MMM Cookies

This is a recipe I got from my friend Brittany with a few adjustments.
Urban Legend Cookies:

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups all-purpose flour
5 cups rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups butter
2 cups white sugar
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I add about a half of bag of Milk chocolate chips)
3 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Cream butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. In a blender or food processor, process the oats until finely chopped.
Add the chopped oats, flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder into the creamed butter and sugar mixture and mix well. Stir in the chocolate and nuts.
Roll dough into 1 1/2 - 2 inch balls (do not press) and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.

$5.00 Dinners

Check out this Totally Awesome website I just found. I think I'm going to try some of the recipes there. I have a family of 6 so dinner for $5.00 would be stellar!

http://www.5dollardinners.com/

Spinach Artichoke dip/pasta

This recipe is supposed to be similar to spinach artichoke dip but it is a pasta dish. Instead of an appetizer it is a complete meal with all of the food groups. I apologize, I don't know any of the exact measurements, but it is such a yummy recipe I had to post it.

Cooked cubed chicken breast
Tortellini
Canned artichokes
frozen spinach
butter
garlic (if I don't have fresh I just use garlic powder)
flour
milk
any Italian cheese
salt and pepper

Saute the chicken

Boil the tortellini according to package directions.

Microwave spinach until it is thawed out but not hot. Then squeeze out all the juice. This works well in a kitchen towel but will stain it. I just squeeze it over a colander.

Break up artichokes

For sauce:
melt butter in pan (1/4 to 1/2 cup)
add chopped garlic just for a minute or two (I use a lot but I really like garlic)
add flour to the pan and boil 1 minute more (1 to 2 T)
add milk to the pan and bring to a boil over medium heat no higher (2 cups, I am really not sure so if it is to thick just add more milk)
add spinach and artichokes
add Italian cheeses (about 1 cup, and more if you don't want to taste the spinach)
salt and pepper to taste

Pour the sauce over the pasta and chicken and mix well, enjoy!

Mushroom Gravy

Me and Ian made this for the first time tonight, and it was sooooooo good! Next time you plan on having mashed potatoes, you have to try this out. By the way, we halved this recipe and there was still A LOT of gravy, so unless you're feeding a lot of people, you may want to halve it also. (I didn't halve the mushrooms or garlic though, because I love mushrooms and garlic!)

• 3/4 cup white or button mushrooms, chopped
• One clove of garlic, minced
  
• 1 small yellow or white onion, minced
• 1/4 cup vegan margarine (obviously, plain ol' margarine will work just fine.)
  
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tbsp poultry seasoning (or 1/2 tsp each of sage, thyme and marjoram)
• salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet, melt the vegan margarine and add the garlic, onion and mushrooms. Sautee for just a minute or two over high heat.

Reduce heat to medium and add vegetable broth and soy sauce. Slowly add flour, stirring well to combine and prevent lumps from forming. Bring to a simmer or a low boil, then reduce heat.

Add poultry seasoning, salt and pepper, stirring consistently. Allow to cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring regularly, until gravy thickens. (I didn't cook it for quite that long. Just cook it until it has a consistancy that you like.)