MSM ~ Oatmeal Sinful?

You know I make desserts for each weeks for the neighbors & also make cookies for the church to hand out to the new visitors. Money is SUPER tight this month so I'm using what I have on hand. Oatmeal is something I usually buy in bulk and usually cheap and easy to use in so many recipes! So of course this is not the most healthiest recipes I've shown you, but do like me and give them away and if you're good have one :).

3 yummy recipes :)

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Oatmeal Cookies from Joy Of Baking

Oatmeal Cookies:

1 cup (110 grams) walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped (optional)

3/4 cup (170 grams) unsaltedbutter, room temperature

1 cup (210 grams) packed light brownsugar

1 largeegg

1 teaspoon purevanillaextract

3/4 cup (105 grams) all purposeflour

1/2 teaspoonbaking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon groundcinnamon

3 cups (260 grams) old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup driedcranberries, cherries, or raisins or 1 cup white or darkchocolate chips(optional)

Preheatovento 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) andline two baking sheets with parchment paper.

To toast nuts: Place nuts on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop into pieces.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugar until creamy and smooth (about 2 - 3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, bakingsoda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat until incorporated. Stir in the nuts, oats, and dried cranberries or chocolate chips.

For large cookies, use 1/4 cup of batter (I like to use an ice cream scoop) and space the cookies about 2 inches (5 cm) apart on the baking sheet. Then wet your hand and flatten the cookies slightly with your fingers so they are about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick. Bake the cookies for about 12 - 15 minutes or until light golden brown around the edges but still soft and a little wet in the centers. Remove from oven and let the cookies cool a few minutes on thebakingsheetbefore transferring them to a wire rack to cool.

Makes about 20 - 24 large cookies

ALEXIS NOTES: I didn't have nuts so I skipped that part. I had some dried cranberries left from a recipe I didn't make so I threw those in :). These went the Church but usually I switch out the Whole Wheat Flour but I didn't for them :).

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Tasty Trailmix Cookies by Relish.com

3/4	cup all purpose flour
1/2	cup whole wheat flour
1	teaspoon salt
1	teaspoon baking soda
1/2	teaspoon baking powder
1/2	teaspoon cinnamon
1	cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1	cup brown sugar
3/4	cup sugar
2	large eggs
1	teaspoon vanilla extract
2	cups old-fashioned rolled oats, quick cooking
1/2	cup shredded coconut
2	cups trail mix, coarsely chopped

[1] Mix first 6 ingredients in bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until mixture is fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture until just combined. Fold in oats and coconut. Stir in trail mix.

[2] Using an ice cream scoop, form dough into balls and place on cookie sheets and place in the freezer until firm. Take out and place in a large ziptop bag. Af.fix cooking label and place back in the freezer

ALEXIS NOTE: I also made these for the church and split with the neighbors. Next time I would add a little more flour they were a little runny. The trail mix I chopped up but it had a lot of raisins not my fav. Also the cook time was a little long for my oven I cut out about 2 minutes. The neighbor agreed with me loved them with out the raisins & nuts.

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My last was a little for me I was craving something and new I had oatmeal and a can of pumpkin on hand and you know how I love pumpkin :). This was so freaking good I had to cut it right up and take it to the neighbors :0.

Old World Pumpkin Bars on Cooks.com

CRUST:

1 c. flour

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. quick oatmeal

1/2 c. butter

Mix and press in bottom of 9"x12" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

FILLING:

2 c. canned pumpkin

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cloves

1 c. canned milk

3/4 c. white sugar

1/2 tsp. ginger

Mix and pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

TOPPING:

1/2 c. pecans

2 tbsp. butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

Mix and sprinkle on top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes more.

ALEXIS NOTE: I used the whole wheat flour and it was delish. The topping I tweaked a little bit. I didn't have pecans and wanted to add a little oatmeal in the topping. So I added some oatmeal and so whole wheat flour. Next time I'm going to cut the brown sugar in half because it really didn't need it. The rest was sweet enough. Also the canned milk I used condensed milk.

Oppps I did it again ....

LOL sorry I just couldn't help myself! So I did it again I signed up to bake, this time for the Church bazaar. So I had a whole plan had 2 different cookies and some toffee to make and 3 (yes one more after my post last night) to the grocery store and I was ready to go!

First recipe was this amazing one I found at Tina's Place for toffee candy a.k.a. "crack"

This recipe was so yummy

BUT don't use cheap tin foil, I couldn't get mine off.

One dessert not going!

Second one that failed I didn't get pictures of but let's just say wax paper not good for all cookie recipes. It stuck and when they came off they fell to pieces!

3rd Batch of cookies worked!! Yeah!!

Betty Crocker Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love the Betty Crocker recipes with the cookie mixes they make it so easy!

My 4th batch was a last minute ditch! I needed more cookies.

Easy Pumpkin Spice Cookies (Cake Mix)

Guess what I had a box of the spice cake in my pantry! Yippee!

So I started with big dreams and ended with 2 versions of Pumpkin spice cookies!

Oh what a night!

Then I asked Rick to drop them off the next morning, oh lord be with me.

