Ranger Cookie Recipe!

I thought I would post one of my favorite cookie recipes for everyone to try today! I've made these for quite a while now and they're very tasty! They're called "Ranger Cookies". I first saw a recipe for Ranger Cookies several years ago in my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook....I have since changed it around a lot and altared it to make my own recipe. :) (Aside from a few minor details, the cooking directions are from the book.)


It's a pretty easy recipe to make, and you can altar it depending on what you prefer to use! I like chocolate chips, rasins, flaked coconut, crushed almonds, rolled oats, and rice cereal in mine - but you can be as creative as you want. They are also really good with a half cup of granola cereal (or a whole cup if you're out of rice krispy's), dried cherries or blueberries in them! ( If you are a diabetic or insulin resistant individual, you can use 1/2 cup of applesauce and a pinch of natural honey instead of sugar. They turn out just as good! )


Ingredients:


1/2 cup REAL butter (softened) - For the love of all things holy, don't even think about using margarin!!


1/2 cup granulated sugar (I prefer the natural raw unrefined sugar, but the white refined sugar works too)


1 egg (I use large brown ones)


1/2 cup packed brown sugar


1/2 tsp baking powder (Optional, you can use 1/4tsp baking soda instead You just need one of the two.)


1 tsp vanilla


1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (Not self-rising flour!!) You can add more flour if the dough is too thin.


2 cups rice krispy cereal


1 cup rolled oats

A small pinch (or for my non baking friends...about 1/8th tsp) of cinnamon or nutmeg (or both if you prefer)

2 cups semi-sweet milk chocolate chips or chunks (dark chocolate works too)


1 cup rasins (you can also use dried cherries or dried blueberries!)


1 1/3 cup flaked coconut (thaw it out first if you use frozen)


Directions:
-Preheat overn to 375 degrees-


1. In a medium bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder or baking soda. Beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.




2. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Stir in cereal, coconut, rasins, choclate chips,etc (you can add nuts if you want to! Sometimes i crush almonds and put them in mine when i have them!!)

***If the dough is a little loose, roll it into a log shape and wrap it in cellophane. Put the dough into the refridgerator for 15 minutes or longer until the dough firms up and is easier to work with!***


3. Drop dough by a rounded teaspoon 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet or a silpat baking mat. (If you have a small ice cream scoop- use that to scoop your dough with and the cookies will all come out the same size). Bake in a 375 degree oven about 8 minute or until edges are golden brown. When you take the cookie sheet out of the oven, carefully smack the underside of the sheet on thetop of the oven (or island) and it will make the cookies easier to take off the cookie sheet when they cool! :)


4. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minutes. Transfer the cookies to wire rack; cool. Makes about two dozen cookies.




ENJOY!!

A Classic...

When I first started college back in the autumn of 2004, I was a Music Industry major (Recording Technology). I have grown up around music my entire life. It is one of the most amazing forces known to man. It has the power to move, the power to bring joy, inspiration, tears, and healing. Although I have a varied appetite for the music I enjoy, there are several poignant songs that stand out in my mind as classics.

In life, there are many songs: songs for happy days; songs for sad days. There are songs for heartbreak, and songs for love. Some songs are written to express anger and rage. Other songs inspire change, hope, and  healing. In my opinion, "Annie's Song" is a classic that describes how life and love should be. John Denver hit the nail on the head with this one. I think it is one of the most amazing love songs ever written. It moves, it makes you think, it inspires, and it describes how a loving relationship should be. It's not a one-hit wonder. It is not a frivolous song without substance that will be forgotten tomorrow. It is a song for all ages and all people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C21G2OkHEYo





(Yes, I admit it people; I too can be cheesy!)

Comforts...

Most of my friends and family know I have a few issues with my heart. My cardiologist recently decided to try me out on a new medicine to see if it would help in addition to what I am already taking. (Long story short, I had a horrible internal reaction to it and have been incredably sick ever since.) I was not any better today, so they had me come in for another check on my heart/etc. After a few tests, they decided I was becomming too dehydrated and my potassium was also too low, so I spent a few hours there while they gave me several IV's full of fluids and one of potassium. The nurse told me to go home and take it easy after that- no school, no more driving, no work around the house; just rest and let my heart rate relax today. Thankfully though, the doctor did say that if I rested up today that I should be ok to attend our friends' farewell dinner tonight though so that's good (no worries, Jack's driving). Our friends are moving out of state tomorrow, so I'm at least glad we will get to see them tonight! The doctor said it should be ok since I have to eat/drink anyways! After that though, I'm banished to resting again for the rest of the evening. ;)





Anyways, while I was sitting there in the doctors officer earlier, needle in arm, I started to wonder what makes other people feel better when they feel sick? You know, the little comforts that make life better!





Here's my list of comforts that always make me feel a little better!:





Jack - he always knows how to cheer me up and make everything better





A hot cup of tea





Hagan, my snuggly German Shepherd puppy





My mom's vegetable soup & buttermilk cornbread (humm...I should request this!)





A good movie on tv ("You've Got Mail" is what I'm currently watching)





Anything from Lush Cosmetics... www.lush.com





Mascara (no matter how bad I feel, if I put some on, I automatically feel better!)




A warm blanket





Good music : Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Evanessence, etc....





Whole wheat toast with homemade jam on it (One of my mom's older customers makes his own jams/jellys and always sends me some (especially strawberry!). They're amazing; I have a cabinent full of them!)





A good magazine or book





Comfortable clothes (especially pj's!)





Laughter - my funny moment of the day was driving myself all the way out to my cardiologist's office and not realizing until I got ready to leave that I was still in my pajamas! (That's how bad I felt!)





What are your favorite comforts???

Officially Joining The Blogging World!

Well, I finally decided to cave and join in on the infamous world of blogging! I couldn't think of a better time to start than the present! I have enjoyed reading through the wonderful blogs of my friends for quite a while now, so I thought it would be fun to start one of my own! My life is constantly changing and taking new directions, so I'm looking foward to accentuating my life's journey through blogging. Happy reading everyone!