Fettucini Alfredo

• 1 lb. fettuccine or pasta
• 1/4 lb. butter
• 3 egg yolk
• 1 1/2 c. cream or half and half
• 1 c. grated Parmesan cheese or any other light tasting cheese such as Monterrey Jack
• Salt & pepper

Melt butter in saucepan. Add the cream and stir constantly. When it begins to thicken and look creamy stir in the cheese. Keep cooking on medium heat until you have a nice consistency. (slightly thick...but not too thick)

Remove from heat and stir in egg yolks immediately.

Cook pasta. Drain.

Pour sauce over pasta and enjoy!

Note: Add the Crabcakes to this and you'll have a great meal! (recipe can be found in listing under April 2009)

"Dirt" Chocolate Pudding Kid's Recipe

• 1 large container Cool Whip
• 2 pkg. Oreo Cookies
• 3 large box chocolate pudding
  (for an extra touch use chocolate mint chip pudding)

Place cookies in a large zip lock bag and let the kids crush them up.
Make the pudding using 1 c. less milk than pkg. directions indicate.
Mix the crushed cookies into the pudding.
Fold the Cool Whip into the mixture.
Top with gummy worms and your done.

Makes a large bowl of pudding

Note: This is a great recipe for a group of kids. Even though the ingredients are few it can be broken down in many steps by passing the bowl around the table and allowing each kid to

• Open, pour pudding mixture
• Add milk 1 cup at a time, mixing each cup in after it's poured
• Separate the cookies; one zip bag per kid
• Each kid crushes and adds his/her own cookies
• Divide the Cool Whip up between kids and add to the mixture

Chicken Toastettes

White Sauce is needed for this recipe (you will find it in Aprils recipes)

• 6 slices square white bread
• 2 1/2 c. chopped cooked chicken (any variety)
• 1/4 small onion chopped
• 1 stick chopped celery
• 1/2 c cooked peas
• 1tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 stick butter or margarine

Cut off the crusts and butter one side of each piece of bread.
Carefully place the bread into a muffin tin, forcing it into shape.
Bake the bread at 350 for approx. 15 min or until browned. Remove toast cups from tin and place on individual serving plates. (I usually use two per serving)

Mix all of the above ingredients together and then add this mixture to the white sauce.

Pour the hot creamed chicken mixture into each toast cup and enjoy!

Note: This is a great recipe for using up leftover chicken or turkey. I make it one of my "7 days of turkey" meals after every thanksgiving.

Coconut Meringue Pie

Single Pie

• 1 c shredded coconut
• 2 c. steamed milk (heat milk just til steam forms over pan-DO NOT BOIL)
  
  In Separate bowl:
• 5 tbs. flour
• 2 tbs. cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c sugar

• Separate 3 egg yolks and beat until lemony in color (set whites aside for meringue topping)
• Add dry mixture (above) to steamed milk
• Add beaten egg yolks and coconut and cook til thickened (stir constantly)
• Add 2 tsp. vanilla
• After mixture is thickened (it will look like pudding) set aside to cool with a wax paper covering
• Pour cooled pudding into the pie crust.

Meringue Topping

• 3 egg whites
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Beat egg whites until frothy. Add sugar gradually and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla. Pile on top of pie and form peaks with a fork.... bake at 325° for 15 to 20 minutes.

Note: This recipe comes to me from my mother who received it from her mother and so forth....
Not too many people take the time to make a really great old fashion pie these days. It's so easy to open a box of pudding but this is worth the time!
I can tell you from my own experience growing up and even today...once you've tried this recipe you will not want to order Coconut Meringue pie in a restaurant ever again.

Simple White Sauce

You can't get much easier than this:

• 2 Tbs. flour (I use arrow root flow)
• 2 Tbs. butter
• 2 c milk

• Melt butter in a sauce pan
• Sprinkle flour evenly over the entire pan of butter while stirring quickly by hand.
• Add milk slowly while still stirring.
• Continue to cook over medium heat , stirring constantly, until your sauce is your desired thickness.

* The sauce will stick and burn to the bottom of your pot if you’re not careful…medium heat, keep stirring, be sure to get the entire bottom of pan in each stir.

*Add salt and pepper if desired. Cayenne is a nice touch if you like a little bite in your sauce.
Grated cheese can also be added while the sauce is heating.
White sauce can be poured over vegetables, noodles and just about anything else!

