Baking Day!!!

I believe that one day of each week should be put aside just for baking! Today, I made some chocolate-chip cookies, some oatmeal raisin cookies, and a batch of the Orange Blossom muffins I spoke of a few days ago! YUMMY!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup stick butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 (12-oz) bag chocolate chips (2 cups)

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2) In medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt.

3) In large mixing bowl, mix together butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. 4) Stir dry mixture into beaten mixture.5) Add chocolate chips; stir until evenly distributed.

6) Drop mounds of dough 2" apart onto ungreased cookie sheet

7) Bake 8-12 minutes until light brown.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

• 3/4 cup stick butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (Don't be afraid to add extra!)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 3/4 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)

2) In large mixing bowl, mix butter and sugars together until smooth. (Use the largest bowl you have...)

3) Beat in eggs and vanilla until fluffy.

4) In small mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually stir this in with sugar mixture.

5) Stir in oats and raisins.

6) Drop spoonfuls of batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until slightly brown. Cool slightly before transferring onto plate.

Orange Blossom Muffins

• 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 oil
• 1/2 cup undiluted orange juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup Smucker's Orange Marmalade
• 12 servings of Pioneer Biscuit Mix
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

1) Combine first five ingredients plus sifted biscuit mix.

2) Stir in marmalade and pecans.

3) Pour batter into lightly greased (or oiled) muffin tins. Be sure to use SMALL muffin tins! Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes or until brown. If you have any extra batter, bake a loaf of Orange Blossom Bread. Just add a few minutes to the cooking time. It is FABULOUS, especially with a mug of hot tea!

These lovely homemade goodies were amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed baking them!