Cookies from a Cake Mix - - Maryann Stephens

I got this recipe from the "Hints from Heloise" column in the Fort Worth Star Telegram several months ago. I tried it and they were some of the best cookies I ever tasted! They stay nice and soft and moist for days and they are soooo easy to make! I tried plain chocolate cake and did not add chocolate chips....but you could add them or add nuts if you wish. Heloise said that the lemon cake mixes make nice and tasty lemon cookies. Keep a box of any cake mix in your cupboard and if you need a quick last-minute dessert you can make it in a jiffy and your friends will love them.

To make it you need:
1 (18.25 - ounce) box cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix only the above ingredients (with nuts or chips if you wish) in a large bowl until blended. Drop the batter by spoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake on the middle rack for 8-10 minutes, watching them carefully...they brown quickily so stand by.....enjoy!

AFTERNOON COFFEE

by

Margie Whittington

8" x 10"

Watercolor

French Vanilla in the afternoon for a coffee break.

Dreams of France in a villa overlooking a

quiet lake. Coffee flavors can take you away to

other places and remind you of other times.

Try some today.

http://www.margiewhittington.com/

http://www.mwhittingtonart.blogspot.com/

http://www.canvasbycanvas.com/

http://www.upstairsartgallery.com/

http://www.thegoodartco.com/

http://www.dailypaintersoftexas.blogspot.com/

Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing ~ Purple Onion Painting by Nancy Standlee

This onion painting hangs in my kitchen and in direct sight while I enjoy my morning coffee. It is a wonderful reminder of a trip to Dena Wenmohs ranch and the two workshops I've taken there with Robert Burridge. When I stayed in the Bunkhouse, Dena had colorful onion paintings in the kitchen and I wanted to paint something similar when I returned home. Wonderful memories. February 2010 will find me back at the ranch taking my 7Th workshop with Bob and maybe this time I'll get it right.

A trip to Barbados in 1983 found a group of us at the Holiday Inn for the evening meal and I asked for salad refills so many times it became laughable. Their crisp greens were covered in a simple but delicious oil and vinegar dressing and I wrote later to get the exact ingredients. The customer relations officer sent me the recipe with these words, "It is quite simple and takes no time at all. Happy salads."

The Barbados Holiday Inn Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

1 cup of olive oil
1/3 cup of vinegar (I used red wine vinegar)
1 clove garlic crushed
1/4 small onion chopped
1/4 to 3/4 t. of Worcestershire Sauce
1 T. fresh parsley minced
salt and pepper to taste
I added a Sweet and Low, optional

Method:
Combine all ingredients in a jar. Shake vigorously. Refrigerate overnight and then use as desired. (I had the pleasure of cutting some of the parsley from my herb container which includes some sage, rosemary, basil, and chives and I'm babying them in this Texas heat.)
Happy salads!

I've joined two other blogs and please check our sites.
Daily Painters of Texas
Daily Painters Abstract Gallery

WEBSITE NANCYSTANDLEE.COM
BLOG NANCYSTANDLEE.BLOGSPOT.COM

ARLINGTON TEXAS NANCY STANDLEE DAILY PAINTER CONTEMPORARY ACRYLIC STILL LIFE VEGETABLE PAINTING EXPRESSIONIST

COFFEE BREAK by Margie Whittington

"MORNING COFFEE BREAK"

by

Margie Whittington

8" x 10"

watercolor

There is nothing like a hot steaming cup

of coffee for a mid morning perk.

A flavored coffee is even better.

Can't you just smell this chocolate

flavored coffee.

Best on a cold winter day

curled up by a warm fire with a good book.

(A nice dream on a hot Texas Day in July)

http://www.margiewhittington.com/

http://www.mwhittingtonart.blogspot.com/

http://www.canvasbycanvas.com/

http://www.upstairsartgallery.com/

http://www.thegoodartco.com/

http://www.dailypaintersoftexas.blogspot.com/

Baked Oatmeal ~ Iron Horse Inn ~ by Nancy Standlee

Some of the Canvas by Canvas members had a paint out in Granbury at the Iron Horse Inn and had oatmeal in a different way. It was baked and delicious. Here is my blog post about the event.
Theresa was kind to share her recipe and I made it this week and it tastes more like dessert than a breakfast meal. I put down it feeds 3 but I actually finished it off in 2 servings and I wouldn't think eating precooked oatmeal reheated as I had prepared it before but this baked method works great by adding a little more milk and sticking in the microwave. I added the recipe and drawing to my journal page today but will type out the recipe for easier printing. I used some contour drawing, watercolor and a favorite gold pen for outlines in the image.

Theresa's Iron Horse Baked Oatmeal

1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/3 tsp salt
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
3 Tbs melted butter
3/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup dried fruit

Combine dry ingredients. Mix egg, milk and melted butter and add to dry ingredients. Mix well and place in pyrex dish. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 for 30 minutes. Stir well, add a little more milk and bake for a further 10 minutes.

Serve with chopped strawberries and a jug of warm milk.

(I used dried cranberries for the fruit but I think some chopped apple would be good and I'll try that next time. I saved a little of the melted butter to grease the pyrex bowl a little and I guess I poured about 1/4 cup more milk into it after stirring. I didn't have any strawberries but just added some extra milk...yum!) To cut some calories you might reduce the sugar and butter a little but I haven't tried it - just made it as written and then I'll play around with the recipe next time.

Thanks Theresa for sharing your recipe and if you have other favorite recipes your guests have enjoyed, CBC will be glad to post and share. We loved being your guests and painting at the retreat.

POUR YOUR FAVORITE

BEVERAGE FROM A HANDPAINTED

GLASS PITCHER ...

... SET YOUR DRINKING GLASS

ON A HANDPAINTED COASTER TO

MATCH THE PITCHER!

Suggested Beverages...

Ice Water

Lemonade

Ice Tea

Peach Tea

Rasberry Tea

Kool Aid for the Kids

Club Soda and Limade

and many more!

visit these websites...

http://www.canvasbycanvas.com/

http://www.margiewhittington.com/

http://www.mwhittingtonart.blogspot.com

http://www.upstairsartgallery.com/

http://www.thegoodartco.com/

Come back soon to see what's cookin in the way of food and art!

Cindy's Pot Roast by Nancy Standlee

Cindy's Pot Roast

This is about the fastest, easiest pot roast and it is not even necessary to brown it before cooking.
Approximately 3 lb. chuck roast
1 envelope of Lipton Onion Soup Mix
salt and pepper, optional

Place the roast in the center of a large piece of aluminum foil and sprinkle the onion soup mix over it and seal and place on a baking pan and cook for approximately 3 hours at 325-350.

Read Nancy Standlee Art Blog about Cindy's experience with cooking.