While Scotland long had crunchy oatcakes, the pliable oatmeal cookie we’re familiar with was a 19th-century American creation.

Jean Anderson, author of The American Century Cookbook: The Most Popular Recipes of the 20th Century, notes:

“The first recipe I’ve found for oatmeal cookies appears in the original Boston Cooking-School Cook Book by Fannie Merritt Farmer (1896)…in fact they were barely oatmeal cookies, containing only half a cup.” (Here’s the original Fannie Farmer recipe).

The oatmeal cookies we know and love did not begin routinely appearing in cookbooks until the twentieth century, according to Ms. Anderson.

Ingredients

Makes 60 cookies.

 
Preparation

1. BLEND. Preheat oven to 375°F. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in sour cream, egg and vanilla. Add combined flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients.

2. DROP. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheet.

3. BAKE. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookie edges are lightly browned.

4. COOL. Cool on sheet 1 minute; remove to cooling rack.
Find more of our favorite cookie recipes.

Olive oil. Photo courtesy De Medici Imports.

Take olive oil. Some cooking oils are relatively flavorless, but good olive oil has rich flavor (see the different flavor profiles).

As you’ve no doubt heard many times, olive oil is heart-healthy. Why do you hear that over and over again?

Because cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America. It takes more than 600,000 lives yearly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The good news is that making small changes in your lifestyle and diet can add up to big results over time. So why not make the switch to heart-healthy olive oil?

Start by changing just two habits. The results will be just as delicious, if not more so.

 
Here’s a third habit that we practice:

 
If it sounds strange to you, be assured that a fine olive oil is delicious.

Five Health Benefits Of Using Olive Oil

1. Anti-inflammatories. Along with having healthy properties that help reduce inflammation in the body, olive oil has heart-beneficial anti-clotting properties.

2. Antioxidants. Olive oil contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. The polyphenols slow the progression of atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, which occurs when fat, cholesterol and other substances build up in the walls of arteries and form plaque. More about antioxidants.

3. DHPEA-EDA. This is one of the most important polyphenols found in olive oil. Researchers have found that it protects red blood cells from damage.

4. Monounsaturated Fatty Acids. Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which helps to control a person’s LDL (bad) cholesterol, while helping to raise HDL (good, heart-healthy) cholesterol.

5. Secoiridoids. This category of polyphenols, found in olive oil, is being researched for its anti-cancer properties. It is believed to provide the digestive tract with some protection.

Additional research suggests that olive oil has beneficial properties for bone health, cognitive function, and anti-cancer benefits. Additional research is being conducted to discover additional ways that olive oil can be beneficial to our health.

So check the cupboard. If you haven’t used the olive oil in a while, give it a sniff. If musty, use it to condition your hair if you like, but pick up some fresh olive oil at your earliest convenience.

MORE

And now, the brand has introduced Baby Whole Pickled Beets, sized just right for one bite. They’re available nationwide and a great boon to anyone who likes to make hors d’oeuvre and small bites.

 
This recipe makes about 36 appetizers, 2 appetizers per serving.

BABY BEET & TORTELLINI APPETIZERS

Ingredients

 
*Thinly sliced strips of smoked ham or turkey may be substituted for prosciutto.

1. DRAIN beets well; discard liquid.

2. COOK tortellini according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water and drain again.

3. CUT prosciutto into 1×3-inch strips. Wrap one strip prosciutto around tortellini; skewer with appetizer pick.

4. ASSEMBLE: Brush lightly with vinaigrette. Add one piece of bell pepper and one baby beet to skewer. Repeat until all beets are used. Arrange on serving platter. Sprinkle with herbs.
  

Peanut butter cups: We love them!

How can you make the everyday peanut butter cup even better? Create them yourself, using better ingredients than are used in mass-marketed PB cups.

The trick is to buy the most delicious chocolate morsels (or gourmet chocolate) and the tastiest peanut butter. You can use your favorite “shade” of chocolate—dark, milk or white—as long as it’s great stuff.

The good news: The “recipe” is easy.

And it’s timely: You can make peanut butter cups for Easter, topped with jelly beans or other candy Easter ornaments.

Have fun with this one!

Drink Green

Make green beer, sparkling wine, ginger ale, lemon-lime soda (7-Up, Sprite) or club soda.

ANOTHER TIP: Pour any effervescent beverage down the side of the glass, rather than into the center. It preserves more bubbles.

It’s easy being green on St. Patrick’s Day. Photo by MBPhoto | IST.

Eat Green

Color dips, condiments and other creamy foods green. Use 10-12 drops green food color per 1/2 cup of:

 
On St. Patrick’s Day, it’s easy being green.