Father's day flowers

Michael's parents sent some flowers for father's day. It's called King of the Grill. I tried to get photos from all sides. Some of the blue flowers grew upside down and those died rather quickly so I went ahead and took them out.

Downeast Maine Pumpkin bread

I found this recipe a few years back and this wonderful moist bread even made it into our family cookbook.
I found it on Allrecipes, if you go HERE you will be able to see it as well. The only thing I do different is make 2 loafs of bread and not 3. I like my bread to be a little thicker.

Oatmeal cookies

When I was growing up my mom taught me how to bake. One of the many things that she taught me to bake is my dad's favorite oatmeal cookies. Once we moved to Texas I wasn't able to find the recipe and my mom had misplaced it as well. Then I finally found it! I had to make them. So with the help of my youngest daughter, Natily, these cookies were made. 

Oatmeal Cookies

Makes 2 dozen

1 C. All purpose flour

1/2 C. granulated sugar

1/2 C. packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 C. butter flavored shortening

1 egg

1/4 tsp vanilla

3/4 C. quick cooking oats

1/4 C granulated sugar (for rolling the cookies in)

In mixing bowl stir first 6 ingredients together. Add shortening, egg and vanilla; beat well. Stir in oats. Form into balls and roll in a additional granulated sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 F for 10-12 minutes.

Breakfast biscuits

My friend Jackie came up with these awesome breakfast biscuits! My girls love them and they are super easy. This is how I make them. You take a can of 8 count biscuits cut them into 4 pieces, smash them down so they will fit into a muffin pan. Place one of the quarter pieces in each spot on the muffin pan (only use 16 muffin spots) . Place some shredded cheese of your choosing on top of each biscuit then put some breakfast meat (sausage, bacon, ham, etc) on top of cheese. Scramble some eggs (as many or as little as you like) and pour some on top of the meat sprinkle more cheese on it if you would like (depending on how much you put on the bottom) and use the remaining biscuits, cut them into 4  pieces smash them down and put them on top you don't need to press down just lay it on top. Bake at 350 for about 20 min. or until the tops are golden brown. I bake these ahead of time and freeze them so my daughters have quick easy breakfast throughout the week. To heat them up all i do is wrap them up in a paper towel and put them in the microwave for about a minute or less depending on how big or small the biscuit is.

For these I used turkey bacon

Natily's Good Morning Cookies

Right now I am trying to figure out what I should post first in this family blog that I am going to try to keep up. The only thing that I can think of that I haven't shared with a lot of people is Natily's Good Morning Cookies. My friend Jackie and I came up with these cookies due to both of us having daughters that are not always in the best moods first thing in the morning. Jackie describes the taste of these cookies as no baked cookies (only these cookies are baked).  I do not claim that these are healthy but for now they do the trick of making our lives a little easier in the mornings with our little girls.

Natily's Good Morning Cookies

1 Cup all purpose flour

3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 Cup margarine

1/2 Cup brown sugar

1/2 Cup white sugar

1 egg

1 Tbsp brewed coffee (at room temp)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 Cup creamy peanut butter

1 heaping cup of rolled oats

3/4 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Set aside. 

In large bowl cream together margarine, brown sugar and white sugar. Beat in the egg, vanilla and brewed coffee. Add peanut butter. Mix in dry ingredients. Add oatmeal and chocolate chips.

Bake 8-12 minutes 

Makes just over 2 dozen cookies.