Christina's Banana Cookies

from Simply Recipes by Elise

* 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 cup of sugar
* 1 egg, room temperature
* 1 cup of mashed bananas (about 2 large bananas)
* 1 teaspoon of baking soda
* 2 cups of flour
* pinch of salt
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground mace or nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
* 1/2 cup oats or quick oats
* 1/2 cup pecans, walnuts or chocolate chips

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

2 In a bowl, mix the mashed bananas and baking soda. Let sit for 2 minutes. The baking soda will react with the acid in the bananas which in turn will give the cookies their lift and rise.

3 Mix the banana mixture into the butter mixture. Mix together the flour, salt, and spices and sift into the butter and banana mixture and mix until just combined.

4 Fold into the batter the oats and nuts/chocolate. Drop in dollops onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until nicely golden brown. Let cool on wire racks.

Makes about 30 cookies.

Christina's Soda Scones

from my mom

2/3 c butter or margarine, melted

1/3 c milk

1 egg

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour (I use 1/4 c whole wheat)

1 1/4 c quick oats, uncooked

1/4 c sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp cream of tartar

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 425. Add butter, milk and egg to combined dry ingredients; mix just until dry ingredients are moistened. Shape dough to form ball; gently pat out on lightly floured surface to form 8-inch circle. Cut into 8-12 wedges; Bake on greased cookie sheet in preheated hot oven 12-15 minutes or until light golden brown. Serve warm at breakfast or brunch with butter, preserves or honey.

Christina's Oatmeal Crispies

from The Pioneer Woman Cooks!

1 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups quick oats
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped (optional)

Combine butter and sugars. Mix well. Add the eggs and vanilla. Again, mix well. In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. Add to butter mixture. Then add oats and pecans. Roll into a log and refrigerate 1 hour. Can be frozen in batches. Cut into cookies. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake in 350 oven for 9-10 minutes.