Oatmeal Coconut White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

As promised, here is my winning oatmeal cookie recipe from this year's fair. Sorry it's taken me so long to get it up!! This cookie has to be one of my all time favorites, it's crunchy and chewy at the same time. Has some of my favorite ingredients in them and they are just so yummy!! I was kind of worried when I entered it in the fair as an oatmeal cookie that it wouldn't win anything, because it's not your ordinary oatmeal cookie, but luckily the judges liked it! I'm sure you'll love them too!

Oatmeal Coconut White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

½ c. butter (no substitutes)
½ c. shortening (no substitutes)
1 c. packed brown sugar
½ c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 ½ c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
3 c. old fashioned oats
½ cup coconut
1 c. macadamia nut pieces
1 c. white chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Cream the butter and shortening together in an electric mixer. Add sugars and continue mixing until nice and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Gradually add flour, a little at a time, mix well but not too much! Add baking soda and salt. Add all of the oats, and mix well. Add the coconut, macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips and mix. Drop by the rounded tablespoon onto a cookie sheet and bake for 10 – 12 minutes. I bake mine for 10. Let cool on sheet for at least 4 minutes and then transfer to a rack. Store in bags or an air tight container. Enjoy! Makes about 3 dozen.

Buffalo Chicken Soup

My husband loves hot wings, like really really loves them. So, to incorporate the wonderful flavor of buffalo hot wings and a fall favorite, soup, I came up with this yummy recipe for buffalo chicken soup! It's spicy, savory and delish!! Not to mention that it's sure to keep you warm in this cold weather! My kids even loved this soup, so it's not too spicy for little ones, just a little kick! This soup can also be made in the crock pot, if your going to be out and about during the day and need dinner to be made for you when you get home. Just start it out on the stove and once you get to the part where you add the remaining ingredients, just pop it in the crock pot and let it cook all day. Probably 8 hours on low would be fine.

Buffalo Chicken Soup

1 small onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
¼ cup butter
¼ cup flour
3 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
½ cup blue cheese salad dressing
4 cups cooked chicken, diced
¼ cup chicken wing sauce
8 ounces Velveeta cheese
4 small potatoes, diced
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Saute onions and celery in butter until tender. Add in flour and stir, cooking the flour for one minute. Slowly add the chicken broth, stirring well so that no lumps form. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are cooked through, about half an hour. Enjoy with crusty bread!

Hey Everyone!

I promise, I'm not dead!! I'll be back soon, when I get the chance to sit down and actually write something!! I've been pretty busy canning and freezing things lately. Namely free fruit that I've been getting from kind neighbors! Here's to a winter with out many trips to town!! In the meantime, here is a nice soup recipe for you. It's a family favorite and sure to warm you up!! Because if your weather has been anything like this crazy Idaho weather, your probably kind of cold right now!! Sorry I don't have a picture of this one right now, but I promise to make it soon and post a picture of it! I know you'll love this one, it yummy!!

Edited to add a new picture!

Vegetable Ham Alfredo Soup

2 cans chicken broth
2 cans evaporated milk
1 tablespoon dried parsley
pepper to taste
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup celery, diced
4-5 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup frozen french cut green beans
1 ½ cups chopped ham
1 jar alfredo sauce
4 oz. cream cheese

Add all ingredients except for the alfredo sauce and cream cheese to a big pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until potatoes are soft, then add alfredo sauce and cream cheese. Heat through until cream cheese melts. Serve with hot rolls.