Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Chips

You'll need:
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter (smooth)
1 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips

To make:

Preheat oven to 350

Mix butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg. Scrape sides of bowl to incorporate fully. Mix baking soda and salt with the flour and then add to the butter mixture. By hand, stir in chocolate chips. Using hands, form cookies into patty shapes approximately 2 1/2 inches in diameter (or roughly 16-20 cookies). Bake for 11 minutes.

Recipe: Summer Corn Chowder

Note: you can make this recipe any time of year by using canned whole kernel corn. During the summer when corn is ripe and abundant, I suggest using fresh corn on the cob. Either white, yellow, or bi-color is fine (even a mix is good). Just make sure you cook the corn (prefer boiling but grilled is okay too) and cut the corn off of the cob. For this recipe you'll need about 3 cups of corn or 3-4 ears of corn. Note: if you're using fresh corn- DON'T THROW AWAY THE COBS! Instead put them in the soup when you add the liquid and simmer. It enhances the corn flavor in this soup!!



You'll need:
2-3 tablespoons butter
1 onion, diced
1-2 ribs celery, diced
1-2 large potatoes, diced
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans whole kernel corn
1 can cream corn
1 1/2 cup milk
2 chicken bouillon cubes
2 1/2 cups hot water
Salt and pepper to taste

To make:
In a large soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add onions, celery, potatoes and cook until onions are translucent (about 5-10 minutes). Add garlic and some salt and pepper and cook another 2 minutes.
Add whole kernel and creamed corn to the pot. Stir in milk. Mix the bouillon cubes with the hot water until dissolved then add to the pot. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15-25 minutes (or until potatoes are tender).
If you prefer a thicker chowder, add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup cream or half and half at the end. Season again with salt and pepper (to taste) and enjoy! (Serves 4 or more)

Recipe: Lisa's Bean Dip

My Aunt Lisa makes the most delicious (and healthy) bean dip. As soon as she puts this out for our family to eat, it disappears!! So yummy and easy and feeds a crowd.

You'll need:
1 cup cider vinegar
1-2 T sugar (I tend to go easy on the sugar)
2-16 oz. cans beans (black, sm. kidney, etc... mixed or the same type) rinsed and drained
1 can corn-drained
A med red onion-diced
1 bunch fresh cilantro-chopped-discard stems
1 med. bell pepper diced (I use yellow for the color)
2 T. jalapenos-chopped
1 large tomato- chopped

To make:
Combine sugar and vinegar in a small, microwave safe dish. Heat just enough to dissolve sugar. Set aside.
Combine all other ingredients in a med bowl. Add vinegar mixture and coat completely. Salt and pepper, if desired.
Let stand in refrigerator for several hours if possible.
Before serving, I usually pour out some if the liquid. Then, serve with Scoops corn chips.

recipe: blueberry zucchini bread

this recipe is a perfect use for spring produce. a bumper crop of zucchini can be used up in a hurry with this bread. fresh or frozen berries will work as well.

you'll need:
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup oil
1 tablespoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Baking powder
2 cups blueberries
2 cups shredded zucchini
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt

to make:
1- preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 3 mini loaf pans or 2 8x8 pans.
2- in a large bowl mix together eggs, oil, applesauce, vanilla, and the sugars. Fold in the zucchini. Then mix in flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gently fold in blueberries.
3- bake for 45-55 minutes for mini loaf pans or 60-75 minutes for the 8x8 pans.

Notes: this can be made into muffins and then placed in the freezer. Take 1 muffin out and microwave for 20 seconds for an on the go breakfast treat.

recipe: world's best chocolate chip cookies

let's just say these are the best- 'nuff said


you'll need:
1 stick of butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar (mixed 1/2 of it white, 1/2 of it brown)
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

to make:
cream sugar and butter then add egg and vanilla. mix together dry ingredients before adding to the wet. then add chocolate chips. in 1 tbsp rounds, bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.