Bytes and some of his cousins met for a workday last week. Big guys and big jobs deserved big cookies. Cowboy cookies are big in size – four inches across on average. And they are big in flavor with three kinds of chips, pecans, coconut, butter, oatmeal and corn flakes. It’s like the cook used all the good stuff in the chuck wagon. Toasting the pecans is optional, but they do have a deeper flavor if you take the time to put them in a small skillet over medium heat until they become fragrant. Takes about 3-5 minutes and you can gather ingredients at the same time as long as you remember to give the skillet a shake or three. They’ll cool while you make the cookies. I thought I had peanut butter chips in the pantry, but when I was ready to bake, it turned out they were ... [Read More]
Coconut
Bunny Tail Truffles and Bunny Tail Games
Bunny Tails and Easter Egg Truffles are simple and easy to make. Shaping them and rolling the shapes in the coconut or sugar is a little on the time consuming side. But they are so darn cute, it’s worth it! My brother Jay and I would scarf down Mom’s shredded coconut stash as soon as we found the new hiding place. Maybe that’s why the younger ones in the family never learned to like coconut :=) More coconut for us – as in “none left”! Since not everybody is a fan of coconut for whatever the reason, half the mixture is made into colorful Easter Eggs. The moisture level varies among brands of cream cheese. I used Philadelphia cream cheese which is more moist than some of the store brands. The taste is the same, but pay attention when you add the last half of the powdered sugar. ... [Read More]
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars. With a long name like that, you should know what to expect. All those yum flavors are contained in one little square of not too sweet goodness! What you don’t expect is the chewiness, the subtle texture, the hint of peanut butter. Top that off with the melty chocolate chips ---- mmmmm! Peanut Butter Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Bars Print Prep time 10 mins Cook time 25 mins Total time 35 mins Author: A Pinch of Joy by Charlene Vance Recipe type: Dessert Serves: 12 servings Ingredients 1 ½ cups oatmeal ⅔ cup flaked coconut 1 ½ cups flour ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup butter, softened ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup sugar ¾ cups brown sugar 2 eggs 1 ½ cups semi sweet ... [Read More]
Toffee Crisps
Toffee Crisps seemed a bit unusual to me in that it was a baked cookie recipe using graham cracker crumbs for thickener and condensed milk for sweetener. It is a very goooood combination!! If you crush the graham crackers, you’ll need about 32 squares to make 2 cups. That’s about the most complicated thing in making these delights. Very quick and easy. The dough is thick and can be shaped into a relatively uniform circle very easily as you push them off a tablespoon., although a cookie scoop makes the job easier. I’ve also rolled them into balls between the palms of my “very clean” hands – but that is not necessary. What IS necessary is keeping a close eye on the baking time, as these go from brown to overdone very quickly. Toffee Crisps Print Prep time 10 mins Cook ... [Read More]
Butterscotch Pecan Softies — no bake
Butterscotch Pecan Softies are a nice change of pace. Not sweet, a nice mellow butterscotch flavor and an interesting texture. If you can, mix it up and let it chill overnight in the refrigerator. That lets the flavors meld and develop to a mellow butterscotch. Toasting the pecans deepens the flavor. Just be careful with multitasking while the pecans are toasting in a skillet. It doesn’t take long and when they are ready, they are ready. No fooling around trying to finish some other little thing. Or you might find yourself scraping too much dark off a bunch of pecans. Yep, you got the picture – yours truly is the voice of experience :-) Watch for more no bake and no stress treats in small batches between now and Christmas. For when you want to have a variety of treats without a lot of ... [Read More]
Polka Dot Macaroons
Polka Dot Macaroons are quick and easy to make, a coconut lover’s dream! The mini candies are just the perfect size. However, I think it would be fun to use the red and green regular sized M&Ms for a festive Christmas cookie. I made a couple of attempts toward that. I actually bought the Christmas colors. And not once, but twice, they completely vanished before I got the cookies made. And it was my fault. Because I opened the package. Since when is that carte blanche for kitchen passersby to abscond with the goods and eat the whole thing???? Oh – back to the recipe. Make. Bake. Eat. :-) It’s that easy! Polka Dot Macaroons Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 10 mins Total time 25 mins Author: A Pinch of Joy by Charlene Vance Recipe type: Dessert ... [Read More]
