Orange Vanilla Cookies

Ingredients:

2 c. flour, sifted

1 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

1 c. butter, room temp

1/2 c. baker's sugar (or sub with normal sugar and add a few extra tsp.)

3/4 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1/4 c. orange zest, fresh (about 3 medium oranges)

juice from one orange, about 1/4 c.

1/4 c. shredded coconut, sweetened

1 c. white chocolate chips

1/2 t. coconut extract

1/2 t. vanilla extract

Recipe:

1. Sift flour, salt, baking soda together. Set aside.

2. In separate bowl, cream butter and sugars with electric mixer.

3. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and coconut extracts. (don't over beat) *

4. Gradually add the combined dry mix.

5. Add shredded coconut, orange zest, orange juice and combine.

6. Stir in white chocolate chips.

7. Place dough in glass or metal mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 45 minutes, till very firm/frozen. (Dough can stay in freezer if you want to bake another day, but bake dough frozen.)

8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

9. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

10. Bake batches of cookies on parchment-lined sheet, making about a tablespoon-sized, small round. (smaller cookies work better for this recipe.)

11. Bake about 10-12 minute, till only lightly browned on edges. Check at 8 minutes.

12. When ready, remove from oven and cool on parchment on a cookie rack.

*At this point, I actually did steps 3, 5, and 6 (without the individual mixings) and combined them at once. I then went back and did step 4.

Rating: 3 of 5

Since I loved the Lemon Crinkle cookies, I thought that these orange ones would be pretty good too. I didn't like the texture of even the taste that much. I was expecting a much stronger orange taste I guess. But, LaDon and Ally liked them a lot, so I can't rate it too low.

Source: The Dinnervine, Orange Vanilla Cookies

Navajo Taco Meat

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 small onion

1 can chili beans with sauce

1/2 can of diced tomatoes and green chilies

1 pkt. of taco seasoning

Recipe:

1. Brown the beef and add onions.

2. Drain the fat off. I do this by placing the meat in a strainer and then run it under hot water.

3. Add taco seasoning and stir around until meat is evenly coated.

4. Add chili beans and tomatoes. Let simmer for a few minutes.

5. Serve on Navajo fry bread.

Rating: 4 of 5

This was much closer to how I remember Navajo taco meat tasting. Everything, but the meat sauce, I used came from the previous Navajo Taco recipe posted.

Source: my own. Used what I had on hand in the cupboards.

Spinach-Berry Smoothie

Ingredients:

**The measurements are all guesses as I just throw stuff in as I go**

1 c. frozen mixed berries (I used the Costco kind with blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries)

1 banana

2-3 heaping handfuls of spinach

1 c. water

Recipe:

1. Throw it all in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Serve while it's still cold.

Rating: 4 of 5

Seeing as Ally is a terrible eater....as in, will only eat a few select dishes.....I decided we would try "green smoothies" to get her fruits and veggies in. And, guess what? This recipe worked. Of all the ingredients in this smoothie, she will only eat bananas willingly. So, I consider this a high success! That and it tastes pretty darn good. Definitely keeping this on the list of breakfast food for her.

Source: my own