Baked Beans The Easy Way (Crock Pot or Oven)

• 2 cans of baked beans (prepared baked beans)
• 1 can red kidney
• 1 can black bean
• 1 can pinto bean
• 1can butter bean
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 c brown sugar
• 1/4 c molasses (I like dark Karo)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp dry mustard
• 1 Tbs chopped onion
• 1 c boiling water (only if you are baking the beans in the oven)
• 1/2 lb. piece of cooked ham (optional)
• 1 lb. cut up bacon or more....
  

Cook the bacon in a sauce pot or frying pan, pour off grease and pour into crock pot or baking pan Add cooked ham,
Add all of the beans at once.
Combine salt, sugar, molasses, bay leaf, mustard, onion and add to beans.
Let cook in crock pot for several hours

This recipe can also be made in a crock pot or placed in a baking dish and baked
for 45 min. If baked- pour the water over the top of the beans right before they go into the oven.

.

Baked Corn

I experienced a great baked corn dish while out to dinner with my husband. It took a long time of trial and error but this is what I finally found that comes very close to matching it. I've changed things a bit to suit my own tastes. This is a must try recipe.

• 2 tbs butter (do not use margarine)
• 1 1/2 tsp flour (I use wondra flour)
• 1 c milk (you can use regular milk, I prefer to use can milk because it is thicker)
• 2 c cooked corn
• 1 1/2 tbs sugar
• 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 eggs

• Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour - mix well
• Add your milk gradually a little at a time and bring to the boiling point, stirring constantly
  
• Add corn, salt and pepper. Allow it to cook for 3 min more and then remove from heat
  
• Add well beaten eggs and pour in a greased baking dish. Bake 350 for 25 min.

Pot Pie Dough (Old Fashion)

Pot Pie Dough

3 cups flour
4 eggs

1/4 C. milk

1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 c margarine

Mix all of the ingredients above and roll out onto a floured board to about 1/4 inch thick or thicker if you like. Slice the dough to make 6 or 7 inch strips.
Drop dough into boiling chicken or ham broth (see below)


"I save the left over ham bone and some of the meat from a baked ham...place it in a freezer bag and it's there when I need it.
This is a great recipe when trying to figure out what to do with left over chicken or turkey carcass, I boil the entire carcass and strain it....pick out any meat")

Pot Pie in a Pot

Make a broth with either ham or chicken by placing meat and bone into a large pan ,   Add enough water to cover the meat. At least 12 cups of water. Add sliced carrots and potatoes along with an onion sliced in four pieces. Cook time: min. of two hours

Gnocchi Chicken or Turkey Soup/Great with left over turkey

Do you ever wonder at the waste when tossing out the entire carcass of the turkey at thanksgiving or any other time? I raised four kids, sometimes on my own entirely. I couldn't afford to throw away anything!

• Place the entire carcass of your turkey after the meat has been sliced and picked clean into a large pot
• Fill pot 2/3 full with water and let it cook several hours.
  
• Place a colander or strainer over another large pot or slow cooker and transfer all of the broth into it .
• Be sure to pick out any meat that has cooked off the bones and place back into the broth.
  For a low fat content: set the broth in refrigerator over night and clean off the solid fat that rises to the top.
  
  
  Mix together:
  
• 2 cups cooked meat-turkey, chicken or other meat (chopped in small pieces, approx 1" cubes)
  
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 4 carrots, diced
• 3 stalk celery, diced
• 1 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large potato diced small
• 1 small can mushrooms or 1 cup of fresh mushrooms
• 1 tsp. oregano or Italian spices
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 6 cups or 3 cans of broth or broth from turkey)
• 1 16 oz. gnocchi

• 1 hour before dinner is to be served, add the ingredients above to your broth and bring to a boil.
• Let simmer until vegetables are tender.
• Add gnocchi according to pkg.instructions. (approx. 3 min. or until they all float to the top) Do not over cook the gnocchi.

Crab Cakes

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tabs. mayonnaise
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/4 tsp. old bay or seafood seasoning
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 cup soft bread crumbs (I shred my own from rolls)
• 1 pound crab meat
  
  Combine and mix together the following in a bowl:
• eggs
• mayonnaise
• parsley
• seasoning
• Worcestershire sauce
• pepper
• dry mustard
• lemon juice
  
  
  
• add the bread crumbs and crab meat gently.
• Shape 8 patties about 2 1/2-3" in diameter
• Place patties gently onto a baking sheet, cover and place in refrigerator for 30 min.
• Cook over medium high heat in a large skillet (do not press down on the crab cakes.) Add crab cakes after the skillet is hot. Cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side or til browned. Do not over cook or they will be dry!
  

