Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

As promised, here is the recipe for the cookies I mentioned yesterday!  I haven't made them yet and I won't be making them until next week, but who could go wrong with this combination?!

According to the internet, they should look like this.

2/3 cup of brown sugar

2/3 cup of butter or margarine, softened

2 large eggs

1-1/2 cup oats raw

1-1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 ounces Craisins

2/3 cup white chocolate chunks

Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and mix well.  Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a seperate bowl.  Add butter mixture slowly, mixing well after each addition.

Stir in Craisins and white chocolate chunks.  Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased cookie pans.  Bake 10-12 minutes at 375*F. 

Makes approximately 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

Sounded yummy right??  

Pumpkin Galore!

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is one week away!  I'm excited about it, but also a little weirded out that it's almost here already!  Where has time gone this year?!

I can't wait to start preparing, making goodies and enjoying family and the little traditions John and I have started over the years!  Our first married Thanksgiving!  Nothing in our plans will change from the past few years, but it's still a fun little milestone!

I thought I'd share some dessert recipes today that are or at least look delicious so you can start prepping for them if you're so inclined to try any.

I found this recipe for Pumpkin Cheesecake online.  

A local radio station mentioned it this week and it looks tasty and easy!  I haven't tried it yet, but it's tempting!

I've also mentioned the Pumpkin Cookies and Pumpkin Bread here.

Finally, the traditional dessert: Pumpkin Pie!  

(The link also has a recipe for Apple Pie if pumpkin isn't your thing)

And if you're looking for something for breakfast, the lovely Meg from Henning Love posted an amazing Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll recipe too!  I can't wait to try that one this weekend!

What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions??

Mine is running the Turkey Trot 5K the morning of Thanksgiving every year, then getting ready for the first meal (John's family's) while watching the Macy's Day parade.  And spending the day with our families!

What desserts do you have every Thanksgiving?? 

Thanksgiving Pies...Oh My!

I'm so excited about Thanksgiving coming so soon!  I think in some ways these holidays are more fun when you get older because you end up being more involved in the preparation.  This year, I'm making pies!  I love to bake, but haven't tried many pies.  This will be my first attempt at pumpkin pie and I'm also making an apple pie...that's my favorite and I've done it before, but it gets tricky because sometimes they are too liquidy...and that all depends on the apples.  Not sure what to do about it...so if anyone has suggestions, please share :)

First off, I'm going to use Libby's Pumpkin Pie recipe.

They're the ones who make the pumpkin for the filling, so I figure it's a good place to start!  I can tweak it next year if I like.  This is what it should look like...I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Now, for the actual recipe

For the apple pie, I like to go simple:

• 6 cups thinly sliced apples
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Prepare your pastry for a two crust pie.  Wipe, quarter, core, peel, and slice apples; measure to cups.

2. Combine sugar and cinnamon.  The amount of sugar depends on how tart your apples are.

3. Arrange apples in layers in pastry lined pie plate.  Sprinkle each layer with sugar and cinnamon.  Dot top layer with margarine.  Cover with top crust.

4. Place on lowest rack in oven preheated to 450 degrees F.  Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.  Bake for 30-35 minutes longer.  Serve warm or cold.

I'm looking forward to baking.  These upcoming holidays are just a good excuse!  

What are your favorite pies??