peanut butter oatmeal cookies

Servings: 12 (supposedly)
note-this makes too much filling for the amount of cookies, i'd half it

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1/2 cup peanut butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add egg and beat well.
2. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add these dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir. Add oatmeal and stir.
3. Drop by teaspoons onto greased baking sheet, and press each mound down with a fork to form 1/4 inch thick cookies. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or until cookies are a light brown.
4. To Make Filling: Cream 3 tablespoons butter or margarine with the confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, and the cream. Spread filling onto half of the cooled cookies, then top with the other half to form sandwiches.

Awesome Barbeque Sauce

Suz made this barbecue sauce yesterday, and it was soooo good.  Thanks suz!

Servings: 16

Ingredients

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 (5.5 ounce) can tomato juice
• 2 tablespoons liquid smoke flavoring
• basil or whatever else you wanna throw in

Directions

1. In a blender or food processor, combine the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, brown sugar, onion, garlic powder, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, tomato juice, and liquid smoke flavoring. Puree until smooth, and transfer to a saucepan.
2. Place saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 1 hour, or to desired thickness.

pork is a nice, sweet meat

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 6 pork chops
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons paprika

Directions

1. Saute onion and garlic in hot butter. Remove from skillet. Trim excess fat from chops and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown chops in skillet; pour off fat.
2. Lower heat, add bay leaf and chicken broth. Cook covered over low heat for 1 hour. Transfer chops to a serving plate, but keep them hot.
3. Heat juices in skillet and reduce to half. Add the sour cream, onion-garlic mixture and paprika, blending thoroughly. Heat through, but don't boil. Pour over pork chops and serve.

easy pesto

Servings: 16

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a food processor, blend together basil leaves, nuts, garlic, and cheese. Pour in oil slowly while still mixing. Stir in salt and pepper.

steak!

planter boxes

so dad and i made some planter boxes to grow some plants in this summer, and here are some pictures of the two we made

 This box is all tomato plants--there are some cherry, romas, and others

 This box has a basil plant, one tomato, a few peppers, as well as onions, chives, and garlic (those are the only plants I didn't start with starters, and they're still tiny)

and those are my planter boxes
thanks dad for helping me build them, and mom for helping me get them up to  logan
:)

easy chocolate no bakes

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. milk
4 tbsp. cocoa
2 c. sugar 

1 Tab. vanilla
1/2 c. chunky peanut butter 
3 c. quick oats

marshmellows or nuts

Microwave butter, milk, cocoa and sugar in large bowl on high for 3 minutes. Stir, microwave for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and peanut butter, stir until melted. Add oats, and stir in nuts or marshmellows. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet covered with waxed paper. Refrigerate until cool. Makes 24 large cookies. This one is easy enough for kids to do.

this is pretty yummy if you add some honey or whipped cream :)