a pleasure getting to know all of you! :0)

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