Tasty Recipe Review: Betty's Oatmeal Cookies

I have had this book forever. It's worn, torn and burnt as you can see.

I have used it countless times and for numerous ocassions. I always thought this was a Betty Crocker cookbook, not sure why, maybe the red and white or maybe cause my mom always called it that. But it isn't is it. Is it? There seems to be a new cookbook out Better Homes and Gardens 12th Edition. I wonder just how improved it is.

I have been craving oatmeal cookies lately but I really wanted them to have some sort of twist. I wanted something different. I searched the web for recipes and founds tons of stuff, cookies, bars, etc. but nothing really jumped out at me. So I decided to go look in my old trusted Betty Crocker cookbook. I'm sorry, I will keep calling it that forever I think. she had oatmeal cookies with variations, chocolate chip, fruit topping. Hmm, sounded interesting. Wanting to get rid of unused apples that were sure to spoil in the future so I chose to try the oatmeal cookies with fruit topping. I also left some without the topping so I could taste only the cookie.

The regular oatmeal cookies were very good. Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Very tasty.  I don't know if you can really do wrong by an oatmeal cookie recipe, but I liked these, very good.

The oatmeal cookie with apple topping, wow! Very very nice combination, chewy cookie with crisp sides and outside, sweet apple cinnamon topping. I was very surprised. I didn't think they would be this good actually. I thought they would just be ok. It's like a cookie with a kick you know, that little something extra really made a difference.

I must say, they are pretty filling, I usually have like 3 or 4 cookies (right...), but with these ones 2 was enough for me. Don't get me wrong, they are very very good and tasty, but they are somewhat filling. But that's a good thing!

I found the recipe very simple and quick to make. Granted, it does take a little time for the topping to cook, but it's fairly quick, you can make these in 30 - 45 minutes. I like that, quick and easy recipes, they're the best!


 To make these delicious cookies you will need:

3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/4 teaspon ground cloves (optional)
2 cups rolled oats

In a mixing bowl beat butter or margarine for 30 seconds. Add about half of the flour, brown sugar, sugar, egg, baking powder, vanilla and baking soda. If you choose to add cinnamon and cloves (I did) add those as well. Beat till thoroughly combined. Beat in remaining flour. Stir in oats.

Drop by rounded teaspoons (oops I think mine were a bit bigger!) 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or till edges are golden. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Fruit topping:

To make the fruit topping, in a medium saucepan combine 11/2 cups finely chopped (finely??? hmmm) peeled apples, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup raisins, 1/3 cup chopped pecans (ok so I didn't have raisins and pecans, so I just did apples, some cinnamon and sugar, could that be bad? I also added about 2 tablespoons brown sugar,just cause it was left over from the dough and I thought, this can't hurt!) and 2 tablespoons of water.

Bring to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat. Simmer till fruit is tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally. After dropping the dough onto the cookie sheet, press centers with your thumb. Fill each indentation with a level teaspoon of topping. (I made like little wells on mine, I was affraid the topping would spill down the sides. I also have to admit that I didn't measure the level teaspoon, I just eyeballed it, Yeah, I'm a rebel!)

I would like to apologize for the lack of pictures, but besides the fact that my camera sucks (yes it's the camera!) my lighting is apparently worse, so I really don't have any decent pictures of these cookies or the process except the one up top.


Till next time, I hope you enjoyed this review and remember, if you have a Tasty Recipe that you would like to share, or if there's a recipe that you have been wanting to try and just haven't been able to, let me know about it. I'll give you a Tasty Review!

Single Serving Pies

I have had this recipe for years. I'm not sure where I got it from unfortunately, but it has always been a hit. I was in the mood for something kind of cute and instead of making a whole pie, I decided to make miniature personal apple pies.

I have to say, I wasn't sure if I wanted to post this today or if I wanted to use it for my recipe review tomorrow. But, I already had my recipe review, well, reviewed so I decided to show you these cute pies!

Recipe

Ingredients:

Crust:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter or margarine
6-7 tablespoons of cold water

Filling:

6-8 apples of your choice, no preference here
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional )
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 - 1 cup sugar ( I like my pies on the sweet side so I use the full cup! )
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinammon
pinch of nutmeg

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray muffin tins with non stick cooking spray
For the crust, I like using the food processor, it makes it so much easier!

Mix flour salt and butter in your food processor until the butter is the size of peas. Add the water one tablespoon at a time using the pulse button until you get a uniformed dough.
On a lightly floured surface roll the dough to about 1/8 in. thick. Or you can just roll it out to any thickness you like.

Using a round cutter, cut out the bases of your mini pies.

 

Place them in the prepared muffin tins.

For the filling, peel and cut your apples into small sized chunks. Combine with lemon, sugar, cinammon, flour and nutmeg. Toss to coat.

Like so

Fill the muffin cups to the top

Roll out the remaining dough and using a smaller cutter make the tops of the pies.

Cover the pies and pinch the edges

Using a toothpick, poke holes into the tops of your pies to let the steam out

At this point you can use an egg wash on the tops of your pies if you like and even sprinkle some sugar so it looks pretty. Personally I'm lazy and didnt' feel like wasting an egg, so I didn't do it.

 Bake for approximately 45 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

As you can see, some of my filling did ooze out and spill over so be sure to pinch those edges well.

Now you have single serving apple pies!

Enjoy!!