Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the best EVER chocolate chip cookies!  At least in my opinion.  I have yet to find a cookie recipe to rival it!  Whenever I go visit family this is one of the items they insist I bake up while I am there.  Today, I am sharing it with you.  🙂

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

Makes approx. 3 dozen

  • 1 1/3 cup butter (room temperature)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375*F.
  2. Cream together butter and sugars in an electric mixer on medium speed.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla till well mixed.
  4.  Next add baking soda, salt, and flour.  Mix slowly to begin with, then increase speed until mixed well.
  5. Add chocolate chips.  Mmmmmm!!!  Don’t forget to taste a few that jump out of the bowl.
  6. Mix until blended.
  7. Using a Medium cookie scoop, place cookies on ungreased baking sheet.
  8. Bake for 8-12minutes depending on your oven. Cookies should be just slightly brown on top.
  9. Let sit for a couple minutes then place on a cooling rack.
  10. Store in an airtight container if you have any left.  🙂 My children grab them as I take them off the sheets to cool and usually only end up with a few by the time I’m done baking them.
  11. ENJOY!! Don’t forget your glass of milk.

Home Again

I’ve been neglectful of my blog!  But who wants to be stuffed inside on a computer when there is so much to do outside?  Not I!

The family got together and celebrated my father-in-law’s 70th birthday.  At the same time, we had a shed raising.

Put some more finishing  touches on the chicken coop I started a year ago.

And worked on painting the main house.  As my mother-in-law says, “100 year old houses are beautiful, but what do you get?  Lead paint.”  We were Fiberlock paint to encapsulate the lead and then paint over with the color we wanted.

And last but not least, we added a Welsh pony to the family named Apollo!  He is sweet and the kids and my nephews are loving him!

Be patient, please, I will post again soon!

Cinnamon Rolls in 60 Minutes

My family loves cinnamon rolls!  I don’t know many people who don’t.  My daughter and I were traveling and, in Baker City, Oregon at the Lone Pine Café, we found some delicious cinnamon rolls.  It was served in a bowl and drizzled with caramel. This morning, I made cinnamon rolls for my family and my sisters.  I’ve adapted a Sixty-Minute Roll recipe my family has to make quick delicious cinnamon rolls.

Here it is for your family to enjoy!

Makes about 16 Cinnamon Rolls

  • 3 ½ to 4 ½ cups flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 pkgs Active dry yeast (4 ½ tsp)
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • ½ cup butter
  • Brown Sugar
  • Cinnamon

Turn oven on to keep warm setting or 170*F.

Grease a 9 x 13” baking dish.

In a large bowl or mixer, thoroughly mix 2 cups of flour, sugar, salt and undissolved yeast.

Combine milk and ¼ cup butter in a 2 cup glass liquid measuring.  Heat in the microwave until very warm (120*F to 130*F).  Butter does not need to melt.

Gradually add to dry ingredients.

Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, or until completely mixed and smooth.

Stir in enough additional flour to make a soft dough.  Stir until the dough looks smooth and forms a ball around the mixer.

Turn out onto a lightly floured board.  Using a rolling pin.  Roll out to approximately an 8 x 16” rectangle.

Melt remaining ¼ cup butter in microwave.  Spread melted butter over dough.

Cover dough with a good layer of brown sugar.  You should not be able to see the dough underneath.  Sprinkle with cinnamon to your liking.

Roll loosely.  I use a bread knife to cut into 1 inch slices and place in greased baking dish.

Place in warm oven for 20 minutes to rise.

Pull out of oven and set in the kitchen where there are no cool drafts.

Preheat oven to 400*F.

Once oven is preheated, bake cinnamon rolls for 15-20 minutes give-or-take a few depending on your oven.  Rolls should be browned on top.

Immediately upon removing from oven, baste with melted butter and enjoy!!

If you want to make these beforehand, you could also freeze or refrigerate and bake later.

