Ranger Cookies

These cookies are soooooo good. I know I post treats a lot.... but that is because I love treats!! This recipe is my father in laws...he makes the best ranger cookies and so I wanted to try them out myself so I could eat them more often!!! Don't let the picture fool you, they are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the middle!! yum!!

Ranger Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 cups oats

2 cups wheaties cereal

1 cup shredded coconut

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Sift in dry ingredients. Roll into balls and bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.

YUMMY!!!

Buttercream Icing

I am in love. yes, it's true.

{Random fact #1: I would love to be a wedding cake maker. I seem to have a lot of the tools, but not the know how. I know it takes practice and the right recipes.}

Buttercream icing is probably THE best thing I have come across in a while (in regards to frosting that is) I always got SOOOO frustrated about the messy, goopy, gloppy, thick canned frosting I buy with cake mixes. But it's so convienient!! (not so)

Gross, Goopy Mess.

Smooth, dreamy buttercream frosting!

Buttercream Icing is awesome. It's smooth, light and spreads like a DREAM!!! I don't know why I haven't been using it the whole time. My dad wanted a chocolate cake for his birthday with Vanilla Buttercream Icing. OK.... I thought.... should I attempt my own?? I did my usual google-ing of recipes and came across one from the food network...its gotta be good.. Right??? Well it seemed easy enough so I decided to try it. It worked. and it tasted delicious. And it spread on the cake SO GREAT!! It was smooth and didn't make the cake crumble into a million crumbs when I was spreading it! It was awesome!!! I will be saving this recipe for the rest of my life. I will use it forever! Here is the recipe:

Vanilla Buttercream Icing:

Ingredients

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream

Directions

In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.

Rainbow Cupcakes

I made these super cute cupcakes this weekend! My family has 3 birthday's this week, so we had a big party and I brought these!

Here is the recipe :)

Rainbow Cupcakes

1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1 C sour cream
1/2 C milk
1/3 C vegetable oil

divide batter into 5 or 6 bowls. (depends on if you want to add purple) Color batter with gel food coloring. (PLEASE use gel food coloring, its SO much easier and makes the colors more vibrant!) scoop a spoonful of each color into lined cupcake pans and bake according to box directions (i underbake them a little to make them more moist/dense and yummy)

Homemade Oreo's

Today I am venturing off into unknown territory! I made these home made oreo's. I know they wont be as good as the originals...they will probably be better, BUT there is a big difference in store bought and home made. They are both good in their own way. Home made ones are soft, store bought are crunchy and I love them both! Here goes Nothin!

Homemade Oreo's

For Cookies:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened dutch process cocoa (i used reg cocoa powder)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar (see recipe note)

1/2 cup plus 2 TBS room temperature, unsalted butter

1 large egg

For Creme Filling:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room temperature, unsalted butter

1/4 cup vegetable shortening

2 cups SIFTED confectioners sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Set 2 racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375 degrees.

2. In a food processor, bowl, or electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt and sugar. While pulsing or on low speed, add the butter. Then add the egg. Continue mixing/processing until dough comes together in a mass.

3. Take rounded teaspons of batter and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating tray's from upper to lower to ensure even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.

4. To make Creme filling, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2-3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.

5. To assemble cookies, either put a small glob in the middle of the cookie (like my wording?) and put the cookies together smooshing slightly to get the creme to the edges. You can also use a piping bag if you want to add another step to the process ;)

NOTE: The sugar in the cookie recipe says 1 to 1 1/2 cups. The original recipe says you can alter it to taste depending on how sweet you like your cookie. Since it was my first time, I used about 1 and 1/4 a cup and they tasted fine to me.

I highlighted SIFTED because I didn't sift my powdered sugar and my cream was VERY thick. I actually had to add milk to it to thin it out. I think if since sifting adds air, its not as much sugar so you can either do it that way if you don't have a sifter and just add some milk, or sift it.

I have to say these cookies turned out pretty good!! They were easy to make!

Cake Mix Cookies

1 Box Cake Mix (any flavor)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 Eggs

Mix ins of your liking

This recipe is awesome! You can use any combination of mix/mix ins. Here are some examples of ones I have used:

Coconut Cake Mix with Chocolate Chips

Devils Food Cake Mix with Peanut butter chips

White cake mix with white choc chips and dried cranberries

Chocolate cake mix with choc chips and walnuts

Yellow Cake mix with chocolate chips

White cake mix with andes mint chips

The possibilites are endless! They always turn out perfect. I usually bake mine for about 9 minutes because if you cook them too long, they get dry. :) Enjoy!

Bake cookies at 350 for 9-13 minutes!

Thanks to my friend Monica for this recipe!!

Paprika Chicken with sour cream gravy

Paprika Chicken with Sour Cream Gravy by way of a campbells cookbook

1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp. Paprika

1 tsp. each of the following: salt, ground pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper

4 boneless chicken breasts

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1 8oz carton sour cream

Mix flour and seasonings. Coat chicken

Melt Butter in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned.

Add soup and onions. Cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Stir in sour cream. Serve with mashed potatos or rice.

*I left out the cayenne pepper cause I have small children and wussy tastebuds!*

Hamburger/Tortilla Casserole

There are many names for this dish in our family, hamburger casserole, tortilla casserole, beef and green chili casserole, what ever you call it, its good!! My kids will eat it all. I usually double the recipe for a 9x13 pan because leftovers are even better! I got it from my sister in law, Kelli :)

Hamburger Casserole
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup minced onion
1 small can diced green chilies
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3-5 tortillas
shredded cheese

Brown ground beef and onions together, drain. Mix in green chilies and soup. Layer tortillas in an 8x8 pan (like lasagne) with filling and a little cheese in between each layer. Cover with more cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Voila! Easy and tasty!! Enjoy!