2 friends across town

what i found this week

dawn

actually, my daughter found this and we have spent the last several days drinking it like it's our jobs. it has a wonderful, spicy vanilla flavor and smell. bigelow's brand.

the last of the summer roses on my neighbor's bush.  sssshhhhhh....don't tell her i picked them.

i always use smart balance spread and now they have these new butter blends.  wonderful to bake with also.  highly recommend.

What I'm Cooking This Week- Ranger Cookies!

Tracy

Dosage: Take two, and unplug the phone.
John Deere plate optional.

Yesterday after school my youngest flopped down on a barstool at the kitchen table, propped up his elbows after an exhaustive sigh, and asked me, "Mama, you got any cookies? The from-the-oven kind? With chocolate chips and stuff?" I had to suppress a giggle because his request was sort of the five-year-old's version of "Gimme a scotch and soda on the rocks with a twist. Easy on the soda." Sometimes kindergarten can be a real butt-kicker.

Well, I heard ya, partner. Last night I didn't have all the ingredients for these magical morsels, but today after work I had to stop by the store for some almost-the-end-of-the-week staples anyway, so I was prepared for some cookie madness when we got home.

These treasures are from an old version of the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, my old reliable, checkered friend. The "Ranger Cookies" page is dog-eared and stained with vanilla. It's an oldie but a goodie. Kinda like me. The coconut adds the moist and chewy factor, and the Rice Krispies lighten the whole thing up. The M&M's are my own addition---they add a splash of color and an even bigger after-school appeal. But this ingredient can be toyed with---dark chocolate chunks can be substituted, or butterscotch chips or whatever else makes your skirt fly up!

Ranger Cookies

1 stick butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1 and 1/4 cup Rice Krispies

1 cup chocolate chips (or 1/2 cup plain M&M's)

1 cup Bakers flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 375. In a large bowl, beat butter for 30 seconds with electric mixer. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and baking powder and cream together with butter for about one minute, then beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in one cup flour.

Turn off mixer and stir in remaining 1/4 cup flour by hand, then fold in cereal, coconut and M&M's (or choc chips). Drop by rounded tablespoons on a cookie sheet, about two inches apart and bake for around 8-9 minutes or until you notice the coconut browning a bit on top and around the edges.

dang tracy, these look evil...but in a good way :)   yummy-ola.