Grandma's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

We had some new neighbors move in - and what's a better way to welcome someone to the neighborhood than with the best cookies ever?! These are my favorite cookies of all time. Straight from my grandma's cookbook. This is the dirtiest page in the cookbook, that tells you how good they are.
I made a simple tag with this cute stamp. I am glad my sister talked me into buying it. It makes me want to make treats for more people.

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
2 cup quick rolled oats
1 pkg chocolate chips

Cream together shortening and sugars. Add eggs. Add remaining ingredients in order and mix well. Bake at 350 degrees until done. (That's how my grandma wrote it - but for us it is about 12 minutes)

Tips:
Add 3/4 cup chopped nuts if you'd like (and I do!)
I like to go a little lighter on the chocolate chips - like 3/4 of the bag
Use a small spring-loaded ice cream scoop, like this one, to make uniform sized cookies.

Stuffed Zucchini

Are you all loving Pinterest as much as I am? I love all the ideas I am finding. I have tried new recipes, made fun crafts, and had great ideas for parties (like a baby shower we threw yesterday). I also love the idea of finding things for my dream house, pinning it, and saving it so I don't forget.
I pinned this recipe for stuffed zucchini by Kayotic Kitchen a few months ago. I knew that zucchini would be plentiful and cheap soon. I took their idea, and made my own twist on it.

Stuffed Zucchini

2 zucchinis
4 slices of bacon, cooked till crispy
1 garlic clove
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tsp fresh thyme
2 green onions
salt and pepper to taste
4-6 leaves fresh basil, julienned
Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice zucchini length-wise. Scrape the insides of the zucchini, leaving about 1/4 inch shell all the way around. Chop zucchini into small pieces, place in bowl. Chop bacon, garlic, thyme and onions; stir into zucchini, add sour cream, salt and pepper, and basil. Add mixture into zucchini shells. Top with grated Parmesan. Bake 20 minutes, then turn on broiler until top is golden.

Enjoy!

What's in Season - August

I can't believe it is already August! This summer has flown by and soon my husband will be back in school. Sad. We have loved all the extra time with him.
This summer we have enjoyed playing with our baby, having family visit, and hanging at our local farmers market. Not only do they have some great produce, but grass-fed beef, cage-free eggs, and, of course, cute crafts!

Here is a sampling of what's in season this month!

Photos via Google Images

What's in Season in August:
1. Shell Beans
2. Peaches
3. Wax Beans
4. Cantaloupe
5. Corn
6. Plums
7. Honeydew
8. Currants
9. Beets - try them Roasted!
10. Nectarines
11. Tomatoes
12. Summer Squash
13. Watermelon

Also in season:

Cucumber
Eggplant
Leeks
Okra
Snap peas
Blueberries
Figs
Mangoes
Canary melons
Crenshaw melon
Passion fruit