The Fern Grove

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

This is definitely a comfort food meal perfect for a cold fall day. I made up two batches of cookies while the stew was cooking in the crock pot. I made one batch with choco-chips for my boyfriend (oatmeal choco-chip is his favourite) and then I made the cranberry batch gluten free by using uncontaminated oats, and gluten free baking mix instead of flour. These are great with milk!

Crockpot Rutabaga Beef Stew

1 Rutabaga peeled and cubed

3 large celery stalks chopped

3 large carrots chopped

1 cooking onion chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parley

1lb stewing beef

2 tbls olive oil

3 tbls red wine vinegar

1 1/2 cups beef broth

1 bay leaf

1 tsp gravy browner

2 tbls cornstarch

3/4 cups water

to taste: dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, black pepper, salt, Worcestershire sauce

1. add chopped vegetable to crockpot
2. add beef to crock pot
3. add herbs and seasoning to taste
4. add bay leaf, olive oil, red wine vinegar and beef broth to crock pot
5. cover crockpot and let cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours.
6. In a jar combine the cornstarch, gravy browner, and water and shake well
7. stir in this cornstarch mixture in the last hour or two of cooking

Hardy Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies (or Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie)

cranberry outmeal cookies

1 1/2 cups flour

5 cups whole oats

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup margarine

3/4 cups white sugar

3/4 brown sugar

1 tbls vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup dried cranberries (may substitute chocolate chips)

1. combine oats, flour and baking soda in a bowl
2. combine sugar, margarine, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl
3. add oat mixture and cranberries to wet ingredients and combine well
4. place 2″ round balls of the mixture on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 325F for 10-12min.
5. let cool on cookie sheet for several min. and then move to wire racks to cool