Aunt Becky reinvents Quaker's Vanishing Oatmeal Cookie

While visiting family in North Carolina recently, my aunt Becky made some wonderful cookies.  I was amazed that just a few small adjustments made it a healthier, more filling cookie.  My kids love to get a stack of 3 of these cookies for breakfast with a tall glass of vanilla rice milk.

Aunt Becky's Vanishing Cookies:
2 sticks soft butter (I like to use 1 stick butter and 8 tbsp. peanut butter)
1/2 c. raw sugar or honey
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. shredded sweetened coconut
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon (optional if using peanut butter)
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. oats (I only use 2 when peanut butter is used)
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350*F.  Cream sugar and butter together.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in coconut.  In separate bowl, sift together flour, soda, cinnamon and salt.  Add the flour mixture 1/2 c. at a time to the wet mixture.  Stir in oats 1 c. at a time.  Stir in raisins, then cocolate.

Form tablespoon-sized balls and flatten gently on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 10-12 minute or until it becomes a light brown color.  Cool 1 minute then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

This recipe makes about 4 dozen cookies!  Enjoy!

Do-it-All Stain Remover

This is a great little recipe I came up with after years of using Melaleuca Sol-u-mel.  I loved that product so much, but when we canceled for inability to meet the monthly requirements, I decided to see if I could create something that got the job done.

I read the back of the sol-u-mel package and noticed that it was mainly isopropyl alcohol and tea tree oil.  Here is what you will need:

20 oz. spray bottle, preferably an old cleaning one that has "stream" and "mist" functions
2 oz. isopropyl alcohol
20 drops tea tree oil
17 oz. pure water

Combine all in the sprayer and go to town.  I have gotten permanent marker off of wood, laminate, carpet and clothing!  I am currently living in a tiny apartment with 2 children and a carpeted dining room!  It got tomato soup and pomegranate juice out of the carpet recently.  This solution is also great for food stains on counter tops and crusty food on the stove and in the oven.

Since it is alcohol, even in a small concentration, I had my son draw a skull and cross bones on both the alcohol bottle and sprayer, for added protection.

Tea Tree Oil may be purchased at mynsp.com/edenessentials for $11.25.