If you choose to refrigerate, I would cover with plastic wrap and let the rolls rise in the fridge instead of the oven.  Just be sure to pull them out soon enough before baking they may reach room temperature.  Depending on how warm you keep your house, about 2 hours.

If you’d like to freeze them, do so after they have rose.  Then pull them out the night before you wish to bake them.  Again, they need to be room temperature before you bake.

Pannekoeken

I think just about every country has their own version of a pancake.  Growing up in my household, we had pannekoeken or Dutch pancakes.  Oma and Opa arrived in America from Holland (Netherlands) in 1956.  They brought many wonderful traditions and recipes our family enjoys, but Dutch pancakes are probably the most enjoyed in Mr. Roots and I’s family.  I’m sure there are many versions of this recipe like there are of the other pancakes. This is how I make them.

Makes approximately 8 pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 eggs
  • Milk
  • Butter
  • Brown Sugar

 Directions:

Heat an electric griddle to 275*.  You may also use a 9 inch skillet on medium heat, but I like being able to make two at a time for my larger family.  And I find it’s much easier to flip these pancakes on the flat griddle.

In a 4 cup liquid measuring cup, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in the microwave. If you are using a skillet, you can also melt the butter in the skillet. I add just a little milk to cool the butter down.  Beat the 2 eggs into the butter.  Add 1 cup flour.  And add enough milk until mixture makes 3 cups.

Whisk well until there are not clumps. There may be small flakes of cooled butter.  Batter will be really thin.  Almost watery.

If using the griddle, use a 1/3 cup measure twice and pour into two separate spots.  Pick up the griddle and swivel to spread the pancake batter into approximately an 8 inch circle.  You can tell when the pancake is ready to be flipped by the color.  It will start out a pale yellow and turn a darker golden yellow.  Flip.  Both sides will be lightly browned when done.

If using a skillet, use a 1/3 cup measure and pour into skillet.  Swivel skillet to spread batter on bottom of pan. You can tell when the pancake is ready to be flipped by the color.  It will start out a pale yellow and turn a darker golden yellow.  Flip.  Both sides will be lightly browned when done.

Spread butter on pancake.  Next, spread about 2 tablespoons of brown sugar on the pancake and roll up.  Enjoy!

 

Hard Work & a Dip in the Hot Springs

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Kids didn’t waste a minute to jump in and explore the pond.

We are spending the month of March visiting family in Eastern Oregon.  We are fortunate enough to make it down about twice a year.  The kids and I usually leave ahead of my husband and spend a couple weeks with my family and then, Mr. Roots takes two weeks of leave, we pick him up at the airport and head out to his families place.  Our system seems to work really well for us and allows us plenty of time to spend with our families.

Our vacations are unlike most.  You see, Mr. Roots and I both come from farming and ranching backgrounds, so when we go to visit the family, there is usually a long list of things for us to do when we get there.  And as all you farmers and ranchers out there know, the list and work never ends.

So here we are in the high desert.  My folks own a small spread in comparison to other places around them.  But it keeps them busy in their retirement age.  They farm a 70 acre pivot of Alfalfa and manage three other pivots adjoining their place.

Spring time, is rat time.  Rat’s as in sage rats.  There are hundreds, upon thousands of them. One of these little buggers can eat 14lbs of hay a year.  Which means 71 of these little guys can eat one 1000 pound bale.  They provide hours and hours of entertainment and are great for improving your marksmanship.

In early spring when they come out, they are hungry and there is not much grass growing yet.  Which makes it an ideal time for pest control.

My two elder sons were over the moon learning how to drive Sammie, Gramps and Grams little Suzuki Samurai which they use like a side-by-side.

The rest of the family walked back and forth the 70 acres administering the control.  I wish I had a pedometer to track how much we walked.  Gramps and I estimate a minimum of 5 miles.  Doesn’t seem like much, but I was packing the youngest who weighs 25 lbs.  My shoulders and legs were sore.  What better reward, than a dip in the hot springs!

