30 Things to Make Before I Turn 30: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Today I am exactly 3 months away from the big 3-0, so I wanted to take a look at how I am doing on my 30 Things to Make Before I Turn 30 List. 


Here it is:

30 Things to Make Before I Turn 30

1. Cornish Hens [Check!]

2. Homemade Salsa [Check!]

3. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies [Check!]

4.  Noodles from scratch  [Check!]

5. Cheese Souffle 

6. Blueberry Pie

7. Homemade Marshmallows

8. She Crab Soup [Check!]

9. Beef Pot Roast [Check!]

10. Julia Childs' Bearnaise Sauce [Check!]

11. Monkey Bread [Check!]

12. Yeast Bread

13. Sweet Potato Soup [Check!]

14. Julia Childs' Poulet au Porto [Check!]
15. Homemade Pretzels with Homemade Mustard Dip [Check!]

16. Scones [Check!]

17. Beer battered fish [Check!]

18. Homemade Granola [Check!]

19. Rack of lamb [Check!]

20. Pasties (Recipe from A. Chris)  [Check!]
21. Pioneer Woman's Rosemary Rolls [Check!]
22. Lasanga [Check!]
23. Eggplant Parmesean [Check!]
24. Fettucine Alfredo [Check!]
25. English Muffins
26. German Potato Salad[Check!]
27. Giada De Laurentiis's Basil Pesto Sauce [Check!]
28. Rib Eye Steak with Pan Jus [Check!]
29. Chicken Braised in Red Wine
30. Bean Burgers  [Check!]

So I have 6 more items that I need to check off in the next 3 months:

1. Cheese Souffle

2. Blueberry Pie 

3. Homemade Marshmallows

4. Yeast Bread

5. English Muffins

6. Chicken Braised in Red Wine

If you have any recipes or recommendations for the six remaining items, be sure to let me know!

These Oatmeal Raisin Cookies were the very first thing I made using my beautiful new KitchenAid mixer that was an early Christmas gift from my fabulous husband. I was amazed at how much EASIER and QUICKER whipping up a batch of cookies is with the KitchenAid. I'm officially in love. 

Since I am not a huge chocolate fan, my favorite cookies do not contain chocolate - snickerdoodles, sugar cookies, and oatmeal raisins are definitely my top three. I had never made my own oatmeal raisin cookies before this. These cookies were turned out beautifully. I loved how the vanilla and clove flavors really shined through. They were moist and fluffy. I want to make them again right now. 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

From Better Home and Gardens Cookbook

Makes about 48 cookies

Printable Version

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon and cloves. Beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. 
Beat in the flour. Stir in the rolled oats then stir in the raisins.

Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. 

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden. Cook on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to let cool. 

Cranberry Chutney

Because my photo software recently went on the blitz, this Cranberry Chutney is the one and only recipe from Thanksgiving this year that can actually I blog about. Boo hoo hoo. I wanted to share with you an amazing brie and truffle oil appetizer and a couple other recipes that I made over Thanksgiving, but the photos didn't survive. Guess I'll have to make them again sometime. 


I found this Cranberry Chutney recipe on Closet Cooking. I loved how it was a totally different spin on traditional cranberry sauce and how it incorporates so many different ingredients: jalapeno, apples, raisins, ginger. 


This was the easiest thing I made on Thanksgiving day, all you do is cut things up and cook them all in a big pot. It smelled heavenly while it simmered and was very delicious. Tangy, sweet, and savory all at the same time. It made a nice big batch and we were able to use the leftovers on turkey sandwiches and in chicken curry - - recipe to come next!

Cranberry Chutney
From Kevin at Closet Cooking
Printable Version


Ingredients
1 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
1 apple, peeled, cored, and diced
1 onion, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced
1 tablespoon grated garlic
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup cider vinegar

Directions
Place everything in a large pot and boil until thickens, about 20 minutes. Can be made ahead of time and even preserved using traditional canning methods.