Carrot Sunflower Cookies

3/4 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. quick oats
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/3 c. butter
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. finely shredded carrots
1/2 c. sunflower seeds, hulled
4 tbsp. milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)

Mix flour, oats, cinnamon, and soda; set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients until blended. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Flatten to 1/4 inch thick. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

Cheeseburger Soup

1/2 pound ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
4 tablespoons butter
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups cubed potatoes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cubed Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sour cream

In a large pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter or margarine over medium heat: cook and stir vegetables and beef , until beef is brown.
Stir in basil and parsley. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10-12 minutes.
Melt the remainder of butter and stir in flour. Add the milk, stirring until smooth.
Gradually add milk mixture to the soup, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Stir in cheese. When cheese is melted, add sour cream and heat through. Do not boil.

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 heaping tablespoons ground flax (optional)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I omitted this and used extra pumpkin)
2 tablespoons vinegar
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional, but we didn't need syrup or toppings with the chocolate chips added)


In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, flax seed, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pie spice, cinnamon, and salt, stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 cup Nilla Wafer crumbs ( I used Oreo baking crumbs and omitted the cocoa)
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup icing sugar (I used less)
1/4 cup margarine melted
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Combine and press into springform pan. Bake 8 min at 350 degrees.

3 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened (I used 1 pkg. no name brand & 2 pkg. Philly. The no name brand did not mix as well, leaving some white cream cheese chunks. These chunks tasted good and made it look like I used white and chocolate chips in the cake!)
3/4 cup sugar
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp pumpkin spice
1 cup canned plain pumpkin
4 eggs
1 1/4 cups chocolate chips (I used mini chocolate chips)

Increase oven to 400 degrees. In large bowl beat all ingredients for the cake except chocolate chips. Beat well to blend. Stir in chocolate chips, pour into crust. Bake 10 minutes then reduce temperature to 250 degrees. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes more.

For best results in cooling all cheesecakes: leave in oven with oven off and door open for 15-30 minutes, then move to wire rack. With knife, loosen from side of pan.

Cool completely, remove pan ring. Refrigerate for 24 hours or freeze for best flavour and texture. You can eat it before 24 hours if you want, will taste good the next day too!

Carrot Casserole

4 cups chopped carrots
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 onion finely chopped
1 cup sour cream

Cook carrots till almost done. Melt butter, stir in other ingredients, heat through. Stir in carrots, put in buttered 2L casserole.

2 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs

Mix crumbs and cheese with melted butter. Sprinkle over carrots. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used unsweetened apple sauce)
1 egg
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, spices, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm. Makes about 4 dozen.

Whole Wheat Peach Kuchen

I had bought some peaches and they were quite "woody" and not good for fresh eating. So I tried this new recipe and it turned out great! At least the peaches were not wasted!

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup ground walnuts (optional - I did not add these)
1/4 cup butter/margarine
4 cups cut up peeled peaches
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream (I used yogurt)
1 egg
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in butter, until crumbly. Pat mixture over bottom and sides of pie pan. Arrange peaches in pastry, cut side down. Mix together second amount of sugar and cinnamon together. Sprinkle on top of fruit. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Combine last 4 ingredients and pour over hot peaches and bake 30 minutes more or until set.
Serves 6-8.