On to what a day! Did I mention I have been up since 2am with a nasty case of Acid Reflux.

Oh joy to the world!

Really is that look needed?

Sorry everyone been yet again busy day! I left work to go pick up Cole and of course a quick trip to the grocery store! Oh did I mention I signed up to make cookies for the church bake sale? And it's do tomorrow AM??? So of course I need to pick up a few items.

I stop in at the church to see what time the cookies need to be there and have to answer a few questions for becoming a member. I have a class they have you attend this coming Sunday that is 4 1/2 hours! The lady is so nice and I really enjoy her but of course this would be the time the boys started to fight and scream! She was nice asked if we have date night, or time for us ... I didn't want to laugh out loud and be rude. So I tried my best Martha Stewart look and said not usually. Then on to the bible class, now I love going on Sundays and helping out but I'm not in the place for these yet. I keep politely saying it just doesn't work with our schedule, but I have a feeling this may be one thing they don't let you not attend. I hope this is not the case.

Then to Wal-Mart where I raced up and down the isles while the boys were not in wonderful moods. I couldn't find Molasses and found they don't have it. I'm about to pull out my hair when Rude Lady #1 walks by and shakes her head that the boys are being loud! REALLY was that needed??? Then I walk up to a cashier(Rude Lady #2) light on no light! Right on I hit the jackpot! WRONG ... I put my items up there not one word from her? Then I put up my cloth bags up in front on my groceries. She pushes them to the side and starts putting the items in the plastic bags. I nicely say I put my bags up there and she then grunts at me!!! She then rings up my total and very unpleasant told me the total. Not once smiling or being nice. She then pushes my stuff to the side and looks up smiles at the person in line now behind me. And says "Hi How are you today" a full smile (I won't mention the teeth) ... Really now you get a personality.

Then off to QFC for the molasses they didn't have at Wal-Mart. Quickly ran around nowing I won't have much time for dinner since I'll be baking I go to the deli for a quick dinner for the boys. This is where we meet Rude Lady #3 ... lucky number 3! Who so nicely walks up to my kids who I know aren't being good, I've talked to them several times and can't wait to duct tape them ... JUST playing! She then proceeds to walk up to them and tell them be quiet and use your inside voices. NOT once looking at me and giving that knowing little smile, nope just walking away shaking her head.

Oh you people kill me! Either you never had kids, or forgot what it is like to be frazzled trying to run threw a grocery store with all your limps attached and not too many embarrassing moments trying not to kill your kids!! So a friendly reminder be nice to those poor moms, they really are trying their best and believe me they rather be shopping with out their kids also. But we don't all live in that perfect little memory you have hatched in this dream world that your children A - would never be like that or B - Never would a child with you act like that! So get off your high horse and give that mom a knowing smile!

Phew ok off to baking until my head explodes! :)

Queue the Tears ~ My babies are big boys now!

Monday of course was yet another crazy day! I ran around trying to get Cole's BC, yes I left it to the last day! I got to the Vital Static building stood in line. You know behind the girl that told them one last name for her child, they could find that name but found the child under 2 other names. Oh yeah I forgot she says, her real father should be on there now we just had him test!!! WTHeck? Yup this child was like 6, ok I'm stepping down I really was just shocked and tried not to have my mouth hang up too wide!

Then it was my turn and guess what, yup I forgot my wallet at home. Back in the car and back home we went. Thankfully it was just me and Caden. Rick took Cole with him for several hours, yup to make up for his attitude on Sunday! So back in the car we go, Rick has been making fun of Caden's hair for a while now saying it was too long and looking like a girl. So on the way back to the Vital Static Building I stop at a barber to get Caden's hair cut. Queue the first set of tears for the week! His little boy face now looks like a big boy! I'm so sad, yes I'm still carrying around the bad of hair. Oh hush, he's my last baby!

Check out the photos, 2 of him with his hair spiked the night before in front of the house. Then him getting it all cut off!

Then came Tuesday, Cole's 1st day of Kindergarten! I was so sad and in tears, Cole just wanted me to leave.. LOL. We went to the pre school BBQ the night before (yes I took a picture below of him sitting at the desk). So as I'm dropping him off I noticed all the other kids where wearing khaki pants. Oh crap, I didn't read the whole handbook it was 28 pages long! Yup dress code different from Pre-K last year! So we need khaki/Black/Navy pants, yes only jeans on FRIDAYS!!!! Crap, we don't own any of those pants. Off to Target Tuesday night to pick up a pair! Man I need a new brain!

And then tonight while I was making dinner the door bell rang. Cole ran over opened it up while I'm yelling at him not to open the door. I find the pastor of the church and an elder standing there, from the church I was telling you about yesterday. Oh yeah, thankfully I've been working on my potty mouth and didn't say a bad word. I was so surprised and a little taken back, they were so sweet and handed me a cute little bag and thanked me for coming on Sunday! Wasn't that totally sweet and so not necessary. I thanked them and told them we will be there on Sunday. And look what they brought me, yes those would be my FAVORITE cookies, White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies!!! I told you this new place is special!