M & M Pudding Cookies! {New Recipe}

I know we're getting warmer temps, so save this awesome recipe for a rainy day if you must!

But DO make it - these are terrific and soft cookies...and aren't they beautiful too?

They get a lot of attention at my farmer's market baked goods stand. 

THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT!

Imagine all the fun you can having using seasonal M & M's...these would be perfect at Christmastime with red and green ones, or July 4th, with red, white & blue ones, Valentine's Day with red, pink and white...etc. etc. 

With all the other sugars in this tasty treat, I lowered the white sugar just a tad, otherwise, this is a perfect recipe as is.

The brown sugar always gives a caramel-y flavor that I adore in cookies! 

Thanks much to my sweet friend Kitty, at Kitty's Kozy Kitchen, whose taste buds are in 'sync' with mine all the time, for sharing this great recipe. 

(hover over photo to pin) 

M & M PUDDING COOKIES 

2-1/2 c. flour

1-1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

(I decreased white sugar from 3/4 c.) 

1 box (4-serv. size) vanilla instant pudding

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. M & M milk chocolate candies

1/2 - 1 c. white chocolate baking chips, optional 

Preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; 

set aside. 

In a large bowl, beat butter, brown & white sugars with mixer on medium for about 1 minute or until fluffy.  Add in dry pudding mix; combine.  Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until mixture is smooth.  Stir in vanilla.  On low, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture until well blended.  Stir in M & M's and white chocolate chips by hand. 

Drop dough by heaping tablespoonsful about 2" apart onto UNgreased cookie sheets, or parchment-lined cookie sheets. 

Bake 10 - 11 minutes or until light brown.  Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack.  After cooled completely, store in airtight container at room temp. These cookies freeze nicely. 

Yield: about 3 dozen 

Linked to 

Meal Plan Monday

You might also enjoy...

Brownie Monster Cookies (another recipe I snagged from Kitty)

Peanut Butter Fudge No Bake Cookies

​

Leader Enterprise - Mother's Day 2017 - Making Memories

Mom's Cowboy Cookies

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms and Grandmoms! Even if you aren't a mom, we certainly all have, or had one, and this is always a wonderful time of year to remember them and their influence in our lives. As the saying goes "Once a Mother--Always a Mother".

In the past, I've done presentations for a number of Mother's Day banquets. One of my favorite things to share is ideas to make memories with your child. But of course, I have to begin by sharing a humorous story. This is a favorite from Reader's Digest: "The sight of my mother cleaning her dentures fascinated my young son.  He sat riveted as she carefully took them out, brushed and rinsed them, and then popped them back in. "Cool Grandma! Now take off your arm!" 

We grandmas, nanas, grammys - whatever you are privileged to be called by your grandchildren, have a wealth of riches to share with our families. We may not have much material wealth to give, but our time, our wisdom, our ability to listen, or simply to love, are the best things we can give to our family now to leave a legacy of love behind when we are gone.

Here are a few practical ideas to help make memories with your kids and grandkids:

Put notes in their lunch or on their pillow: it helps keep communications open. Children will oftentimes turn off our voices, but will soak in words on a piece of paper. And it can be read and reread.

Make sure you give plenty of hugs: proper touching improves a child's development. Touch their head, shoulder, hand, etc.and smile when you do. Silence sometimes speaks louder than words.

Turn off the tv and play games; simple games like I Spy say to your child that they are worth your time. 

Teach your kids to be responsible: chores are good for a child. Turn on the music, give them a dust cloth, and see how much work you can do together in 15 minutes. Even young children can learn to gather the trash.

Make a fort over the dining room table. Remind them how it was a popular thing to do when you were younger.

Make birthdays special: share a memory from their childhood and tell them one from yours.

Have fun in the kitchen. Teach your children to care about family recipes. Share details about what you remember your grandma doing in the kitchen. Allow them to stir, chop, plan and bake. Teach your kids how to measure and mix. They'll be more likely to eat something new if they've helped prepare it.

In honor of my own precious mom, Marie I. King, who went to her Heavenly Home when she was only 64, I'm sharing a couple favorite recipes from her files. 

This is the cookie my brothers and I remember most from mom's kitchen. 

COWBOY COOKIES

1 c. shortening (margarine)

1 c. white sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 c. dry oatmeal

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 (12 ozs) bag semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Blend shortening and sugars until smooth; add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Add dry ingredients; mix well. Add oats and vanilla, then stir in chocolate chips. Bake 12 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet. Yield: about 6 dozen (smaller cookies)

Mom's Zucchini Casserole

MOM'S ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

4 c. peeled, diced zucchini

1 grated carrot

1 grated onion

1 can  (10.75 ozs) cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream (don't use fat free)

1 box (chicken flavored) stove top stuffing

salt and pepper to taste

1 c.  crushed cornflakes mixed with 1/4 c.  melted butter

Preheat oven to 350. Boil zucchini in salted water for 4 minutes; drain. Mix all ingredients together in large bowl and place in greased 9" X 9" casserole dish. Top with cornflake crumbs. Bake 45 minutes, uncovered. You can also add chopped cooked chicken to make this a one-dish meal!

