No Bake Cookies

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1/2 cup cream

1/4 pound butter (1 stick)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup smooth, salted peanut butter (creamy)

3 cups oatmeal, raw

Melt butter in pan. Add sugar, cocoa and milk. Stir and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and cool for one minute. Add vanilla, peanut butter and oatmeal, stirring well after each addition. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto two dinner plates or wax paper.

Yields: 2 dozen cookies.

Notes: This is a quick and easy recipe.

Avocado Tacos

1 Avocado, firm but not rock hard

1 Jalapeno

1 Tomato

Corn Tortillas

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Lavender Salt

Wash and dry the jalapeno. Roast on stove top on medium heat. Use tongs to turn and char but not burn each side evenly. Place charred jalapeno on a cutting board and cover with a dish for five minutes.

In the meantime, wash and dry the tomato; then chop and place in a bowl. Wash the avocado well and then dry. Slice open and remove the pit. Wash and dry the knife and then cut the interior flesh into a grid. Use a spoon to scoop out the avocado and place the chunks in a bowl with the tomato.

Rinse the charred jalapeno under water and remove the skin. Place the jalapeno on a cutting board and cut off the stem end. Slice open the jalapeno and remove the seeds and veins. Chop the remaining jalapeno and add to the tomato avocado mixture. Toss.

Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet. Dip corn tortillas in oil and heat. Drain on a paper towel lined plate.

To assemble tacos, grind one or two sprinkles of lavender salt on each tortilla. Top with a spoonful of avocado, tomato and jalapeno mixture.

Yields:  8 small tacos.

Notes: A friend Wanda, gave a lavender salt and pepper mix, from Western Colorado, to me.  I have altered many recipes using these flavorful condiments.

Lavender salt may be found at A Pinch of Lavender at https://www.nielsenvillage.com/.

Book Review Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Guitar and Rocked the World

Kim Tomsic writes a delightful story about childhood learning, play, invention, perseverance and success. Music strums through the pages along with disassembly and reassembly of household electronics such as telephones and radios. Illustrator Brett Helquist evokes the early days of jazz and musicians such as Nat Cole with whom Les Paul performed. Guitar Hero is a fun read for all ages and Ms. Tomsic includes notes and a bibliography which will help those parents educating at home.

Parents may wish to have a separate box of older electronics for their children to take apart and reassemble.

Learn more about Kim Tomsic:  http://kimtomsic.com/books/

Learn more about Brett Helquist: http://bretthelquist.com/

Learn more about Les Paul:  http://lespaulfoundation.org/

Support your local bookstore:  https://www.tatteredcover.com/

Key Lime Pie, Easy

Key Lime Pie, Easy

9 inch diameter graham cracker crust, store bought

1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Key West Lime juice

Whisk or stir the condensed milk, whipping cream and lime juice together. Pour into graham cracker crust. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Cool on counter for 15 minutes. Then place on flat hot pad or folded towel, in freezer and chill for an hour before serving.

Serves 6 – 8.

Biscotti with Oatmeal and Blood Orange

Biscotti with Oatmeal and Blood Orange

1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 stick

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/16 or less teaspoon lavender salt

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup oatmeal

3 smaller, older blood oranges

Cream butter, sugar, vanilla and lavender salt. Add eggs and mix, thoroughly. Add first cup of flour with the baking powder and mix. Add second cup of flour and mix. Add oatmeal and mix. Peel, removing all pith and then chop the blood oranges, removing any seeds. Stir into mixture. Drop by spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.

Yield: 3 dozen cookies.

Note: Authentic biscotti are baked twice and uniform in size. This is a quick, tasty biscotti recipe.