Making the Hardest Day a Favourite Day...

 (Chewy Oatmeal Cookies, Date Balls, Oaty Pancakes,  Potato Fritters and Easy Pizza Dough Recipes below.)

Today I talk about the day of the week I find the hardest, but how I've found ways to make it a favourite day! I also share a frugal living tip, some easy recipes, some thoughts about love, two ways to use up leftovers and a few others things/thoughts. Recipes below.

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup butter softened (225g)

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla 

2 cups flour

2 cups oats

11/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup each raising/chocolate chips

In a large bowl cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Stir in raisins and chocolate chips. Drop teaspoons on tray. Cook 9-10 minutes at 180C.

Date Balls

2 cups dates (approx)

11/2 cups coconut

3-4 tblsp cocoa

(optional) nuts or seeds

Cut dates. Process all ingredients until fine. Add some hot water--enough to make the mixture sticky enough to roll. Roll into balls and in coconut. Put in the fridge to become hard.

Pizza Dough

1 sachet dry yeast (active)

1 tsp white sugar

1 cup warm water

21/2 cups flour

2 tblsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Add in other ingredients and knead lightly. 

Cook 230C for 15-20 minutes

Potato Fritters

Mix equal amounts of mashed potatoes and flour. Add 1tsp baking powder, 1 egg and any extras--chopped bacon/ham, parsley, cheese, chicken stock, paprika, salt and pepper etc.

Roll into balls. Fry on both sides.

Oaty Pancakes

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup rolled oats

1 large egg

1/2 cup self-raising flour

3 tblsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

25g (2tblsp) butter

Pour the milk over the oats and leave to stand for a few minutes. Add egg and beat with a fork. Sift in flour, sugar and salt (Don't mix). Melt the butter in a non-stick pan in which pancakes will cook later. Add melted butter to bowl and mix everything. (Don't mix too much). Pour some pancake mixture into the hot pan to make a round pancake. When bubbles burst on tops of the pancake, turn it over. Cook second side until the center springs back when lightly pressed. Adjust the heat if necessary, so next pancakes are golden brown.