~If being a mother was going to be easy, it wouldn't begin with something called labor - Author Barbara Johnson 

Flashback Friday! Easy Recipes Kids can make for MOM!

                                            

WELCOME TO MOTHER'S DAY EDITION OF FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOMS AND GRANDMOMS OUT THERE!! 

             Even the youngest kids can have fun making these no mess treats! 

                                          Raspberry Sweeties

What could be more 'royal' than making mom her own individual cake?

It's E-Z  P-Z!! 

Amazing 3 - 2 - 1 Microwave Cake

Only 4 simple ingredients...dip them in syrup...they taste just like a pancake.

They can be made ahead also. 

Easy Mini Pancake Muffins

An easy chocolate-y treat with a fun name to add some laughter to the day...
use what you have on hand....

Cow Pies

Flashback Friday - Cinco de Mayo Dishes to help you Celebrate!

WELCOME TO FLASHBACK FRIDAY!

So glad you joined us today...sharing some top notch recipes from the past....Enjoy!!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!!! 

Easy...with a layer of sour cream and 2 layers of tortilla chips, your family is sure to fall in love with this easy and delicious dish. 

Easy Taco Pie

Yes, they're not really TACOS, but this is a family favorite my kids still enjoy with their families!  Quick, easy and it serves a crowd.  Fabulous dish! We've served it to company many times! 

Creamy Tacos

These are so worth the time to make. Impressive and Irresistible! 

Can't go wrong with the addition of cream cheese!!!

Creamy Cheesey Chicken Enchiladas

The perfect side dish for any Mexican main dish...easy to make and very tasty! 

Mexican Rice

Flashback Friday - Green Dishes for St. Patty's Day

We love the shakes at McD's but they are loaded with calories.
This recipe cuts the calories by more than 1/2.  Enjoy every 'skinny' sip!

Skinny Shamrock Shake

So quick and easy...and this one has a healthier option. 
Whip up a batch today! YUMM! 

Healthier Watergate Salad

Such a delicious & simple way to dress up yummy cabbage! 

Cheese Scalloped Cabbage

This scrumptious side dish is so tasty....roasting these little 'greens' makes them sweeter. 

ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUT WITH BACON AND CARAMELIZED ONION

Happy Thanks-Living to you!

Wishing you and yours a blessed and...

Enjoy your day...count your blessings...name them one by one! 

Winning Baked Beans!!

Here ya go....I've been asked a few times, to share the recipe I used to win 

PEOPLE'S CHOICE at a recent local Bean Days festival. 

It took me a few days to get this around because that same evening, my dear hubby was admitted to the hospital for ICU and I spent most of my hours there. 

(Scroll down if you don't want to read the 'chatter' and just want the recipe=) 

This was the 5th time we'd gone to ER for this problem...that always happens in the evening.  

Thank the good Lord, he can feel it and knows.  We know oftentimes folks don't even know when their BP is too high.

Dr. has adjusted some meds...but really believes this continues to recur because my hubby needs to be on Dialysis!

We've known his kidney function has been at 10% for several months now...and that we would be facing this issue.  He sees the kidney specialist in August. 

Sure appreciate your prayers for my Sweetie - who has dealt with many health issues because of exposure to Agent Orange.  He's a trooper and a hero to so many people!

OK - on to the recipe....

I will share the basic recipe that I saw at Mary's Sweet Little Bluebird. 

It's her sister's 'famous' recipe for ANASTASIA'S BEST-EVER BAKED BEANS. 

And Mary says her sis is always asked for the recipe.  So I HAD to try them.

Especially after they received MOST CLICKS at our 

Weekend Potluck party!!

I giggled because this was just about the simplest recipe I've made in the many years I've been baking beans for this festival. I've had raves over my

 Kraut 'n' Beans ...folks loved Ballpark Baked Beans (with bacon and pineapple) Country Baked Beans (with chili sauce and bacon) and 

German Baked Beans (with kraut, applesauce & smoked sausage)...and so when I decided to go S-I-M-P-L-E this year, I got a real charge hearing that my beans won People's Choice.  Yehaw!

(Especially love this because my hubby's nickname is Bean...one friend commented that now I really was MRS. BEAN...ha!)

(The apron I'm wearing was made by a dear friend, from my

beloved dad's shirt..pockets and ruffle made from one of mine!

So special to wear this keepsake apron!) 

Since I was filling an 18 qt. roaster to serve to folks on the street for a local Bean Days festival, I had to multiply it about 6 times.  (It's not always easy for me to figure how many beans will fill the roaster)...so I had some beans left over that didn't fit in the roaster, but these are the changes I made...

Because these beans were not simply going to bake in an oven...I diced the bacon, browned it and added all the grease.  I'm sure that added a ton of flavor!  I used 3# bacon.

BUT I do know baking the beans with the bacon on top makes an awesome and wonderful glaze!

I LOVE that this recipe starts with simple canned pork and beans! 

