Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake

This cake is simply delicious. Perfect for snacking.

I have this old hometown cookbook from the city I grew up in. I grew up in a really small town in New Mexico and this cookbook is full of recipes from the women there. The cookbook was put together in the 70’s and I have been loving flipping through all the classic recipes. I found it interesting that in reading the directions they really didn’t go into too much detail. It’s more like just mix all this together and the pour it in the pan. It makes me wonder, was this because there was just an understanding that everyone knew the technique to use, or were they just not aware that different techniques would yield different results. Maybe they didn’t care, maybe the recipes were written to just throw it all together. I love the simplicity of it all. Now the recipe that I chose to try I did re-write the directions and added a couple things, but it was still pretty easy. The cake just got better as it sat, it almost got moister, if that's even possible. Very happy with the recipe! More retro recipes to come. :)

Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino Cookies

This year hasn't started off with a bang for me...more of a fizzle. You see where I live there is this thing they call "cedar fever." Sure we don't have twenty below temperatures or three feet of snow in our front yards but guys, cedar sucks! It's like living with a forever cold, it's totally zapped my energy, but I was craving cookies. Sometimes even if you're a little under the weather you just can't fight a craving! I think they actually did me some good. :)

I had a big bag of cappuccino mix sitting in my pantry that just wasn't getting used and I think I made a good decision throwing some into these cookies. It gives them a great spicy flavor base, and add the cinnamon chips and pecans and you have one great comforting cookie. Now I used a pumpkin spice mix, but if you or not a fan or have a different kind on hand, try a different flavor and play with the mix ins.

Fruit & Honey Bars

So I was flipping through a weight watchers magazine that mysteriously showed up in my mailbox, (really, I didn’t order it, maybe someone is trying to tell me something), and I found an interesting recipe for fruit and honey bars. I changed things up a bit and added a couple things and this is what I came up with. These are very versatile, you could really use what ever kind of fruit and nuts you like; in the first batch I used dried apricots instead of pineapple and didn’t use the pecans or cashews. These little guys are low in calories, and sweetened only with natural honey. The nuts in the bar have so many benefits to your health, like heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and the dried fruit are full of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Keep in mind that when buying your ingredients to stick to unsweetened fruits and unsalted nuts to keep the calories and sodium down. Enjoy.

Monster Cookies

These yummy cookies are a childhood favorite of mine. My grandmother used to make these for me when I was a little girl and she kept them in a tupperware container high up in a cabinet. I used to pull a chair over when she wasn’t looking and sneak a cookie. Not sure where my grandmother got her recipe, or why they call them monster cookies, but they are delicious. Hope you all enjoy.

This monster cookie recipe is from everyone’s favorite grandmother, Paula Dean.