Oatmeal Raisin Cinnamon Chip cookies

Oatmeal Raisin cookies are one of my all time favorite cookies. The crunchy chewyness from the oats, the chewy raisins, and the hint of cinnamon  just makes me happy. Or should I say my mouth happy. I have been on the hunt for an amazing recipe for them for years and I have finally found one. I am sure I got this off pinterest but am not for sure since I have so many recipes in my to try box that I sometimes forget where I get them all from. These cookies are not only chuck full of old fashioned oat and raisins but has cinnamon chips in them as well. The cinnamon puts this cookies over the top. Now I got my cinnamon chips from Walmart after the christmas season last year for $1 a bag. I think they are a seasonal item but I am not sure so if you can find them please splurge and buy them they really make the cookies incredible. And if you have someone who is skeptical of a cookie full of oats and raisins tell them to just try them and they won't regret it believe me. My little 6 year old didn't want anything to do with them so I forced him to try a bite and he couldn't get enough of them. He chose them over chocolate chips cookies and that is never heard of in our house!!!

Oatmeal Raisin Cinnamon Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

3 cups old fashioned oats

(you can use quick oats but we prefer the old fashioned)

1 1/2 cup flour

1 pkg cinnamon chips

1 cup raisins or craisins(I used a combo of both)

Preheat oven to 325. Mix the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Then beat in the eggs and mix well. Add the vanilla. Mix in the soda, salt, cinnamon, oats, and flour and mix well. Stir in the chips and raisins/craisins. Drop by spoonfuls onto a pan lined with parchment paper or sprayed with cooking spray and Bake for 10-13 minutes or until starting to look done. They are better taken out when they still look a little underdone in the middle. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Then Enjoy!!!!Slightly crispy outside and perfectly chewy inside!!!!

Note:the dough is softer than a chocolate chip cookie dough and should be it will stick to you fingers don't be tempted to add more flour or they will be to dry. Believe me I have made this mistake before!!!

Kalua Pork

This pork is AMAZING!!! Let me tell you if you want an easy meal this is one for you. It takes some thought before hand because it takes hours of cooking time but with only three ingredients, well I guess four if you count water, it only take 5 minutes to put together and throw in the oven and then hours later you have an intensely juicy flavorful pork. Ever since my husband had this at some friends house while I was out of town and told me how wonderful it was I knew we needed to try it at home. I found this recipe over at Mel's kitchen Cafe. We ate this with rice and roasted veggies. This recipe makes a ton but it freezes well and you can also use it in a variety of other things like enchiladas, quesadillas, soup, egg rolls, potstickers, pulled pork sandwiches, etc.

Kalua Pork

10-12 lbs pork butt shoulder roast(I used a mixture of a butt shoulder roast, pork loin, and  pork sirloin roast-just don't use all pork loin or your meat will be too dry you need the fatter roast)

2-3 T. sea salt or kosher salt

1 bottle liquid smoke

1 1/2 cup water

PLace the pork in a roasting pan.Rub the salt all over the pork roasts. Pour the bottle of liquid smoke all over and around the roasts. Pour the water over. Cover the roasting pan TIGHTLY!!! with tin foil and place in a preheated 375 degree oven and bake for 5-7 hours(i did mine for 6 and it was perfect) Do not open and look at the meat it needs to stay covered so the steam can make the meat super moist and tender. Take out after the 7 hours and shred with two forks and serve with rice.

Note: don't be tempted to cook the meat quicker at a higher temp it will make the meat tough and I have read from others they did this in a crock pot covered with tin foil and lid on LOW HEAT for 14-16 hours again the stressed not doing it on high heat and less hours

Pizza Hut Pan Pizza

Let me tell you folks that this pizza is THE BEST HOMEMADE PIZZA we have ever had!!! Believe me I have tried a lot of pizza recipes and never have i had one that is better. My husband said please don't make any other pizza ever again!!! I found this awhile back on pinterest and since then we have made it 3 times. Now this is not a skinny pizza recipe it is full fat and full flavor but as I have said before it is pizza Pizza isn't the most healthy thing in the world so on the occasion that you make it make it as the recipe calls don't alter it or it won't be as good believe me I have tried. All things in moderation is my motto. This crust is buttery, crunchy bottom, tender, delicious, and easy to make!!

Pizza Hut Pan Pizza

1 cup warm water

1/3 cup dry milk powder

1/2 tsp salt

4 cups flour

1 T. sugar

1 T. yeast

2 T olive oil(for dough)

6 oz. melted butter and 3 oz olive oil, mixed(for the pans 3 oz per each pan)

Put yeast, sugar, salt, and dry milk in the bowl of your mixer. Add the water and stir well to mix. Let stand for 10 minutes or until yeast bubbly. Add the oil and stir. Add the flour one cup at a time and mix until dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surfaced and knead for about 10 minutes(I do this in my kitchen aid with the dough hook) Dough should be smooth slightly tacky but not stick to your hands. After you knead it divide the dough into three balls. In three 9 inch round cake pans or cast iron skillets, put 3 oz or the oil butter mixture into the bottom of each and spread it out evenly. Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball into a 9 inch circle and place in the buttered cake pans. Cover with a plate. Place in a warm area and allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. After it raises slather with pizza sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings. Bake at 475 degrees for about 30 minutes or until all the crust is golden brown and cheese it bubbly!!!

Note: I triple the recipe so that we have enough for the 3 cake pans and 2 cookies sheets for cheesy breadsticks(recipe for those coming later)

7-UP Biscuits

I found the recipe for these easy and delicious biscuits on Pinterest awhile back and knew I had to try them out. I thought that there was no way that they would be near as good as my other bicuit recipe using only 4 ingredients but let me tell you they were good!!Now they weren't quite as good as my other ones I have on this blog but they come in a close second and they are way faster to make than my other ones. These are good for a quick evening meal or when you are in a hurry for breakfast. Please gives these babies a try they won't disappointed Slathered in butter and honey or jam they are awesome!!

7- UP Biscuits

4 cups Bisquick

1 cup sour cream(I used 1/2 sour cream and 1/2 cup greek yogurt)

1 cup 7-up or lemon lime soda(at room temp)

1/2 cup melted butter

In a large bowl, mix the bisquick and the sour cream/yogurt and mix very well. Pour in the 7-UP and stir until combined. The dough will be very soft. Sprinkle another 1/2-1 cup bisquick onto a clean counter-top and gently pat dough out to desired thickness(about 1 inch). Use a biscuit cutter and cut out the biscuits.(got about 14. 2 of mine didn't fit in pan) Pour the melted butter into a 9x13 inch pan. Place the biscuits into the buttery pan. Bake at 450 degrees for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. I had to bake mine more like 15-17 minutes but just back them till the look down. Oven temps are so different depending on the oven so I suggest setting your timer for 10 min and then looking at them. Add additional cook time if needed. Serve warm with butter, honey, and jam!!! Or make sausage, egg biscuits!! Yumm!!!