I also added 1 jar of drained northern beans to fill the roaster, so that can be an option if you desire.  (But of course, they're not sweet like the pork & beans are, so you'll want more brown sugar!) 

I could really taste the mustard when I first mixed them up, but it cooked in very nicely and was not a prominent taste in the finished product. 

WINNING BAKED BEANS

5 (15 ozs. each) cans pork and beans

1 lg. onion chopped

(Anastasia suggest NOT vidalia, but yellow or sweet)

1 - 2 Tb. butter (to saute onions)

3/4 c. ketchup 

3 Tb. yellow mustard

1/2 c. molasses

(I used a little less)

1/4 - 1/2 c. brown sugar, to taste

6 - 8 slices bacon, cut into half or 1/3's (to fit your pan) 

(I used 1/2# - diced, then browned, all the fat added)

Preheat oven to 325. Spray 9" X 13" baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

Saute onions in butter until tender. 

In large bowl, combine beans, onions, ketchup, mustard, molasses and brown sugar until blended.  Pour into prepared baking pan.  Top with uncooked bacon slices to cover beans. {I would add most of the bacon, (cooked) then top with a few raw slices to make a lovely glaze} 

Bake on middle rack of the oven uncovered for 2 - 3 hours. Beans will be dark and have a beautiful glaze when done. 

Serve warm.  

You're welcome!  =D 

Linked to Meal Plan Monday

TIP from the author of these beans...

These can also be thrown together and cooked in the slow cooker set on low for 6 to 8 hours as well. It won't get that nice caramelize top, but it will still be delicious if you're in a pinch for time. Be sure to saute the onions first.

Linked to 

              Full Plate Thursday
            Meal Plan Monday
            Weekend Potluck

You may also enjoy...

Creamy Taters, Green Beans & Caramelized Onions

Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

​

Leader Enterprise - Memorial Day - May 25, 2016

   

The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who benefit from those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we don't observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our family members, our loved ones, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice:

• by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes. 
• by visiting memorials. 
• by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon. 
• by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

My dear husband (MSgt. Ronald E. Baker, Ret. Air Force)  is the most patriotic person I know.  He served 3 tours in Vietnam and is now 100% disabled because of the effects of Agent Orange.  He has been a speaker for a number of military services locally. I want to share excerpts from the speech he shared at the Pioneer Memorial Day service in 2009. To say I am proud of him barely skims the tip of the iceberg.

"Our most precious asset as Americans is liberty. Most of Europe is free because American men fought to loose them from the bands of fascism, socialism, and communism. America is free because men were willing to die to preserve and protect our liberties as spelled out in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights. The rights and privileges of our society cannot be allowed to be squandered or given away to any person or group of people, no matter their ideology.

I believe there is a majority of Americans who want to preserve our freedoms, maintain the rule of law and order, and keep the pursuit of happiness as the forefront of our national policy. Those of us who hold to these goals will never stop fighting for freedom. We will never compromise on liberty.  We will not give in to totalitarianism. We will not give in, give up, or submit to any form of government, religion or ideology that would take away what this country has long stood for in the world, namely our liberty and justice for all her citizens. We can never take our freedom for granted. Our responsibility is to preserve it at all costs. Those men and women whom we honor here have already paid that price for the way of life we now enjoy. 

Our freedom is the most precious legacy we can pass on to our children. There can be no alternative that would satisfy the sacrifices made by those who have defended our liberty with their very lives.  As we look back today over our nation's history,  we must also acknowledge those who are at this very moment fighting on other battlefields in our world to recapture or preserve freedom from the grasp of evildoers who would enslave men and families in false religious cults, dictatorial governments, and the insanely narcissistic men who consider themselves to be gods in their own eyes.

So then, what do we owe our fallen heroes?  Well,  I believe we owe them our very lives.  Their blood was shed so that you and I could be here secure in our freedom.  Our rights to assemble, speak freely, believe in our Creator, travel and trade amongst ourselves with relatively few restrictions,  are all just a few of the many wonderful opportunities afforded to a people who are truly enjoying liberty the way God intended.

The cost has been high. It may get much higher in the near future.  There are still those who would love to see our nation fall. They are of that evil empire that former president Ronald Reagan warned us about. We cannot forsake all that our nation has stood for and all that our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have died for, as well as those who are carrying the banner of a freedom-loving country to various other nations in turmoil around the world. We must rally around our flag once more. We must pray for those in harm's way, today and always. It is our duty. It is our responsibility. And it is our honor. Let's not fail to take a stand for freedom. Let's pay our debt as fully as those who have gone before us...no matter the cost."

I think it's great to have foodie fun and celebrate the holiday with red, white and blue yummies. Use red, white and blue sprinkles on cupcakes or jello. Make a flag shape on top of white frosted brownies or dessert with berries and marshmallows. Outline the shape of a star with strawberries and fill in with blueberries. Layer blueberries and strawberries between vanilla yogurt or pudding to make a parfait. Be creative, but whatever you do: Celebrate the holiday with a special foodie dish!

Enjoy a safe Memorial Day weekend and don't forget to thank a vet for their service and sacrifice.