And there just happens to be one less than 15 miles away!  Crystal Crane Hot Springs has a relaxing outdoor pond and private bathing tubs as well as overnight accommodations.  Many people and doctors believe bathing in mineral springs can have a wondrous effect on physical, mental and emotional well-being.  The kids and I spent the evening soaking our tired bodies in the 102 degree pond.  We hope to make it back one more time before we head out to my sister’s house for a visit.

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Outdoor wading pond at Crystal Crane Hot Springs.

 

4-H is Fabulous

**We are traveling this month to see family, so sadly this site is still in the works!  I’m trying to find that one image that will represent this website and the path I want it to take.**

Friday evening, we made the hour and a half trip to turn in the kid’s educational displays for 4-H.  In order to show at fair, they are required to attend/participate in four activities which are scheduled throughout the year.  These activities provide the kids with learning opportunities to help them learn and grow to be a better person or in their project.

One of the many wonderful aspects of homeschooling, is we are able to incorporate 4-H into our curriculum.  We went to the library and found books to study about their projects and searched the internet for their educational displays.

Next year, since they will have a little more knowledge and confidence under their belts, I think we will have them attempt a public presentation!

On Saturday it was back to town again. My children and I got to spend the day learning about Junior Market Livestock, Bee Keeping, and Showmanship!  The 27th, marked the day for Rally Days.  Rally Days is an event put on yearly by our local 4-H program where the kids get to spend the day learning about different areas they are interested in through a variety of classes that are offered.  They had a blast!

4-H was a HUGE part of my husband and I’s lives growing up and are very excited we are finally in a place where we can get our children involved as well.

For those of you who don’t know about 4-H, it’s a great organization focused on helping youth to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills.  When people think of 4-H, they typically associate it with agriculture, but today it branches out into many different avenues including healthy living, science, engineering, and technology.

The boys have decided to show pigs.  And our daughter rabbits.  This spring will be a fun adventure for us with all the new critters joining our family.

Bundle up the Baby, Let’s go out and Play!

I’m working at building our website, so please be patient but, I wanted to get a post up from this weekend.

Our family loves snow!  We couldn’t live in a better place for it either: Alaska.  We happened to get 22 inches in the 36 hours this weekend.  The kids were out past dark and were brushing the sleep out of their eyes while putting on their snow gear this morning.

We pile the snow near the end of our driveway where it tends to melt off and drain down the banks.  I bundled up the youngest and swung him onto my back and my husband and I headed outside to shovel.  Even though we have a tractor in the shop, we decided we needed the extra workout.  By Noon it was still coming down and our all our efforts looked as though they were in vain.  So, we pulled out the Kioti.  It’s just big enough it gets our small jobs done on our place and keeps us out of trouble.

The kids love to tunnel through the big mound of snow and make snow dens.  They were busy with the snow ball makers and shovels, digging their way through. I’m very surprised, but these snowball makers have lasted my boys three winters.  They are very tough on toys, so I’m glad they’ve held up. We just had to repair one of them this year.  Nothing a drill and a little wire couldn’t fix!   My husband enjoys giving his best to fix everything before determining whether it is ready to be retired or not.

I don’t know about some of you, but I love driving equipment and tractors.  Always have since I was little.  My husband has learned that it’s better to let me get it out of my system and then he takes over. We do things very differently, but always manage to get the job done.  When our turn of driving the tractor was over, Joseph and I decided to head for a walk about the place.

I love how the snow makes everything look so fresh and clean!  Like my eldest son, I could have snow year round. It’s always been a goal of my since childhood to have a team of horses and a sleigh.  Surprisingly, though I grew up in Central Oregon, I don’t do well in the heat.  I’d rather be skiing or sledding than soaking up sun on the beach.

There is also a nice hill off the side of our yard for sledding.  And when the weather is cold enough we skate on our pond.  In the summer, they spend almost all their time swimming in it.  Is there a better way or place to grow up? I don’t think so.  And I think my kids would agree!