Grandpa's Favorite Cookies

1 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup bn sugar
1 egg
1/2 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. cloves
1 t. vanilla
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Cream together shortening and sugars.  Add egg and beat well
Sift together dry ingredients and stir into mixture. Then add nuts
Shape into 2 rolls and chill thoroughly.  Slice thin and bake on greased
cookie sheet. 375 oven 5 to 7 minutes or until browned.  Remove to
rack to cool.  Makes 5-6 dozen.

Shook recipes

TWO CHEESE ZITI

3 c uncooked ziti or small tube pasta                                 Topping:
1 T butter                                                                          3 T dry bread crumbs
2 T flour                                                                            1 1/2 t butter melted
1/2 t salt                                                                            1/4 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 t pepper                                                                       3 T Parmesan cheese
1 3/4 c fat-free milk
3/4 c shredded cheddar cheese (fat free ok)
2 T Parmesan cheese

Cook ziti according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, melt butter.
Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk.  Bring to a boil;  cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted.
Drain ziti; add to sauce and stir to coat.  Transfer to a shallow 1 1/2 qt baking dish coated with nonstick
spray.  Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

In a small bowl combine bread crumbs and butter; stir in cheeses.  Sprinkle over ziti.  Bake uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until heated through and topping is lightly browned.
5 servings.


Here's one more that I really want to try soon:)

SWEET POTATO MINI-FRIES

1 lb sweet potatoes (about 2 small)
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
1 t kosher salt

Preheat oven to 475.  Line rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.
Cut the sweet potatoes crosswise on a slight diagonal in 3/8 in thick slices   Put the sticks in a mixing bowl
and combine thoroughly with the olive oil and 1 t salt.  Spread the sweet potatoes out in one layer on the
baking sheet, making sure to scrape all the oil and salt from the bowl

Roast for 20 min.Using a spatula, flip the sticks over and continue cooking flipping once or twice more until
the fries are nicely browned, about 10 min more.
Note:  they get crispy around the edges but stay moist in the middle.

Rutherford Baked Chips/Crisps

At our house, we like to snack. Those of you who know Kurtis well know that he eats about six small meals a day and we are finding unique ways to bring healthier snacks home. We are quite inspired by the farmer's market and always coming up with new ideas based on what we pick up there.

This is just a basic guideline,
________________________________________________________

oven-dried apple chips (and potatoes too)

makes about two dozen 

If you’re baking two trays at a time, be sure to rotate the pans halfway-through for even cooking. And if you decide to make potato chips, just give them a sprinkle of sea salt—no oil necessary.

1 medium to large apple, sliced paper thin
Silicon lined baking sheets
(if you don't have silicon, parchment paper or spraying down a bit of cooking oil will do the trick)

Preheat oven to 225ºF. Place apple slices single layer on a silicon-lined baking sheet. Bake for one hour until crisp and dried.
__________________________________________________________

If doing this with a potato, just follow the same instructions with the potato. And, of course, don't forget about kale chips, which can follow the same recipe as well! At our house, we like to add spices to the produce from cinnamon right on down to paprika or just plain old salt and pepper. Be creative and get those taste buds rolling!

If an hour seems like too much time to wait, I have been guilty of upping the temperature in the oven and cutting the time in half. Be mindful of the things you are baking if you do this as they will go from crisp to a bit black pretty quickly on the higher temperature, but most of the time I find it to be super successful.

Enjoy your food and share with others. It's amazing what memories a great meal together can have!
Love to all,
Mary and Kurtis

Favortie Recipe from the Rivers

A recently discovered favorite at our house:

Homemade Wheat Bread for Beginners (or Cheaters with a Bread Machine):

1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees F.)
1 tablespoon milk (or almond milk)
2 tablespoons oil (canola oil)
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cup whole-wheat flour
1 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons dry yeast (get this in bulk from Sam’s or Costco)

Put all ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Set on dough cycle.
When dough cycle is finished, take dough out and shape into a loaf in a greased bread pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 20-45 minutes (until doubled).
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

This came from Money Saving Mom, is delicious, easy, and saves us money on dairy-free bread. 
You can also roll out the dough after the dough cycle and spread honey on it, add cinnamon and sugar and make a yummy cinnamon swirl bread. 

Yum--warm bread.