Cowboy Cookies

A western twist on chocolate chip cookies

3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups butter
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 eggs
3 cups chocolate chips
3 cups oats
2 cups flaked coconut
2 cups chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in sugars and vanilla. Add eggs and beat well. Add flour mixture and stir just until combine. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and pecans. Drop dough onto greased cookie sheet using a very large cookie scoop, place 2-3 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-12 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen large cookies.

* I made smaller cookies and probably got a couple more dozen :)
* I didn't put the pecans in mine
* I added about 1/2 cup extra flour becuase my first batch came out a bit flat

These were yummy!

Fruit & Grain Bars

3/4 C. Butter, softened
1 C. Packed Brown Sugar
1 1/2 C. Oats (Quick or Rolled)
1 1/2 C. Flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 C. Raspberry Jam (Bottled jam not freezer jam)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Combine butter and sugar in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer for about 1 minute until mixture is light and fluffy.  Add oats, flour, salt, and baking soda to bowl and mix with a spoon until crumbly.  Press a little over half the mixture into the bottom of a greased 8x12 or 9x13 pan.  Spread jam over oat mixture.  Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture evenly over top of jam with your hands.  Bake 20 minutes and cool completely before cutting and serving.  Makes 20-24 bars. 
   

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This recipe came from my friend's food blog, it's really easy and really yummy!!! You can use any flavor of jam that you want too. 

I asked her why freezer jam wouldn't work and she said:  As for the jam recommendation, freezer jam has a runny texture when it comes to room temperature and especially when it is heated.  I don't think it will set up well in this recipe.  If you use bottled jam, which is thicker, it will set up and not make the bars soggy.

Granola

6 c rolled oats (I used quick oats)
½ c wheat germ or flax (optional)
1 c unsweetened coconut
1 c coconut (or just 2 cups of whatever coconut you have)
¼ c sesame seeds
1 c mixed nuts (walnut, pecan, peanut, almond, pumpkin, etc…or whatever you have)
½ c sunflower seeds

Sauce:

½ c vegetable oil
1 cup honey

Heat oil & honey together. Remove from heat and add:

1 t almond extract (optional)
2 T vanilla

Pour sauce over all ingredients.
Spread on lightly oiled cookie sheet.

Bake at 300 for 30 minutes (or until golden brown).
Stir frequently.

Serve with milk, yogurt, and/or fruit.