Makes 8 crab cakes

Lemon Meringue Pie

Mix the next 4 ingredients together and set aside

• 4 tabs. Flour
• ¼ c. sugar
• 3 tabs. Cornstarch
• ½ c. cold water

Separate 3 eggs
Beat yolks
(put whites aside for Meringue)

In saucepan heat:

• 1 ½ cups hot water
• 1 c. sugar

When water mixture is steaming (not boiling) add the flour mixture (first 4 ingredients)
Put a few spoons of hot filling into eggs and then pour the eggs into the fillingand then the beaten egg yolks.

Cook til thick and remove from heat
add 1 tabs. butter and the juice from 1 ½ lemons.
cover with wax paper to cool

Meringue Topping
3 egg whites
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Beat egg whites until frothy. Add sugar gradually and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla.
Pile on pie and bake at 325° for 15 to 20 minutes.

White Lasagna with Spinach

18 lasagna noodles
2 frozen pkg. of spinach
3 c. milk
6 tabs. wondra flour or cornstarch
1 small onion chopped
1lb. ground beef or turkey or cubed pieces of ham
1 1/2 tsp. of Italian seasonings
32 oz plain non fat or low fat yogurt
1 ¼ c. Parmesan cheese
2 cup low fat cottage cheese
2 ½ c. mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375
1. Cook noodles according to the package directions, rinse and drain.
2. Cook spinach and drain. Set both noodles and spinach aside.
3. In a large saucepan combine milk, cornstarch (adding slowly) and onion. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly; After it bubbles, cook and stir two minutes more. Remove from heat.
4. Stir in yogurt.
5. Spread 6 tab. of sauce mixture evenly on the bottom of a large lasagna baking dish.
6. Add meat to the remaining sauce.
7. Place a layer of lasagna noodles and then a layer of sauce (division for layers is approx. 1/3)
8. Add a layer of spinach and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and 1/2 of mozzarella cheese. 9.Repeat #'s 7 and 8 again ending with 3rd row of noodles topped with sauce and mozzarella cheese
10. Bake 40 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

Note: I found the original recipe for this in "Light cooking," It is intended to be low calorie but I won't vouch for that, it certainly does not taste low calorie. I've never had white lasagna I liked until I tried this one.

Potato Salad

Potato Salad

3 lb bag of potatoes Boiled til soft
(I like to use red skin and I do not peel but that is a personal choice) IF you do peel, red skins are easier to peel.

1/2 chopped onion (medium size)

3 sticks of celery sliced thin

6-8 hard boiled eggs chopped

3 cups Real Mayonnaise (you can substitute with Miracle whip but it won't taste like mine if you do)

1/2 c. milk

2tsp. salt

pepper to taste

2tsp. lemon juice

2 tabs. sugar

Boil your potatoes until tender (do not over cook or they will be mushy)
Cut the potatoes into desired size chunks - 1/2" or smaller
After potatoes are cooled (they don't have to be completely cold)
Add eggs
Add cut celery, onion, lemon juice and mayonnaise and milk
Add sugar - a little more sugar to taste is fine
1/2 cup of chopped fine or grated carrot can be added for color

*If your salad seems to be too dry; add a little milk mixed with some extra mayonnaise

*This is also a good second day fix to bring it back to a creamier texture

Banana Cream Pie

Single Pie

4-5 Bananas
2 c. steamed milk (heat milk just til steam forms over pan-DO NOT BOIL)
In Separate bowl:
5 tbs. flour
2 tbs. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c sugar


Separate 3 egg yolks and beat until lemony in color (set whites aside for meringue topping)


Add dry mixture (# 2.)to steamed milk
Add beaten egg yolks and cook til thickened (stir constantly)
Add 2 tsp. vanilla


After mixture is thickened (it will look like pudding) set aside to cool with a wax paper covering

Place sliced bananas on the bottom of an already baked pie crust
Pour cooled pudding into the pie crust.

Meringue Topping
3 egg whites
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Beat egg whites until frothy. Add sugar gradually and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla. Pile on pie and bake at 325° for 15 to 20 minutes.

