A Precious Gift!

 

"The most precious jewels you'll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children."~ Author unknown

 

 

I feel so blessed this week to have a brand new baby grandson.  He is here and beautiful and his mom is doing well also.  So appropriate to have him come just before Easter, a time of new beginnings and when the greatest gift of love ever was given to mankind.

 

I was able to finish the baby quilt just in time.  The sailboat blocks were fun to make and I was able to use up some more scraps.

 

 

 

New moms and new grandmas need easy and fast recipes to fall back on.  Here are two that meet the needs.  This chicken recipe is not only very easy but it's tasty too.

 

 Coconut is one of those ingredients that always reminds me of Easter.  So I threw in a recipe for Coconut Oat Cookies.  A little secret . . . . if you add a cup of slivered almonds and two cups of milk chocolate chips you'll have the flavors of Almond Joys which just happen to be one of my very favorite candy bars.  YUM!!!!!!

 

 

 

Baked Chicken Breast

6 thin-sliced chicken breast halves                ½ tsp. garlic powder

¼ cup olive oil                                                    ¼ tsp. dried rosemary

½ tsp. salt                                                           ¼ tsp. dried basil

½ tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place chicken in greased baking dish.  Brush with olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, rosemary and basil.  Bake chicken in preheated oven until no longer pink and juices run clear or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees (30-45 minutes). 

 

 

Coconut Oat Cookies

1 cup butter, softened                                     1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup packed brown sugar                              1 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs                                                                  2 cups flaked coconut

2 tsp. vanilla                                                       1 ½ cups quick-cooking oats

2 cups flour                                                                 or old-fashioned oats

½  tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat until mixed.  Stir together flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a large bowl.  Gradually beat flour mixture into creamed mixture.  Stir in coconut and oats.

Drop by tablespoon or small scoop onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.  Makes about 3 dozen.

 

We are reading The Giver Series by Lois Lowry this month in Book Club.  I love these books and the movie is as thought provoking as the books.