Eric's Oatmeal Crisps

• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1 cup corn flakes, crushed
• 1/2 cup pecans chopped

Preheat oven 325 degrees

In mixing bowl beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy.

Add egg, vanilla, and oil.

In separate bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt.

Mix flour mixture to wet mixture.

Add remaining ingredients.

Place on un-greased cookie sheet.

Cook for 12 minutes.

Let cool for 5 minutes on pan.

Set on cookie rack to cool.

**note.... I messed up the first time.  I was going to half it and didn't put enough flour...they were overly crisp and too greasy.  Eric loved them that way.

I also ran out of corn flakes so I used Honey Bunches of Oats.

The girls don't like nuts....oh well!!

CHICKEN AND TORTELLINI SOUP

Chicken & Tortellini Soup

- 1 can cream of chicken soup

-4 cups chicken broth

-1/3 c whipping cream

- 1 1/2 c water

-1 pkg cheese tortellini (dry/fridge ready pack/or whatever)

-1 cup precooked chicken cubed

-1 handful or so of Parmesan cheese 

-1/2 lb fresh or frozen spinach (we like fresh)

-1/2 cup diced onion

-2-3 cloves of fresh garlic minced 

-salt & pepper to taste

-2 tbs olive oil

saute garlic and onion in olive oil

add broth,cream, water, soup, bring to boil

add chicken & tortellini and let simmer for 10-15 minutes (less if your tortellini is fresh, longer if dry) 

add cheese and spinach

let simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve with some good hot bread.

Nice easy soup for one of those nights.

Mulled Wine

--2 bottles dry red wine
--1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 3 oranges)
--2 more oranges 
--3/4 cup white sugar
--1/4 tsp allspice
--1 tsp cinnamon
--6 cinnamon sticks
--6-8 whole cloves

I used my 6 quart crockpot and it only filled it 1/2 way.

Combine wine, juice, sugar, cinnamon, and allspice in crockpot.  Stir.  Slice 1 orange.  Add cinnamon sticks, sliced orange, and cloves.  

Cook on low for 4 hours or high 2 hours.  

Garnish with orange slices.

Drink and enjoy!!

**I used Walmart's brand Oak leaf Cabernet Sauvignon.  Even the snooty wine conniosseur had two cups.