Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

These are the best! But don’t take my word for it … Bake them up today! Chewy Buttery Good … not too flat, not too thick, just right. I’m using the new Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels. Make sure you try this recipe with your favorite chocolate chips. This way you’ll be able to taste test the best chocolate chip oatmeal cookies you ever ate. Seriously Good! Just can’t say it enough and I’m a chocolate chip cookie aficionado. If you’re into chocolate chip cookies with a touch of oatmeal and like the chewy variety these are for you!

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Chili Beans Portuguese Style

Margaret Costa’s beans to be exact! Margaret is my second cousin and I’m hoping she’ll forgive me for tweaking her recipe just a bit. Honestly, I just don’t cook for 10 to 20 people like Margaret did regularly. Again, the recipe calls for cinnamon. I’ve been questioned about the use of this spice in Portuguese bean recipes. I can assure you this spice was added to these recipes long before I began to cook. I explain the use on regional cooking to a fallback when other spices weren’t available. The originators of many of my Portuguese recipes are no longer living, and I just have no one to ask why they used cinnamon so liberally. It’s like all those photos with unrecognizable people. Why didn’t I ask when I could? I hope you will enjoy this very simple chili bean recipe that’s all about spices.

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Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Melt in your mouth! The perfect cookie for tea or coffee. This recipe is flexible. Add your favorite nuts or lemon chips (or here) to give it a little extra if you are into it, but it really doesn’t need more than the four basic ingredients to be delicious! Drizzle a glaze over the top for a designer look or simply swirl the warm cookie in a little lemon icing. Sometimes simple is the best!

For more lemony recipes place LEMON in the search box above. Enjoy!

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Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake

with Chantilly Cream

Lemon is my flavor of choice for the last weeks. It really isn’t random. I have a houseguest who’s into lemon cakes, breads and cookies. And I love to see someone enjoy a favorite. This recipe is a revision of James Beard’s Huckleberry Cake. First, huckleberries are hard to find and I’ve substituted blueberries, a similar berry. But most importantly I’ve added a big lemon taste!

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Apple Pecan Stuffed Cookies

It’s a toss up! The filling and the cookie are both a star in this recipe. Lightly sweet cookies similar to traditional chocolate chip cookies but without the chips and nuts. The small bit of filling is a perfect apple pie taste. These are a great Valentine treat … especially if a heart shape cookie cutter is used.

Enjoy!

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Coconut Lemon Cake

Perfect for your Valentine who’s into lemon. Typically a double layered cake but my guy likes a loaf cake he can whittle on all day. The batter is plentiful and for certain will overflow a standard loaf pan. Just make a couple of large cup cakes in addition. All this changes bake times. We are into the one layer of icing and love the look as it melts down the sides of the warm cake. It’s a homey comfort food recipe that leaves the kitchen smelling delicious, and palates pleasantly satisfied with the taste and flavor.

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Tapa

What is tapa in Filipino cuisine? Usually a preserved (dried) meat (or fish) process. It’s evolved over time. This is a simple recipe with an amazing taste. In our area it’s a traditional Filipino food you might find served at a wedding along with many other Filipino dishes. My good neighbor Roselyn brought over a large dish and shared her recipe. It was a hit! Can be eaten warm or room temperature but we’ve been known to pull it right out of the refrig for a taste treat. Roselyn used pork here but sirloin can be used too.

Thank you Roselyn!

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Lemon Poppyseed Bread

My delicious experience with Magnolia Table next. This was a near disaster … WARNING: Use of a flared 9 by 5 inch loaf pan may cause baking overflow. Yep, my glaze is more like a frosting (I added a bit of butter. shh). I was gifted Magnolia Table and have really enjoyed trying the recipes. I have to admit it’s just plain delicious to flip through the pages. I love the Joanna Gaines style.

Others have tried this recipe and posted. We all agree it’s amazingly delicious. I have included a few posts so you can see others’ outcome, (the second includes the full recipe), herehere. The bread does tend to have a slight indentation on top when baked. My overflow experience … I knew better. When I filled the bread pan I could tell the batter was too much for the size. I did hold back but apparently not enough. And the glaze included in the recipe, I opted out. Just wanted something a little more like frosting.


Portuguese Pea Soup

Hearty 5 ingredient soup to put together in no time. A great comfort food on a grey damp foggy day. I like cooking it a little longer to create a thick stew like soup … Although, it takes less than 30 minutes to have this ready to serve. Unfortunately for those guys who are not into peas, you can’t hide them but the taste is meaty with just the right snap to the al dente peas. Give this simple recipe a try. The depth of taste will surprise you!

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