Apple Volcanoes - Letter "V"

We made Apple Volcanoes for Letter "V"!
Apple Volcanoes
4 small apples
3 dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup rolled oats
1 TBSP honey
2 TBSP butter
4 marshmallows
Mix raisins, apricots, oats and honey in a small bowl. If apples don’t sit flat, slice off a little on the bottom. Using a fork make fork pricks on the outside of the apple. Put the apples in a baking dish. Core apples with corer or knife, make sure there is a hole big enough to fill. Using fingers stuff oat mixture in the apples. Top with a pat of butter and bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until apples are fork tender. Take the apples out and place one marshmallow on top and return to oven until they begin "erupting"!:)

I had some left-over oatmeal mixture so I used 6 apples instead of 4.

X-ray vision Cookies - Letter "X"

These are called "X-ray vision cookies" because they contain carrots, which contain beta-carotene, that help with vision. Does it help with night vision? I don't know but it is a cute name for cookies:) And what other recipe can we make for letter "X"??:) The cookies turned out very delicious! The original recipe calls for 1 cup of chocolate chips but I actually put in 2 cups. :) I want to make these again soon!!!

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup nonfat milk
1/3 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup quick-cooking oat
1 cup carrot, grated
1 cup raisins

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, milk and oil.
3. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, baking soda and nutmeg; add to the egg mixture and mix well. Stir in the chips, oats, carrots and raisins.
4. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto baking sheets coated with nonstick cooking spray; flatten slightly.
5. Bake for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown; remove to wire racks to cool.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/x-ray-vision-chocolate-chip-cookies-251162?oc=linkback

Bran Muffins

Bran Muffins
by: Barbara Jackson & Jamie Wise

These turned out great! I love the texture! Don't leave out the pecans because I feel that is the key ingredient--oh SO GOOD! Thank you, Jamie and Barbara for sharing this delicious recipe!

Ingredients:
* half of a 20 oz. box Raisin Bran cereal
* 2 c. buttermilk
* 1 1/4 c. brown sugar
* 2 1/2 c. plain whole wheat flour
* 2 1/2 tsp. soda
* 1 tsp. salt
* 1/2 c. cooking oil
* 2 large eggs
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp. cloves
* 3/4 c. pecans
* 1 c. raisins

Directions:
* Combine the following: Sugar, oil, eggs – then the buttermilk. Next mix this mixture with all dry ingredients. Beat well with mixer. Add nuts and raisins. Spray muffin tin.
* Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes depending on size of muffins.

*freeze well