DEE'S STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE

1 Box of white cake mix ( prepare cake mix as directed in round 9 inch cake pans)  

1 jar of strawberry jam 

2 pints of strawberries ( some thin sliced, some sliced in halves, save one whole for the middle)

1 box of dream whip ( found at Safeway and some other stores like Walmart and Target)

1 cup of cold whole milk.( for making Dream Whip)

1t vanilla ( for DreamWhip)

Bake cake and allow to cool . Make Dream Whip as directed on box use both envelopes.

Place a layer of cake on a cake plate, spread enough jam to cover entire top of layer. Then spread Dream whip on layer, covering to edges. Then arrange sliced strawberries on this layer.

Next layer is top. Spread underside with jam. Then jam side down place on the the layer you just prepared.

Top with remainder of Dream Whip to edges. Then arrange the strawberry halves on top, placing the whole one in the middle .Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy!  

  

Sausage Balls

2 Cups Bisquick
8 oz grated Cheddar Cheese
1/2 Cup Water
1 lb sausage cooked and crumbled

Combine all ingredients until dough consistency. Drop onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Another easy, but yummy little Appetizer. They will disappear fast!


                                                                       

Beer Can Chicken

1 baking chicken
3 tablespoons of Emeril's Essence
1 Can of good beer (Killians works well)
1 Onion

One Beer Can Chicken Roaster

Preheat oven to 375
Place beer can roaster on a pie tin, then open the can of beer, pour off about 1/4 th cup of the beer and place the can in the roaster.
Place the cleaned chicken on the roaster (the tip of legs will be pointing downwards) Place the onion in the cavity at the top of the chicken.
Rub the entire chicken in olive oil. Then use the Essence as a rub, and rub it all over the chicken.

And that's it. Bake for about an hour depending on the size of the chicken. If using one of those oven popper gadgets, bake it about 10 minutes more after the popper pops up.

This is one of my favorite ways to eat chicken, and I've done it with a small turkey also.
If you want to use a grill outside, you will have to add coals every so often to keep the temp up.

Enjoy!

Autumn Soup

This originally came from Betty Crocker Recipe Cards, so easy and flavorful.

1 lb  lean ground beef
1 C chopped onions
6 C water
1 C chopped carrots
4 c diced potatoes
2 beef bullion cubes
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon basil
2  15.oz cans diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Brown Bouquet
3 Cups of chopped Cabbage (small chop)

Brown the beef slowly, add onion and saute 5 minutes. Drain any grease off. Add the remainder of the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a slow simmer. Cook for about an hour so all the veggies are cooked through.

Serve with Biscuits or Butter sticks (recipe in blog)

This was the first soup I made as a new bride a million years ago, and we still enjoy it. It's just what hits the spot on a chilly fall day. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Bourbon Dogs

If you love entertaining, this is a good dish to make. Perfect for Buffet tables.
The sauce is sweet and tangy. While you can use plain hot dogs, Kielbasa, or little weiners work just as well.

1 pound of hot dogs, sliced ( or little weiners, or kielbasa)
(or 1 lb of little wieners)
1 1/2 Cups Catsup
1 Cup Bourbon
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbs. grated onion

Put ingredients in saucepan, Simmer 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes or so. ( may be frozen)
I've used Polish Kielbasa slice on an angle and this works well, but my favorite is the little weiners. You may also just place these in the crock pot on low
for a few hours until guests arrive.
These will be a hit I promise!

Beef Brisket with potatoes and carrots

1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix

1Cup Ketsup

1/3 C Worcestershire sauce

4 cups water

1 2lb can whole potatoes ( I use 4 -15.oz cans)

1 1b of carrots pealed and cut in quarters ( try to find some nice big carrots)

1 Brisket 3-5lb



Early in the day place brisket in foil lined roasting pan. Place brisket and potatoes and carrots in pan. Mix all other ingredients and pour over meat. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for minimum of 4 hours until tender. Let stand before slicing. Slice against grain. Arrange meat and potatoes and carrots in platter pour gravy from pan over all.



This recipe is a long time favorite. It was given to me by a wonderful family.

Oatmeal Cake

A  market near where I work makes a cake like this. It is so yummy. So when I found this recipe and tried it I was so excited because it tastes almost identical to the one at the market.
It is so moist, and so good. It's all home made, and it really tastes like a good scratch cake.

