Breakfast Cookie Recipe

Yes! I did NOT find it...lol...but I wracked my brain for about 3 hrs until I finally remembered. I only had to ask Tabby for a little help (she's my little Irish sous chef :-) So from my heart to yours...here is one of my favorite recipes:

Breakfast Cookies

Breakfast Cookies*
(*this recipe makes ALLOT of cookies. About 36-40 palm sized cookies. Feel free to halve it. It works just as well)

Preheat oven to 375

In first bowl combine

1c. Unsweetened Apple Sauce
1c. Honey
4 RIPE Mashed Bananas
1/2 c. Dark Molasses
1 Stick of butter or margarine (softened)
2 Eggs
2Tbs. Cinnamon
1Tbs. Allspice
1 Tbs. Nutmeg

Mix on low until completely incorporated.

In second bowl combine

8 C. Quick Cooking Oats
5C. Unbleached Flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Baking Powder

Stir to combine.

Add 1 pkg. Semi Sweet or Dark Chocolate Chips to dry ingredients (I used Ghiradelli...yummmm)

Hand mix by 2 cupfuls at a time the dry into the wet. 

Fold in 2 c. of your favorite diced dried fruit**. (I use a mix of pineapple, mango and shaved coconut) Batter will be thick and sticky when ready.

I use a 1/3 c. measure for my cookies. Scoop, form into thick patty's and place about 1 1/2" apart on *lined cookie sheet. These cook for 15-17 minutes depending on how hot your oven runs. You could definitely do smaller cookies and less time. But even with a 1/4c. measure they still take 12-15. They are dense. They are awesome still warm but really good about 24 hrs later when they have rested. You can also pop them in the microwave on a paper towel for 20 seconds. They can be frozen in freezer bags for, up to, 3 weeks.

*I always line my cookie sheets with parchment but I grease them lightly as well.
**Bubba Does not like any kind of fruit in the cookies so we just omit that part and they taste fine.

I actually just found this recipe...lol It looks pretty good though and has stevia instead of the honey and molasses. If you're watching sugar and gluten this might be a good recipe for you :-)

individual baked oatmeal cups

The Sound of Silence

Suzanne Burgos

A picture's worth a thousand words...what words does this picture inspire in you?

[ I do not own or have copywright permission for any images shown here. If the owner would like me to stop using their work please contact me and I will do so immediately.]

Sometimes it just doesn't make sense

My son lost a friend and teammate today, 16 1/2 yrs old. A few years ago my oldest daughter lost one of her best friends 17yrs old. When I was 15 I lost a dear friend and high school crush he was 16. A dear friend lost their son to a 24hr sickness when he was just 15. It just doesn't make sense...Death so young.

Tragedy happens to children..it's awful, it's frightening, we, as parents, do all we can to protect our small ones from the evil, sickness and malice of the world; those things and people that would steal their bright smiles from our lives...but then they grow up.

When they are teenagers we stop worrying quite so much, we have to. We stop protecting quite so much, they need their Independence. We become their coaches, their safety net as they learn to leap and to fly on their own. We're not their parachute anymore, we can't hold them close, keep an eye on them every minute, shield them from it all...and horribly, tragically, senselessly some are lost.

How do we cope? How do we comfort? I still don't know. I try and listen, i weep with them, how could I not, they are my treasured children...my heart breaks when their heart breaks. My broken heart won't heal them though...so I pray. I hold them close, I hug them tight and I pray...

"Dearest Father, I know it's not senseless, but it feels like it. I know there's a reason, a purpose here, though I cannot fathom it. I don't get it, but I trust You. Here Lord, hold my child. You gave him to me to protect and care for, but nothing I am is enough to heal this pain, nothing I am will comfort his wounded heart. Only You know the answers, only You can give him peace. I lift Him to you, along with his friends who are all suffering for this loss of precious potential. A million smiles never seen, a million experiences never shared, a million tears are falling Lord, a thousand children crying, hold them Lord. Give us Your words to comfort, Your Spirit to bless, Your hope to move on when it is time. I love You, my son loves You, You love us and have given so much to be close to us, let that love become a circle of healing, and let it begin dear Father here, with my son." Amen

We will miss you young man