Note: This recipe comes to me from my mother who received it from her mother and so forth....
Not too many people take the time to make a really great old fashion pie these days. It's so easy to open a box of pudding. This is worth the time!
I can tell you from my own experience growing up and even today...once you've tried this recipe you will not want to order Banana Cream pie in a restaurant ever again.

Chicken Pot Pie (In the crust)

 

Chicken Pot Pie (In the crust)

2 pie crusts (one top/ one bottom)   2 1/2 c. cubed cooked chicken or turkey   3 tabs. Flour or other thickening    1 c. sliced carrots   ½ C onion chopped   1 c. sliced celery   1 c par cooked or frozen mixed vegetables   1/2 tsp thyme leaves crushed   1/4 tsp pepper   2 tsp salt   2 cloves chopped garlic    1/4 c butter   2 cups milk

In saucepan cook carrots, onion, celery and thyme with butter until tender Stir in flour After the flour is well mixed add milk stirring constantly until thickened. Add chicken and vegetables Place in pie crust.  Top with second pie crust and flute the crusts together Bake 350 for 45 min. Or untilcrust is completely golden brown across the top and the filling is bubbling on the sides   Cool 15 minutes before cutting

 

 

Tortellini Soup Crockpot Style

My Tortellini soup is not a thin bowl of broth with some floating pasta. When I make any soup I tend towards a hearty stew!

2 large pieces of shin beef (bone in)
2 frozen bags of beef tortellini
4 large carrots sliced
2 pieces of celery sliced
3 medium potatoes quartered
1 small can of mushroom slices
2 tsp. salt (more or less to taste)
2tsp Italian mixed seasonings
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
8 cups water
1 can beef broth
1 can chicken broth

Place shin beef in 8 c. water with spices in crock-pot - turn on high heat

• Cook for 2-3 hours
• Add all of the vegetables and continue cooking on medium heat 1 hour
• Most of the meat will have cooked off of the bone, remove the shin bones and cut off any remaining meat.
• Any large pieces of meat should be cut into small cubes
• Turn heat up to high and add the tortellini,
• cook till tender, approx 20 min.
  
  Note: This soup is great served with fresh bread and salad

Tip and Tricks (Questions and Answers)

Tips and Tricks is comprised of a list of ideas or simple "fixes" I either came up with myself or learned from someone else or just by trial and error. If you'd like to add your own tips and tricks please do so in the comment section with the name you want credited and your home town.

1.-How do I stop dark brown shrunken edges from forming on my pie crusts?

Dark Shrunken edges spoil the look of your pie.
Cut three or four strips of foil 2 inches wide and wrap them around the crust loosely before you place the pie in the oven. Take the strips off 15 min. before the pie is done.

2.- What can I do after something I'm baking overflows in the oven... before it causes a smoky kitchen?

Keep on baking without cleaning first by pouring baking soda generously over the burned area. Do your cleaning after the oven is cooled down.

3.-I steam my vegetable but they seem to always come out over cooked

Most people if not all do not like soggy vegetables. When your vegetables are just beginning to be "fork tender," with a lid on tight...take them off of the stove. The vegetables will continue to cook at a very slow pace in the pot.

4.-I know I should cook with an apron on but I sometimes forget and get stains on my clothes, what is the best way to pre-spot when I'm in a hurry?

Baby wipes believe it or not, work great for pre-spotting almost any type of stain.

5.-How do I keep vegetables or even an already made salad fresh in my refrigerator?

Wash your vegetables when you bring them home from the grocery store. Put the them in a zip-top bag, then wet two paper towels with water, squeeze out the excess water and put them in the bag. Do the same with salad but place the towels over the top of the salad before you place a lid on it. Asparagus can actually be set in a bowl of water. Cut the bottoms first to allow the water to taken in.

6.-Pop Corn...how do I make it when I don't have a pop corn maker or ready made pop corn packages.

Easy, simply place corn kernels on the bottom of a paper lunch bag, (approx. 1/4 cup) fold the top over about 2 inches and set in microwave for approx. 3 min. Cooking time will vary with different microwaves. You can usually tell by the smell when the pop corn is almost done...or just wait until it stops popping.

7.-Have you ever run out of bread crumbs just when you need them, or find a recipe that calls for "fresh" breadcrumbs?

