Cross Country- Oatmeal Cookies and Blog Award

This morning was a cloudy, and gloomy morning that turned into a half way decent looking day, here in South Florida, but temperature only at about 68 degrees F. My daughter dropped off my little grandson at my place for a couple hours so she could go take care of errands, son-in-law had his only 1 day off, and he had to take care of things, as well. My little sweetheart came all set with his "Finding Nemo" CDVD, as he calls it, and I knew I didn't have his favorite little "Goldfish" crackers snack for him, so I thought, I better start making something real quick and yummy for him. Sure enough I had Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolates, but no chocolate chips. Found some quick cooking oats, and I knew I had the rest of the ingredients...so why not, some chocolate chunk cookies, instead of chocolate chip cookies?

Ready to jump into action, and in less than 30 minutes, warm cookies were waiting for my little guy, with a big smile on his face. For some reason, every time I'm looking for a recipe, that I have just about all the ingredients for, is the "Best Recipes" book, the latest copyright, 1982, that have a compiled great list from backs of boxes, cans, jars, but you really have to do some adaptation to make it up to date by switching, and adding ingredients, which I love to do, and adapt it my way. Interesting, about the Mazola corn oil, which the original recipe calls for 3/4 cups? and no butter?...well, I quickly narrowed the amount down to 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, instead, and I knew it would need at least a little butter, so I added 1/2 unsalted butter, and had to confidence of knowing it will turn out better, than with all oil, which would make it too wet, as well!...The result, was a light, perfect, chocolaty goodness with healthy oats!

Cross Country Oatmeal Cookies
adapted from Best Recipes by Ceil Dyer

1/4 cup=2 oz. unsalted butter
1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 oz Ghirardelli Bittersweet chocolate chopped coarse
(or 4 oz chocolate of your choice, chopped)
1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter, oil, and sugar, until well combined. Add sugar, vanilla, and mix until thick and creamy. Add flour, oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Beat at low speed until well combined.
Stir in walnuts.

Drop by a large tablespoon 2 inches apart, on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, or use small teaspoon to make small ones. Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.  Makes about 12 large, or 24 small ones.

Blog Díj

Krisztina, Igazán meghatott üzenetével hogy vár rám egy meglepetés. Megajándékozott ezzel a kitüntető blog dijjal.

Nagyon szépen köszönöm, hogy gondolt rám! 

A szabályok a következők:

- Írj egy bejegyzést, amelyben közzé teszed a Liebster-Blog képet, és másold be ezt az útmutatót.
- Linkeld be annak a személynek a blogját, akitől a díjat kaptad, és hagyj nála egy hozzászólást, hogy elfogadod a díjat, és add meg a bejegyzésed elérhetőségét.
- Ezután gondolkodj el, melyik az a 3-5 blog, amelyiknek tovább szeretnéd adni a díjat, linkeld be őket a bejegyzésedbe, és értesítsd őket egy hozzászólásban a jelölésről.
- Tehetséges kezdő blogolókat részesíts előnyben,
(ne olyanokat jelölj, akiknek több 100 követője van.)

Szeretettel továbbadom a díjat az alábbi blogger társaimnak:

Bianka-Kiskonyhám Izei 

Erzsébeth-Citromhab
Lilian-Zamat és Illat
foodafok
Zsuzsa-Gesztenye

...and now! on to an Award, received from a sweet, and talented beautiful blogger, whom I had the pleasure of befriending on Foodbuzz when I first joined, back in Sept. 2010. Her name is Krisztina from Krisztina's Kitchen,-Krisztina Konyhája from Budapest, Hungary.

She is a talented young mom, who has some really wonderful desserts, and dishes. Also she has the Google Translater, which can be converted to any language to view her recipes.


She has awarded me with this award, and I would like to pay it forward.
Thank Krisztina, I'm really honored!


Here are the rules:


Copy and paste the award to your blog... link, and mention  the blogger who gave the award to you, and thank them.
Pay it forward to 3-5 talented bloggers  Make sure you link them and contact them to let them know.

Sara-Culorile din farfurie 
Mina-Angel love's cooking 
Indonesian in Turkey
Anna-Simply Italian Style
Barbara-Cucina di Barbara 

I wanted to do a nice little restaurant review from City Cellars, at City Place in West Palm Beach, where we shared a nice lunch, thanks to Fabrizio, my sweet son-in-law, on his day off from his restaurant. All I was allowed to take actually, in "secret" was my amazing Pomegranate Green Tea, which came in a small bottle. Isn't this gorgeous?
It certainly was refreshing, and the restaurant was packed with business people, and no doubt, tourists! 

This was part of the decor, so chic, and modern...the ambiance, and the service of this place was amazing!...oh, and the food was very South Floridian. I had a blackened grilled Mahi-Mahi, on a toasted sesame bun, and share a beautiful spinach salad, with gorgonzola, toasted pine nuts...yumm!...sigh...no photos of it!

My daughter's friend manages this most unique and famous ice cream-gift-and chocolate shop, where we stopped after lunch. You've never seen anything like this...it's a magical place for kids, and adults, alike!

 Mona Lisa greets you at the counter. On the right is a private "party room" for kids' parties.

 A magical ice cream place...indeed!

 What child would not want to hang out in this "Ice cream palace Wonderland?"