1 1/4 Cup boiling water
1 stick of margarine
1 Cup quick cooking oatmeal ( not instant)
2 Eggs
1 Cup white sugar
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/3 Cup flour
1 Tablespoon Vanilla extract

Topping:

6 Tablespoons margarine
1/2 Cup Half and Half
1 Cup walnuts or pecans chopped
1 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup coconut

Pour boiling water over margarine and oatmeal. Let set a few minutes. In a large bowl beat eggs and sugar. Add flour, salt cinnamon and baking soda. Stir in oatmeal mixture and vanilla and mix well. Bake in a 9 x 13 in greased pan for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

For topping: In a medium saucepan heat margarine and Half and Half. Stir in nuts, brown sugar, and coconut. Spread on top of cake and put back in the oven for about 10 minutes or until it starts to bubble.
***

Enjoy!!

Green bean Casserole

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 C of milk
4 C cooked green beans (2 Cans)
1 C french fried onions

Mix the soup and the milk add green beans and 1/2 can of the onion rings. Put in a casserole dish and top with remaining onion rings. Heat at 35o degrees for about 25 minutes, or until hot all the way through.

I added this as a request from  my son who was preparing Thanksgiving for a lot of people a few years ago.
It is a family tradition to have the green bean casserole with holiday supper.

Corn Pudding

My friend Carole gave this recipe to me after an office pot luck lunch. It's now a family favorite.

2 eggs
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 Cup sugar
1 can cream corn
1 large can evap milk

Mix ingredients and poor in casserole dish, bake 1 hour at 350 degree oven.

Here is another wonderful holiday recipe. It is so yummy. Just another reason why I could just forget about making the turkey, and have only the side dishes!

Snickerdoodles

1/2 Cup butter, soften
1/2 Cup crisco
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
2 2/3 Cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons Cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
2 Tablespoons sugar

Mix batter: shortening 1 1/2 cup sugar and eggs. Blend in four, tartar, soda and salt. Shape dough into balls. Mix 2 Tablespoons sugar and cinnamon. Roll balls in mixture. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Remove immediately from baking sheet. Cool on wire rack.

I just love Snicker Doodles!!!! What else can I say?

Drop Sugar Cookies

So easy and simple. Great with a nice hot cup of tea or Coffee!

3/4 Cup sugar
2/3 Cup oil
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Eggs
2 Cups Flour
Sugar sprinkles

Mix 3/4 Cup sugar, the oil, baking powder, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl with a spoon.
After mixed, add Flour by stirring in.

Drop dough by teaspoons 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. ( I always use Reynonlds Release ) Press cookie with bottom of a glass. Cookies should be about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle cookie with sugar. If you can find the larger sugar crystals, they are more decorative and a little crunch is added.

Bake 8-10 minutes until light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack to cool.

Italian Cookies

Great Christmas cookies. They are a family project because kids love to be creative and make their own design!


4 eggs
4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 lb butter
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Cream butter and sugar. Add remaining ingredients ending with flour.
Shape your cookies by hand. I like to make little twists, and pretzel shaped cookies.
Bake at 350 degrees until slightly golden about 10 minutes or so.
Glaze

Glaze:
Mix 10X sugar with Carnation evap milk, just enough to make glaze the consistency that you can spoon it or brush it on the cookies. Divide glaze in bowls and add food coloring if desired.
You can add flavorings if you desire, such as almond extract, or anise.

These are wonderful cookies, and great to make with your kids because they can shape them by hand and help glaze and decorate them. This was one of my son's favorite cookies when he was a kid.

Sweet Potato Casserole

These sweet potatoes are a holiday tradition. Our Mom would say she would rather have a 2nd helping of these potatoes instead of dessert. They truly are delish.

2 large cans ( the tall cans)  of sweet potatoes drained 
2 eggs
1 stick of margarine melted
1 Cup sugar
2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup of whole milk

Mix all above well use a mixer to blend well, and pour in oblong dish.(Lasagna dish)

Topping: 1 stick of butter
2 cups of brown sugar
1 cup flour
2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans 
Mix topping ingredients well, and sprinkle over sweet potatoes.
Bake 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees.
Enjoy! Everyone loves this, in fact, I've been told it's like getting a little dessert right along with their meal.

( If you want to not use real sugar, you can use Swerve brown sugar substitute and their white granulated sugar substitute.)  

Potato Chip Cookies

1C sugar
1 C firmly packed light brown sugar
2 sticks butter softened
2 eggs, well beaten
2 C flour
1 t baking soda
2t vanilla
1 C finely crushed potato chips
1/2 C chopped pecans
Confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350
In a large mixing bowl beat sugars and butter until fluffy. Beat in the eggs. In another bowl sift flour with the baking soda; add to creamed butter mixture. Stir in vanilla, chips and nuts.
Drop by rounded teaspoons on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 min. When cool sprinkle with confectioners sugar.
OH SO YUMMY!!!!!!!!!

Butter Nut Vanilla Pound Cake

3 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
3 Cups Sifted Flour
1 Cup Milk
2 Sticks of Butter
6  eggs (at room temp)
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons Butter Nut Vanilla extract

Cream Shortening, butter, sugar and salt until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time , beat after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately ending with flour. Fold in flavoring and mix very well.
Bake in a greased and floured tube or bundt pan for 1 hour & 45 minutes at 375 degrees. Do Not Open Oven While Baking and Do Not Pre-Heat Oven.

My good friend makes this , and would bring it in the office for birthdays. Thank goodness I got her recipe before she moved on to a new job. It is such a wonderful old style homemade from scratch cake. I hope you make it soon.

No Roll Pie Crust

3/4 Cup unsalted butter
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Powdered Sugar
2 Cups Flour

In heavy saucepan melt butter . Remove from heat. Add both sugars and stir to combine. Stir in flour. Cool 15 minutes.
Use dough immediately. Spray 10 inch pie pan or fluted ceramic tart dish with 1 inch sides with non stick spray. Press dough to thickness of 1/4 inch into bottom and up sides of prepared dish. Trim and crimp edges.
Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. ( can be prepared 1 day ahead)

Bake according to pie directions. I use this with Holiday Pecan Pie. And it is wonderful!

Chili

2 lbs of very lean ground beef ( you can make this with meatless crumbles to keep it vegetarian )
1 large onion chopped
1 small can of tomato sauce and then fill the can with water and add
1 15 oz can of chopped tomatoes
1 can light red kidney beans, drained
1 can dark red kidney beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 envelope of McCormick Chili season
1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon of Cumin
1 Teaspoon of Chili Powder

Brown the Ground Beef with the Chopped onion, drain fat and put meat in the Crock Pot.
Add all remaining ingredients, stir to mix all seasoning through out the dish. Set the Crock Pot on Low and cook for 6 to 8 hours.
Bake some skillet corn bread, and " YUM", a perfect meal, and there will be enough to take for lunch the next day ......well maybe.
Enjoy!

Crockpot Beef Stew

I love Beef Stew. I use canned potatoes here because they hold up well when cooked for a long time.Nothing could be easier, just put everything in the pot, turn it on..set timer. And when you come home in the evening, that smell of comfort food is so warming.Enjoy


3 lbs Stew Beef
1 large bag of baby carrots (already peeled)
1 large Onion Chopped
5 stalks of celery roughly chopped
4 Cans of whole potatoes drained ( cut the larger ones in half)
1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 15oz can of chopped tomatoes
1 jar or can of beef gravy
1 package of McCormicks Beef Stew Seasoning
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Early in the day, slightly brown the beef cubes in about 1 Tablespoon of olive oil , just enough to sear the juices in. Put in crock pot, Then add all of the other ingredients stirring everything around so its mixed nicely. Put lid on the crock pot and cook on low 8 hours.
Serve with a nice beer bread, or biscuits for a hearty meal.

There is nothing so nice as coming home after working in the office all day to the smell of something so home made. This is truly comfort food. Enjoy!

Cheese Cake

I've been making this Cheese Cake for years. It's so dense, and smooth, and creamy, just delish!



2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/2 Cup ( 1 stick) of Butter, melted
1 Cup Sugar* divided
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon cornstarch
2 LBS Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
2 Large Eggs beaten
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

TOPPING: If you want to have a smooth white topping, combine 1 cup sour cream, and 1/4th cup of sugar with 1 teaspoon of vanilla, mix well with hand mixer and once cheese cake is cool, spread on top.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a bowl place Graham Cracker Crumbs , butter and 2 Tablespoons sugar and Cinnamon. Blend well. ( Reserve 2 Tablespoons for garnish). Press remaining mixture onto the bottom and up sides of a greased 9 inch springform pan. Chill in freezer while preparing filling.
In Mixer bowl, beat softened cream cheese and remaining sugar until smooth and light. Beat in eggs, vanilla and cornstarch, just until blended. Stir in sour cream. Pour mixture into prepared crust and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 200 degrees and bake for 45 minutes. Turn off oven, allow to cool with the door open slightly for 3 hours.
Remove sides from pan and sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture and chill.

Believe me, this will be a hit! It is the most delicious cheese cake I've tasted. I hope you think so to!

Mary Caplan's Cranberry Relish

No recipe could be easier, and taste as wonderful ! My Mother Loved this Cranberry Relish so much! It became a staple for our Holiday table. 

1 can whole Cranberry sauce
1 can crushed Pineapple
1 small bag of chopped Walnuts

Pour off some of the liquid from the pineapple and discard liquid.
Mix all ingredients. Enjoy!

This recipe was given to me years ago by a dear friend. It is a recipe from her mother, and I have adopted it as one of our family traditional Holiday dishes. I have made it in large quantities and put it in jars with decorative lids and given it as gifts to neighbors and friends.

Wai Ki Ki Meatballs

Oh these are so darn yummy! This is a recipe I got off of my Betty Crocker recipe cards that were popular in the 70's.

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
2/3 Cups cracker crumbs
1/3 Cup minced onion
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 Cup milk
1 Tablespoon shortening
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 Cup brown sugar (packed)
1 13 1/2 oz can pineapple tidbits,drained (reserve syrup)
1/3 Cup vinegar
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1/3 Cup chopped green pepper

Mix meat, crumbs,onion, egg, salt, ginger and milk. Shape mixture by rounded Tablespoonfuls into balls. Melt shortening in large skillet; brown and cook meatballs. Remove meatballs when done; keep warm. Pour fat from skillet.

Mix cornstarch and sugar. Stir in reserved pineapple syrup, vinegar and soy sauce until smooth. Pour into skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly ,until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Add Meatballs, pineapple tidbits and green pepper, heat through.
You can double this for a crowd and keep warm in a crock pot or warming dish.
I love these, the sweet and sour sauce is wonderful, and these are a change from the usual meatballs you see at parties and pot luck meals. Enjoy!


                                                                           

Daddy's Fudge Recipe

Daddy used to make this fudge for my sister and I. It was usually evening time , and he used to take the pan of fudge and sit it outside in the cold on the front porch to cool. It was the best fudge I ever had, and to this day I still think it is. I can close my eyes and see him at the kitchen counter with the Flintstones Jelly Glass filled with cold water for testing to see if the fudge was at what we call the soft ball stage.

2 Cups of Sugar
1 Cup whole Milk
3 squares Unsweetened Chocolate
pinch of salt
about 1 tablespoon of butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Combine 2 cups sugar, and 1 cup milk in a saucepan. Heat but do not boil. Add 3 squares of unsweetened chocolate and pinch of salt. Boil until softball stage (soft ball forms when dropped in a glass of cold water). Remove from heat. Add butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla . Beat by hand until mixture loses gloss and thickens. Pour in buttered square pan. Cool until firm. Cut into squares.

Shrimp and Pasta Salad

2 Cans of Tiny Shrimp and the juice (do not drain)
2 heaping teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning
1 Pint jar of Mayonnaise( Duke's, or Kraft)
1 Chopped fresh tomato (Optional)
Carrot Curls for Garnish
1 Box of cooked Elbow Macaroni or small shells

Prepare Pasta as directed on box. When done drain.
In a large mixing bowl put shrimp and Old Bay, let sit while pasta is cooking.
When Pasta is done, put it in the bowl with the Old Bay and Shrimp. Stir just enough to coat the pasta, then add the chopped tomato.(optional) Then it is time to add the mayonnaise, mix well and put in your serving bowl. Chill 4 hours or overnight. Before serving, mix one more time because sometimes if the pasta was warm, the mayo sinks to the bottom. Then garnish with the carrot curls and sprinkle with a little Old Bay.

This is a family favorite. Great for cook outs in the summer, or take it to some one's house for a pot-luck covered dish meal. Everyone goes for seconds!

Crab Salad

Many years ago I worked part-time at a seafood carryout. This is the salad I used to make there.It's so good on a sandwich.



