Sunflower Seed Butter Cookies

Thanks Granny for this recipe!

Serves: 30, freezes well.

Prep Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 15-20 min

Total:  30 min

Ingredients

1 cup butter, cold

4 tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

about 1/4 cup powdered icing sugar, to coat cookies

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together sugar, flour and baking powder.  Cut in the butter to form a dough that is not too wet and not too dry.
2. Mix in sunflower seeds.
3. Roll into teaspoon sized small balls and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.  If dough is too soft, refrigerate for 15 min, then roll into balls.
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 300 F for 15-20 min.
5. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
6. Put powdered icing sugar on a side plate or in a shallow bowl and using a spoon, carefully coat each cookie.
7. Serve or freeze for later.

Fudge Brownies

Serves: 24 squares

Prep Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 30 min

Total:  40 min

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter or margarine

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa (Dutch-process)

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. espresso powder (optional)

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 to 2 cups dark chocolate chips

3/4 cup pecan or walnut pieces (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9"x13" baking pan.  Set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, melt butter.  Then add sugar and stir to combine.   Heat until it becomes hot, it will look shiny as the sugar melts.
3. Transfer butter and sugar mixture to a medium sized bowl and stir in the cocoa, baking powder, salt, espresso powder and vanilla.
4. Whisk in the eggs, stirring until smooth.
5. Add the flour and stir until combined.  Then add chocolate chips and pecans and stir well.  
6. Transfer batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
7. Remove from the oven and cool before cutting into squares.

Recipe from twopeasandtheirpod.com

Chewy Spice Cookies

Serves:  40 pieces, freezes well.
Prep Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 10-12 min
Total: 25 min

Ingredients

1 cup butter

2 cups + 2 tbsp. sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup molasses

3 tbsp. liquid coffee, at room temperature

3 1/4 cups flour

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground clove

2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped dried apricots

1/2 cup chopped candied ginger

Directions

1. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar. Stir in eggs, then molasses, and then coffee.
2. In a medium bowl sift flour, and stir in spices and baking soda.
3. Adding a little at a time, stir into batter until combined.  Add dried fruits and ginger, and mix until combined.
4. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350 F.
5. Divide dough into 4 equal parts.  Scoop 1/4 of the dough onto one side of the prepared tray and form a long log shape.  Using wet hands, press dough to 1/2 inch thick. Then, repeat with another 1/4 portion of dough.  Two logs should be able to fit on a tray, and as they bake, they will spread, so be careful not to put them too close.
6. Bake at for 10-12 minutes, remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 2 tbsp. sugar.
7. Cool for 5 minutes and cut baked logs into strips or squares with a sharp knife.
8. Cool on rack.

Caramel Pecan Bars

Serves:  about 40 squares, freezes well.

Prep Time: 20 min

Thanks to Elly for this recipe!

Cooking Time: 45 min

Total: 65 min

Base

1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine


Filling
2 cups pecans, coarsely chpped
1 cup flaked coconut, unsweetened
1 tin sweetened condensed milk (300ml)


Topping
1 1/2 cups chewy caramel candies (comes in individually wrapped pieces)
2 tbsp. milk
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. To make the crust, combine flour and sugar, then cut in the butter (you may have to use your hands).  Once it becomes crumbly, press firmly into a well greased 11"x8" cake pan.  Bake in a preheated oven at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden.  Remove from oven.
2. While the crust is cooking, make the filling by combining pecans, coconut and condensed milk in a saucepan.  Mix and heat over low heat until well combined.  Spread evenly over baked crust, then return to oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until set.  Remove and let cool for 10 min.
3. To make the topping heat caramels and milk in saucepan over low heat.  Keep stirring until caramels have completely melted into a sauce.  Pour over the baked base and filling, and spread to the edges.
4. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and let cool.
5. With a sharp knife, cut into small squares.  Store in an air tight container or freeze.  Make sure to divide each layer with parchment paper so that they don't stick to one another.

Lightly adapted from robinhood.ca.

"All Purpose" Dressing

Prep Time: 5 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  5 min

Ingredients

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1-2 tbsp. honey, to taste

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. soy sauce

1 tbsp. sesame seeds

1 tbsp. poppy seeds

salt and pepper

1/2 small white onion, minced

1 clove garlic, pressed
1/4 tsp. chili flakes (optional)

Directions

1. Whisk together all ingredients.
2. Use dressing on green salad, bean salad, pasta salad, as a marinate for grilled, steamed or roasted vegetables, for fish, chicken or steak.
3. Keep refrigerated for up to a week.

Recipe from anediblemosaic.com

Overnight Oats

Don't have time to cook in the morning? Make this the night before and simply mix in your favourite toppings!

Serves: 1 large serving or 2 smaller servings

Prep Time: 3-5 min, plus overnight

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  5 min, plus overnight

Overnight oats with maple syrup and raspberries

Ingredients

1/3 cup rolled oats

1 cup milk, soy milk or almond milk

1-2 tbsp. chia seeds

1 banana, mashed in chunks

1/3 tsp. vanilla

Garnish

maple syrup
honey or agave
cinnamon
brown or white sugar
peanut butter
almond butter

fresh fruits (berries, apples, peaches etc.)
raisins
dried cranberries
shredded coconut
jam

Directions

1. In a bowl or plastic storage container, mix together all ingredients.  Cover and place in fridge overnight.
2. In the morning, uncover and mix in your favourite garnishes and toppings.
3. Serve immediately.

Recipe from ohsheglows.com

Judy's Dressing

Thanks to M and Judy for this recipe.

Serves: about 1 cup dressing

Prep Time: 5 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Total:  5 min

Ingredients

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar 

2/3 cup vegetable or canola oil

2 tbsp. mayonnaise

1-2 tsp. white sugar or honey

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

dried oregano and basil

salt and pepper

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake well.
2. Taste and add more mayonnaise or sugar if too tart.
3. Serve on mixed green salad and keep refrigerated.