Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

My friend and co-worker told me she had put a link to my blog from her thriving blog regarding a recipe I had given her. Hearing that, I decided to post another recipe that others at work have inquired about recently. They had wanted a recipe for a treat that was not too unhealthy. I gave them this recipe for Oatmeal Cookies, since it is one of the healthiest ones I have and my family loves these cookies. While I have modified this recipe to try to make it a little healthier, it is a version of the recipe that my mother and grandmother used to make.

Claudia’s Oatmeal Drop Cookies
2 cups sifted White Whole Wheat Flour (King Arthur)
1 cup sugar
1/8-1/4 cup flax
½ t. baking powder
½ t. baking soda
½ t. salt
1 to 1½ t. cinnamon
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1¼ cup canola oil
2 eggs, large
½ cup milk mixed with 1 T molasses

1. Sift together first 8 ingredients.
2. Add rolled oats and raisins and mix thoroughly.
3. Add in order: salad oil, eggs, milk. Mix after each addition.
4. Drop on ungreased baking sheet.
5. Bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes (I bake at 325°F in convection oven for 13 min).
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Happy Baking!
Part-time Gardener:)

Decision on the Front Yard

Searching for a design for a new front yard was not a quick task. We thought we had found the answer when we came across a neighbor who had built a lovely 6 foot wall in front of her beautiful garden. Stepping past the wall felt like you had just entered another world-very calm and private. Then we found out that the city would not allow us to build a wall higher than 48 inches. She was able to build her 6 foot wall because the small court that her property is on is actually considered a private driveway. Oh well.

We finally decided that what would make my husband happy is a brick wall similar to the one pictured above. I wasn't so sure we needed a 4 foot brick wall, but believe it will add some instant charm to the front view of the house. The bricks will be a different color than the lovely used bricks pictured, and will hopefully resemble the bricks on our house. Our wall will be 4 feet from the sidewalk and the height will be 4 ft, as dictated by the city. We talked to the owners of the house pictured above to find out that their wall is about 80 years old! We hope the wall will make it easy to create an attractive drought-tolerant garden in the front yard. The best news is that we are moving forward fast, which means I may be able to plant some trees next month!! Stay-tuned---I will be posting updates!

Part-time Gardener:)

Road Trip

Earlier this year my husband, daughter (23 years old) and I ventured up to the Russian River Valley to check out some of the vineyards. Our favorite winery turned out to be the Hop Kiln Winery in Healdsberg. Not that we checked all of them out, but this one caught our attention because of it's history. While the property had been a workiing ranch since the mid 1800's, it was in 1905 that the Walters family built the kiln to process hops. The hops industry declined in the 1950's, and the kiln and barn became a winery in 1975. I enjoyed the feel of the building while tasting their great wines. It would be fun to attend a wedding there! Below is a picture of the Hop Kiln Winery: