Frozen Cranberry Fluff

 Frozen Cranberry Fluff 

A family Thanksgiving favorite....

1 can condensed milk

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 can whole berry cranberry sauce

1 16 oz can crushed pineapple, drained

1/2 cup chopped nuts

8 oz cool whip

Combine condensed milk and lemon juice. Add cranberry sauce, pineapple, and nuts. Fold in cool whip. Freeze in individual containers (we use cupcake foil tins).

 Orange Slice Cake

Sift together:

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine:

1 pound orange slice candy, diced

1 package pitted dates, chopped

2 cups chopped walnuts

1 can (3.25 oz) flaked coconut

Add 1/2 cup flour mixture, mixing well. 

Beat 1 cup room temperature butter until light. Gradually add 2 cups sugar while beating. Add 4 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Combine 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 cup buttermilk. Add alternately with flour mixture, blending well after each addition. Add candy mixture, fully incorporating. Turn into a large tube pan which has been greased & floured. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Remove from one. 

Combine:

1 cup orange juice

2 cups confectioners sugar

Mix well and pour over hot cake. Cool, then refrigerate overnight before removing from pan. 

Jumbo Gingersnaps

 Jumbo Gingersnaps

1/2 cup sugar

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup salad oil (presumably vegetable oil?)

1/4 cup dark molasses

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves (or cardamom)

1/4 tsp salt

1 large egg

Mix at low speed until well blended. Shape dough into balls 1/4 cup size. Roll in extra sugar in a bowl. Place balls 3 inches apart on baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Makes 10 large cookies. Stores well in tightly sealed container.

Vintage Fruit Cake

 Vintage Fruit Cake

Half pound candied cherries

Half can candied pineapple

2 cans southern style coconut

1pound dates

2 cans condensed milk

Approximately 1 quart chopped nuts

Cut up fruit, pour in milk, stir. Let stand one hour. Bake at 275 for 90 minutes. Cool completely.

(I'm not sure what size a can of candied pineapple comes in, or even where such a thing exists these days. Same with southern style coconut. I do know that 20+ years ago Angel Flake came in a small can. It was grated finer than the standard bags of sweetened coconut today. But those cans are long gone. I pulse regular coconut a few times in a food processor to get the finer size. Occasionally you can find the Baker's Angel Flake coconut in a bag, but it's not really the same as the old canned version.)

Coconut Oatmeal Orange Slice Cookies

This is a vintage recipe found on a handwritten notecard that was in Lorraine's paternal grandmother's collection. It is noted as being from Mrs. Brown, which should be her great-grandmother.

Coconut Oatmeal Orange Slice Cookies

1 cup shortening (Or butter! Or for a modern option, coconut oil!)

1 cup granulated white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 cups flour

2 cups quick cooking oatmeal

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup diced orange slice candies (or gumdrops)

1 tsp vanilla extract

The only instruction are to bake in a moderate oven and leave space between. 

My plan: cream together the sugars & shortening. Add the eggs and mix well. Mix the other dry ingredients together and gradually add to the sugar mixture. Add in the oatmeal, coconut, orange slice candy, and vanilla. Drop by tablespoons onto non-stick baking sheet and cook at 350 until brown around the edges.

Jennie's Hershey Bar Pie

 Jennie's Hershey Bar Pie

Bag of large marshmallows

6 pack of full size plain Hershey bars

Pint of whipping cream

Graham cracker crust - get the one with the 2 extra servings

1. Break up Hershey bars into the top of double boiler and add 20 marshmallows.

2. Add an inch or so of water to bottom of double boiler and bring to boil, but do not let it touch the bowl above.

3. Stir constantly to avoid burning and to get it evenly melted and combined. I usually either use a whisk the whole time or spoon first then whisk. It may take a while to get the marshmallows completely melted.

4. Add a small amount of the heavy cream and add more occasionally until you have added about half of the whipping cream (1 cup). Keep stirring until all is melted and combined.

5. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

6. Whip the remaining 1 cup cream and fold into chocolate mixture. I actually pretty much whisk the two together. 

7. Dump mixture into the pie crust and refrigerate. You will have some extra most of the time. I just put it in a separate bowl and place in fridge. 

I usually buy the keebler premade graham cracker crusts at the store. They make one with “2 extra servings” and you should get that one. You will still have left over filling. 

Jennie's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Jennie's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups packed dark brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 generous tsp vanilla extract

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 cups quick oats

12 ounces chocolate chips

Mix the butter and brown sugar until creamed together well.

Add eggs and blend well.

Add baking soda, salt, and vanilla extract. Blend well.

Add flour 1/4 cup at a time until completely combined.

Add oats and mix well.

Add chocolate chips and mix well.

Cook at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until cooked through. Cool on rack.

NOTES

Ok. Here’s how I really make it…

Use a standing mixer with paddle attachment if you can. Handheld electric mixer is ok too. 

Take two softened sticks of butter (I use salted). I either sit it out in advance or use the microwave to just soften it a little. Put butter into mixer bowl. Add 2 cups packed dark brown sugar. If you get it in the box, that is the exact right amount. Mix these on high speed until creamy. 

Turn off mixer. Put eggs, baking soda, kosher salt, and vanilla in the bowl. Mix at high speed until well combined. 

Turn speed on lowest setting. Add flour in 1/4 cup at a time with little time in between. I like to scoop out the flour with a 1/4 cup measuring cup and level with a table knife. The amount of time it takes to measure out the next scoop is enough time in between additions. Once all have been added to the bowl, turn up speed until it has all been mixed in well. 

Measure out the oats and add them to the bowl. Mix well on high speed. 

Add the chocolate chips and mix in on high speed. 

Cuckoo for Coconut

One whole package of pecan sandies cookies(crumbled)

One box instant coconut cream jello pudding regular size prepared according to package 

2/3 regular size tub cool whip 

1 package cream cheese 

1/2 tablespoon vanilla 

1 package unsweetened coconut 

1/4 cup cream of coconut 

Sweetened condensed milk for topping

Blend cool whip and cream cheese with vanilla, cream of coconut, and 1/2 cup shredded coconut. Layer half of crumbled cookies, followed by half of pudding, followed by half of cream cheese mixture. Repeat all layers. Top with extra coconut. Drizzle with hearty amount of sweetened condensed milk. Refrigerate until ready to enjoy!

 Butterscotch Pie

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 12 oz. can evaporated milk

4 eggs yolks, at room temp

1/2 stick butter, cut into pieces

1 tsp vanilla

1 baked 9-inch deep dish pie shell

Prepare filling by combining brown sugar, flour, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add enough water to evaporated milk to make 2 cups. Lightly beat egg yolks and then whisk in 1/2 cup of the diluted milk. Whisk in the yolk mixture until thoroughly mixed and then add the remaining milk.

Transfer mixture to the top of a double boiler and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly for 10-15 minutes or until very thick. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Cover surface with a round of wax paper or parchment paper. Cool for 15 minutes, then pour into cooked pie shell. Cover with a new round of paper, cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for about 3 hours or overnight. 

Key Lime Pie Shots

 Key Lime Pie Shots

Juice & zest of 7 limes. (I usually cheat and use 3 limes, and bottled key lime juice to make 1.25 cups total)

8 ounces condensed milk, mixed with 9 cups cold water

15 ounces lemon vodka

15 ounces coconut rum

10 ounces white or dark rum

Mix all together well in a gallon jug and refrigerate for several hours.

Bourbon Pecan Pie Truffles

 Bourbon Pecan Pie Truffles

2.5 cups pecans (or walnuts), toasted and chopped

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/2 tsp salt

2 TBSP maple syrup

2 TBSP butter

1/4 cup bourbon

1 tsp vanilla

6 ounces dark chocolate chips

1.5 TBSP coconut oil

In large mixing bowl, combine chopped nuts & graham cracker crumbs. Combine maple syrup, butter, brown sugar, and salt in a small glass bowl and microwave it twice 30 seconds each time. This will dissolve the sugar and reduce the grittiness. Add to nuts mixture, then add bourbon and vanilla. Stir together well, then roll into small balls and freeze for two on a cookie sheet. In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate and coconut oil together. Dip balls and drop into candy cups. Optional: sprinkle with flaky sea salt or cinnamon. 

Macy's Swiss Potatoes

 Macy’s Swiss Potatoes

2 pounds frozen shredded hash browns

2 cups whipping cream

2 cups shredded swiss 

1/2 cup melted butter

salt

pepper

garlic powder

ground mustard

Thaw potatoes slightly, mix all together, bake at 350 for about 75 minutes.

Mexican Chicken Soup

 Mexican Chicken Soup

1 tbsp olive oil

1-2 bunches green onions, chopped (including greens)

1-2 white or yellow onion, diced

1 tbsp minced garlic

1/2 package matchstick carrots, diced even smaller

2-3 celery sticks, diced

1 can Rotel tomatoes

5 cups chicken broth

1 rotisserie chicken, deboned and chopped

1 tbsp cumin

1 tsp chipotle chile powder

1/4 cup lime juice

2-3 avocados, diced

1 bunch fresh cilantro

salt & peper

Optional: cooked rice and/or tortilla chips for serving over, as well as shredded cheese and sour cream

Heat oil, then sauté onions, carrots, celery, & garlic for about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and continue cooking for about another minute. Add the cumin, chili powder, and stock, then bring to a boil. Redue heat and simmer on low for about 15 minutes. Finish by adding lime juice.

Add chicken, avocado, cilantro, and extra green onion tops to bowl. Ladle broth over and garnish with any extras!

Original inspiration recipe at SkinnyTaste! 

Quick, Easy, Delicious Bean Dip

 

15 oz can Cannelini beans, drained & rinsed
2.5 ounces olive oil
5 roasted or 2 raw garlic cloves
2 Tblsp lemon juice
a sprig of rosemary
a sprinkle of red pepper flakes
black pepper and salt to taste

Pulse to desired consistency.
Serve.

Super Easy & "Healthy: Banana Bread

Even Boo can make this without messing it up! And even the staff at Boo's school think it is delicious without knowing it is healthy! 

https://gimmedelicious.com/healthy-moist-banana-bread/

Chicken Tikka Masala

Quick reference for this Cook's Country recipe, however, it often reflects as being behind a pay wall, in which case, this link should work instead.

Super Easy Boo-Proof Bread

1 Tbs active dry yeast

1 ½ cup lukewarm water

5 Tbs (100 g) orange blossom honey

2 ½ Tbs (34 g) vegetable oil

½ Tsp salt

2 ½ cups (386 g) whole wheat flour

Approx. ¾ cups (100 g) unbleached bread flour

Combine the yeast, oil, and honey with the lukewarm water until yeast is dissolved.  Let stand 5 minutes, until yeast activity (foaming) is observed.

Combine the whole wheat flour and the liquid mixture in the mixing bowl.  Using dough attachment, mix on lowest speed for 2 minutes.  If you are mixing by hand, knead the ingredients for 5 minutes to combine thoroughly.  Add salt and half of the bread flour.  Mix or knead for a few more minutes and assess if mixture needs more flour.  Dough should hold together and be moist but not sticky.  If it is crumbly and pulling apart, dough is too dry; add 1 Tbs water at a time until desired consistency is achieved.  

Form dough into a ball, and set aside in a lightly greased bowl and cover with slightly dampened towel.  Let dough rest in warm space for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375^o.  Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.  Divide dough into four pieces and form into small discs and place on cookie sheet.  Sprinkle some reserved bread flour onto discs. 

Place in oven and bake approximately 15-18 minutes or until done.  After baking, cool on wire racks.  Bread may be frozen if stored in freezer bag.

The Magical Made-Up Chicken Soup

1 to 1.5 pounds frozen seasoning blend (onions and bell peppers)
1 bag matchstick carrots
Quart of chicken stock (kitchen basics, preferably)
White wine
2 Chicken bouillon cubes
3-4 chopped chicken breasts (or 1 rot. chicken)
3 bay leaves (optional)
Salt and black pepper 
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
(optional: cayenne, curry)
Good sprinkle of italian seasoning 
3 cups half and half (can be substituted with other options)
Pasta of choice (optional)


Saute seasoning blend and carrots for a few minutes with butter and olive oil. Stir in chicken stock, some white wine, and 2 bouillon cubes. Add chicken, bay leaves, and seasonings. Simmer for awhile, remove from heat, and had 3 cubs of half half at the end, stirring quickly to incorporate. Serve with pasta, as desired. 


We have also confirmed the soup is similarly delicious with coconut milk instead of half and half, which makes it a good dairy free option if necessary!

Spaghetti Sauce

Again, this was originally just sent as a text block of directions. However, it is quite effective. 

Pound or so of ground beef or pork or sausage. Brown with onion and drain fat. Add a can of Hunt's tomato purée. And a can of petite diced tomatoes. And a packet of McKenzie spaghetti sauce mix (with gravy mixes, etc.) Add some garlic powder, a sprinkle of salt, and pepper. Simmer for a few minutes.

Marcus's Meatloaf

1.5 lb pork

1.5 lb ground beef

2 diced onion

2 packets onion soup

3 eggs

Small can evaporated milk

Black pepper

Worcestershire - good splash

PJ's seasoning

That's all that I was sent when I asked for a recipe. Combine, put in a pan, and cook relatively hot until it is done.