Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Jen & I were chatting and somehow - we came upon the subject of our love for Oatmeal Cookies. I mentioned that I had an awesome recipe for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Jen made me promise to share it on my blog.

So here ya go Jen!

1 Cup Raisins
1 Cup Water
3/4 Cup Shortening
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
2 1/2 Cups Flour **
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cloves
2 Cups Oats
1/2 Cup chopped Nuts (I omit this)

**If using Self Rising Flour, omit soda, salt & baking powder.

Simmer raisins & water over medium heatuntil raisins are plump, about 15 minutes. Drain raisins, reserving liquid. Add enough water to reserved liquid to make 1/2 Cup.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix shortening, sugar, eggs & vanilla. Stir in reserved liquid. Blend in remaining ingredients, including raisins. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown.

Makes about 6 1/2 dozen cookies.

Awesome Ribs

When my Uncle Jesse & Aunt Pauline were here, she made Awesome Ribs. Braeden scarfed them up and they were, well, awesome! So she gave me the recipe - she had made lots of copies of it - and has been handing out out to everyone that has them LOL.

I made them tonight for the neighbors - and ended up having to copy the recipe for them!!

So now I share it with you, it isn't really a recipe - but a way of cooking them. They come out very tender!

Awesome Baby Back Ribs
1,2, or 3 Racks of Ribs
Cookie Sheets
Foil
BBQ Dry season (must contain: garlic, onion, salt & pepper) (I used only that)
Your favorite BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ Sauce)

Set oven to 280 degrees, no need to preheat.

Place Ribs on cookie sheet.

Sprinkle seasons on Ribs. Season to desired taste.
Spicy - add more.
Not so spicy add less
Really spicy add extra hot spices

DRY SEASONS ONLY

.

Cover the entire cookie sheet with foil.

Completely sealing the cookie sheet

.

Place in over for 2 hours for the 1st rack of ribs, additional racks add 1 hour of cooking time per rack.

DO NOT PEEK

After cooking time is up - open the foil. Cover Ribs with BBQ Sauce - Place back in oven without cover or place on warm low BBQ. Cook at same temp for another 1/2 hour - adding BBQ sauce to your desired amount.

There you go - Awesome Ribs. Leave me a comment if you try out the recipe :)

Rattlesnake Pasta

Okay, cause Lacey & Mel asked - I'll clarify. It really isn't rattlesnake at all - LOL. It's called that, cause of the pepperjack cheese in it - gives it a "bite".

Penne Pasta, Alfredo Sauce, Chicken, Mushroom, Jalapeno's (optional) and pepper jack cheese.

Cube chicken and cook through. Cook Penne according to pkg instructions. Drain, return to heat. Add Alfredo Sauce and cooked chicken, mushrooms and jalapenos - heat through and Stir thorougly. Pour into 9X13 baking dish. Cover completely with shredded Pepper Jack Cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for approx 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and dish is heated through.

Recipe is something DH concocted after eating a similar dish at CiCi's pizza in Rhode Island