Oatmeal-Date Cookies

mmmm.... fresh baked, warm from the oven cookies. yuuummmmm  What more can ya ask for. ahhh... a cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate... yeah!  Ok... I have a glass of iced-tea. LOL It's HOT outside!  : )

Oatmeal-Date Cookies Favorite All Time Recipes: Diabetic Desserts, pg.18

• 1/2 C packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 C margarine, softened
• 1 egg plus 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 1 TBS thawed frozen apple juice concentrate
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 C flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 C uncooked quick oats
• 1/2 C chopped dates or raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. 
2. Beat sugar and margarine in large bowl. Add egg, egg white, apple juice concentrate and vanilla; mix well.
3. Add flour, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Stir in oats and dates. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
4. Bake  8 to 10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. 

I used a bigger than a teaspoon to put the dough onto the cookie pans so it made 2 doz cookies, and some dough left over that I ate. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm   mmmmmmmmm good. I couldn't see breaking up a good egg and used two whole eggs. I also used real butter and I didn't have frozen apple juice concentrate so I used 2 TBS regular apple juice. I did use raisins and dried cranberries instead of the dates. Who has dates!?  

I think next time I make these cookies I will add a little more apple juice to make the dough a little moister, the cookies turned out pretty dry. Unless I should add more butter, I never know! LOL Maybe some apple sauce would work! I will not add 2 tsp baking soda next time I make these. 

Basil Pork and Green Bean Stew

We all liked this one, even Denny. Mom liked it, in spite of there being basil in it. She says she doesn't like basil but when I do put it in food she always likes whatever it is I put it in. She's entitled! She is 90 now! : ) This was also a good stew because it's a stew that doesn't have CARROTS in it. Mom just does NOT like carrots. LOL

Basil Pork and Green Bean Stew Favorite All Time Recipes: Everyday Diabetic Recipes pg. 48

• 1 pkg (9 oz) frozen cut green beans
• 3 1/2 C peeled red potatoes cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 lb trimmed pork tenderloin, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 C no-sugar-added pasta sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 TBS chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese

Microwave Directions

Place beans in 10 t 12 inch microwavable casserole. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 2 minutes. Drain in colander.

Using same dish, microwave potatoes, covered, at HIGH 3 minutes. Stir in pork, beans, pasta sauce and salt. Microwave at HIGH 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Stir in basil. Microwave 5 to 7 minutes or until potatoes are tender and meat is no longer pink in center. Sprinkle with cheese.

Makes 6 servings

OK, that's the recipe. I... didn't follow it totally. Do I ever????  First, I didn't have any pasta sauce. I could have, and usually do, use tomato sauce and doctor it up with spices to make the pasta sauce, but... I grabbed a can of tomato soup instead and doctored THAT up with Italian spices. LOL  I added some orange pepper cubed and some onions, too. 

I, also, didn't have Parmesan cheese. I did have shredded Swiss cheese, though, and sprinkled that on top the finished stew. AND... I didn't have pork tenderloin so I used pork chops. OH!!  I only microwaved the potatoes until soft; otherwise I used the stove top. Let's see... anything else?? 

Everyone liked it. Even Denny. YAYAY  : )

Cinnamon Caramel Corn

This turned out pretty good... exCEPT... 2 TBS of honey needs to be increased. Mom and I both agree on that.

Cinnamon Caramel Corn Favorite All Time Recipes: Diabetic Snacks  pg. 58

• 8 C air-popped popcorn (about 1//3 C kernels)
• 2 TBS honey
• 4 tsp butter
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place popped corn in large bowl.

Cook and stir honey, butter, and cinnamon in small saucepan over low heat until butter is melted and mixture is smooth; immediately pour over popcorn. Toss to coat evenly. Pour onto prepared pan; bake 12 to 14 minutes or until coating is golden brown and appears crackled, stirring twice during baking time.

Let cool on pan 5 minutes. As popcorn cools the coating becomes crisp. If no crisp enough or if popcorn softens upon standing, return to oven and heat 5 to 8 minutes. 

makes 4 servings

I.. ummm... didn't have any butter so I used an olive oil/canola oil mix, but more honey still is needed.