RUN FOREST RUN! Sometimes I wish I had the endurance of Forest Gump. He just started running and just kept on going. Why didn't he need to stop and catch his breath? And why didn't his muscles cramp up with all the lactic acid. hmm.
After breakfast, I set to work on the appetizer that I decided to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. I really had a hard time deciding between bringing artichoke dip (a tried and true favorite) or something new from the Pioneer Woman's cookbook. To date, everything i have tried from this book has been wonderful. This time, I chose something new and daring and I chose right because the someone else provided the artichoke dip. So, what I made was these amazing bacon wrapped, stuffed jalapenos. They were AMAZING and actually not all that expensive to makes. Jalapenos are much more affordable than I ever would have guessed. There is a simpler version of what I made available online . The version I made comes from Ree's cookbook; it has cheddar mixed in to the cream cheese and BBQ sauce of your choice on top.
One tidbit of info that the cookbook didn't say, is that it is better to cook the jalapenos on a pan with a wire rack. This would have helped immensely, as I had trouble getting the bacon under the jalapenos to cook well and ended up turning them over to speed the cooking process. A wire rack would have solved the problem. And if you make these, definitely use the gloves. If you have never purchase disposable gloves before, you can usually find a box of them near the cleaning supplies at your local grocery store. Definitely worth the time and effort.
Now, I am sitting here in my amazing and wonderful early Christmas present, a papasan chair and I am CRAVING some sort of sweet oatmeal treat and I think I am going to have to give in to the craving and make me some Ranger cookies! I LOVE these cookies. They tend to be on the sweeter side, but I owe the sweetness to the OH SO GOOD coconut. YUM! These cookies remind me of the trailmix cookies that Starbucks used to sell and I used to LOVE.
I found the recipes on Bluebonnetsandbrownies.com but the recipe is actually from Better Homes and Gardens.
As far as the recipe goes, I added just the cranberries because its what I had and also because I am not a huge fan of cherries or raisins. Some sort of mixed tropical fruit would be good too and go incredibly nicely with the coconut. These cookies also freeze really well, so it might be a good idea to double the batch and freeze what you know you won't use in a day or two.
Ranger Cookies
as originally published in the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, 14th Edition
1/2 c. butter, softened (1 stick)
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 c. quick-cooking rolled oats
1 c. coconut
1 c. raisins, dried cherries, dried cranberries, or mixed dried fruit bits
Preheat oven to 375F. Beat butter in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in rolled oats, coconut, and dried fruit.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges are light brown and centers are set. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
Grab yourself of a glass of milk and enjoy!
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