I keep extra hamburger rolls, Italian bread etc....any kind of left over bread including the ends of sliced bread. I freeze all of it until it's needed. When needed I take out what I want and shred it with a regular hand held shredder...

8.-While on the topic of bread....how about garlic toast?

Five hamburger rolls will give you 20 slices of garlic bread. With a sharp knife carefully slice the top and then the bottom of the hamburger roll in half through the center leaving you with 4 round slices of bread. Butter each piece and sprinkle the desired amount of garlic salt and into the toaster with it! Tastes great!

More to come...

New York Cheese Cake

For this recipe you will need a *spring form cake pan
Crust:
3 individual packages of graham crackers
dash of cinnamon
6 tab. butter
Mix and press into the bottom of a spring form pan as seen at right.
Refrigerate until needed

Filling:
Beat 1-1/2 lbs of room temperature cream cheese

Add: 1-1/2 c. sugar while still beating until mixture is fluffy
add 4 eggs (still beating) one at a time

Mix the next four ingredients and add to the filling mixture
1 c. heavy sweet cream
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
2 cups sour cream
2 tabs. lemon juice
Pour into pan.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
(Do not remove from oven)
Turn heat off. Let cake sit in oven for 1 hour before removing cake from pan

*A Spring form pan can be purchased in most grocery stores

Pumpkin Bread

3 c. sugar
1 tsp. nutmeg
4 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. vegetable oil
1-1/2 tsp. salt

1. Mix all of the above ingredients together

2. Add to the above mixture:
1- 16 oz can of pumpkin
2/3 c. water
3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda

3. Pour into bread pan and bake at 350 for 45-60 min.

Test center by inserting a toothpick or sharp knife in. When done the toothpick or knife come out clean.

Note: I have made this bread at Christmas for friends. I baked it in a coffee can and wrapped it in a roll (tootsie roll style) with ribbons at each end.

Banana Graham Cracker Cake (no bake)

This is one of the most delicious and easiest no bake cakes you could ever make. It's always a hit wherever I take it.

1. Place a layer of whole (not crushed) graham cracker on the bottom of a 13 x 9 cake pan
2. Add a layer of sliced (long ways) bananas over the graham cracker

3. Alternate these two layers ending with graham cracker. I usually only end up with two or three layers.

4. Spread a butter cream icing over the top layer generously. Refrigerate over night.

Butter cream icing

Ingredients:
1/2 c. solid vegetable shortening
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter or margarine softened (1 c. of butter or margarine can be used if you'd rather not use the shortening
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 c. sifted confectioners' sugar (approximately 1 lb.)
2 tbs. milk

In large bowl, cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Note: Your cake will slice as nicely as any other cake would

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Cake

3 c. flour
1-1/3 c sugar
2-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening, margarine or butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. milk
2 eggs

Topping:

1 large can (20 0z.) sliced pineapples
1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. butter

Directions:

1.Take brown sugar and butter, (Topping) combine and melt in a saucepan on medium heat until the mixture is bubbly.
2. Pour mixture into a 10 inch diameter stick-free or greased cake pan with 2 inch high sides.
3. Arrange pineapple slices in a single layer on top of the mixture.
4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
5. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. (Cake)
3. In a separate bowl, cream the sugar and butter together until light. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add vanilla.
4. Add dry ingredients to the above mixture. Pour cake batter over topping and pineapples in the pan.
5. Bake cake until tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.


Cool cake in pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Turn cake out onto a platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.


Note: This cake can be made and baked directly in an oven safe skillet providing the sides are at least 2 inches high

Coffee Cake

2 tbs. shortening/margarine or butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
3/4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix all of above ingredients and place in 9x13 greased pan

Filling:

mix ingredients for filling and spread over top of cake before baking
1/2 c brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbs. firm butter
2 tbs. flour

Bake at 350 for 45-60 min.

Note: I love the crumb topping so I sometimes add a bit more of each topping ingredient....not exactly good for the diet...but oh oh so great on the taste buds!

Peanut Butter Cake with chips of chocolate

1. Combine next four ingredients, blend at low speed until crumbly
(reserve one cup on the side)

2-1/2 c. flour
2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. margarine or butter

2. Add next five ingredients to remaining crumbly mixture by blending at low speed until moist:
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs

3. Beat 3 min. at medium speed
4. Pour into pan
5. Sprinkle the reserved crumbly mixture plus 1 c. semi sweet chocolate pieces over top
6. Bake in 13x9 in greased pan at 350 35-40 min.

Creamy Cheese Cake Pie (Easy but delicious )

Creamy Cheese Cake Pie   

Beat 3 egg whites until peaked and set aside

Combine and beat 2- 8 oz. packages of room temperature cream cheese with 3 egg yolks

Add:
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp lemon juice
3/4 c. sugar

Gently fold in beaten egg whites to above mixture 

 

Place in a graham cracker crust
 Bake at 350 for 25 min.

Take pie out of oven...very gently spread topping over the pie and bake for 5 minutes more


Topping:
3/4 C sour cream

3 1/2 Tablespoon sugar

1 tsp. vanilla 

Crust

 

14 graham crackers crushed (I put mine in zip lock bag and crush

 with a rolling pin) or buy crushed graham cracker.

¼ c sugar

¼ soft butter

Mix it all together in a zip lock or with your hands and spread in pie pan

Options:

1. top with cherry pie filling

2. Use a chocolate graham cracker crust and twirl chocolate syrup over the top when served

2. You could also cover the base of the graham cracker crust with chocolate before adding cream cheese mixture.

Candy Cookies (No Bake)

2 c sugar
4 tsp. cocoa
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. margarine

1. bring all of above to a full boil in saucepan
2. remove from heat

Add:
1-1/2 c. oatmeal (do not use instant)
3/4 c peanut butter (chunky is a great option)
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt (yes...I said pinch-about as much as you can pinch between two fingers)

Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper

Note: Although my kids love these cookies they have nick named them "Ugly Cookies."
I sometimes have problems with these cookies hardening on a rainy day, the solution is simple...don't make them on a rainy day :-)

Strawberries or Cherries in the Snow

2 envelopes of Dream Whip
1 c. cold milk
1 tsp. vanilla
18 oz. cream cheese
1 c. powdered sugar
2 cans of dark pitted sweet cherries drained
or
1 quart large strawberries sliced
2 angel food cakes cut in thin slices

1. Mix Dream Whip with milk and vanilla according to package.
2. Soften cream cheese and gradually add powdered sugar and Dream Whip.
3. Beat until smooth
4. Spread thin layer of mixture over bottom of pan.
5. Alternate layers beginning with cake and ending with the whipped mixture. Two or three layers is sufficient.
6. Top with cherries or strawberries

Note: This is a fantastic no bake recipe (buy the cake pre-made in any grocery store)
When copying this recipe over to this blog I had a difficult time reading the words because the recipe card is peeled, faded and tearing.
This has been a New Years Day traditional desert in my family. I have in fact only ever given this recipe to one very good friend.

Monkey Bread

Ingredients:
4 cans refrigerated biscuits
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 -1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (these are optional, it's great with or without them)


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-10 inch tube pan.
2. Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a medium sized plastic bag. Cut the biscuits into halves or quarters and place six to eight biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Shake well.
3. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the greased pan. Continue layering until all the biscuit pieces are coated and in the pan. If you are using raisins, place them among the biscuit pieces as you are layering.
4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the layered biscuits.
5. Bake for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Pull apart and enjoy!

Icing: Ingredients:
1/2 pound cream cheese
1/2 pound butter
1 pound powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice


Directions:
1. Allow cream cheese and butter to get to room temperature.
2. Beat butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl with a mixer.
3. Slowly add in the pound of powdered sugar.
4. After all the powdered sugar is added mix for 12 minutes (do not mix less than that).
5. When almost done, add in the extract and lemon juice.

Pumpkin Pie- (My grandmas recipe)

2 eggs slightly beaten
¾ C. sugar
½ tsp. salt
1tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ginger
¼ tsp. clove
½ tsp. nutmeg
Mix together and then add:
1- 2/3 C. milk
1-3/4 C. or ½ of large can of pumpkin

Bake 15 min at 450…then turn down to 325 and bake 30-45 min. more.
Pie is done when knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Pumpkin Pie (recipe for three pies)

6 eggs
2-1/4 c. sugar
1-1/12 tsp. salt
3 tsp. cinnamon
1-1/2 tsp ginger
3/4 tsp. clove
1-1/2 tsp. nutmeg
5 c. milk
5-1/4 c. pumpkin

Note: A homemade crust can be great but if you're not so inclined, do yourself and your guests a favor and buy a good pre-made crust.