2 lb Special Crab meat

3/4 Cup very finely chopped celery

1 teaspoon of sugar

1 rounded teaspoon of Old Bay ( more to taste)

Enough "real" Mayonnaise to mix (about a Cup) Dukes is best in my opinion.



Go through Crab meat to make sure it is free of shells. Mix in the celery, sugar and Old Bay. Toss, then add the mayo. Chill for 2 hours. Serve scooped on lettuce, or my favorite way, is to put a nice scoop on bread with lettuce and tomato.


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Chocolate Cake with Fudge Frosting.

If you are looking for a really decadent rich chocolate cake to make this is the one. The frosting is do die for, no kidding.



2 1/2 Cups sifted flour
1/2 Cup Cocoa
1 Teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Crisco shortening
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Cup of Buttermilk
1 Cup boiling Water

Mix all ingredients together except boiling water. Mix well, then add boiling water. Put batter in greased oblong pan and cook at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Frosting

2 Cups sugar
1/2 cup Milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 stick of butter
Chopped pecans if desired

In a pot bring all ingredients to a boil on medium heat, about 10 minutes or so. ( to soft ball stage) add nuts at this point if desired. Remove from heat and beat until right consistency.
(it will be thick but pourable and shiny) Pour over the warm cake.

A very dear lady used to make this cake for our office staff. It is a favorite of many, and never was a crumb left. This is an ideal cake for the chocolate lover. The frosting is so much like good fudge. Enjoy!

Mushroom Pinwheels

This is such an easy quick recipe,and they will disappear for sure!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1 8oz package of Cream Cheese.(softened)
2 Packages of Crescent Rolls.
16 oz can of sliced mushrooms. (drained)
1 small onion finely chopped.

Saute' mushrooms and onion in butter. In a bowl add them to the softened cream cheese, mix well. Open crescent rolls. Do not take a part, but instead leave in the rectangle pinching closed the perforated lines to seal it. You will use both cans of rolls so divide the cream cheese filling in half.
Spread mixture on long side of rectangle and roll up as you would a jelly roll. (repeat with 2nd roll) Chill for at least 2 hours.
Next after chilling you will slice the rolls into 1/4 inch slices and place on nonstick cookie sheets, about 1 inch apart. Bake for 15 minutes. I use the non- stick foil on my cookie sheets and nothing sticks. I let these sit for a few minutes before moving onto serving plate so they will not fall apart.
These are really very good, your guests, and family will love them.

Tossed Pizza Salad

We love this salad, it's a nice meal in itself. You could actually add a protein if you wish, and you are done.


1 Fully baked Pizza Crust ( Baboli is recommended) cut into bite size cubes.
1 1/2 Cups diced tomatoes.
1/2 Cup thinly sliced fresh basil .
1/2 Cup of Bottled Italian dressing. ( I used Pfeiffer Fat free Italian).
1 small green bell pepper chopped.
1 Cup mozzarella cheese shredded.
1/2 of a 3.5 oz pkg. of sliced pepperoni.
1 Large bunch of Romaine Lettuce.

Toss pizza crust, tomatoes, basil and 1/4 Cup of dressing in a large bowl. Let stand 5 minutes.
Mix in pepper, cheese, pepperoni and lettuce. Add remaining 1/4 cup of the dressing, toss.
Season with salt and pepper.

This salad recipe was given to me by a dear friend and co-worker. It is just a yummy salad, and I make it for my family. She made this for pot-luck lunches and various showers that we had for co-workers. I added this to my blog in her memory. " Debbie you will be dearly missed"

Snowball Kiss Cookies

My family makes these every Christmas. They are easy, and so delish!

1 cup butter
1lb. Hershey kisses
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup 10X (powdered) Sugar
2 Cups flour
1 Cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar. Add vanilla. Beat in flour. Fold chopped pecans in. Take a rounded spoon of dough and shape it around the kiss candy, repeat until all dough is used. Bake on a cookie sheet for about 12 minutes.
While cookies is still warm dip and roll in the powdered sugar coating it completely. Allow to cool completely. The kiss inside the cookie will harden after they are totally cool. Store in an air tight tin.
Enjoy.
WARNING: These cookies may become addictive!

Chiapparelli's House Salad

I have an old friend who's daughter used to date one of the Chiapparelli sons. She obtained this recipe and shared it. I've had it for over 30 years and we love it. There are other versions out there, but I believe this is the original.


1/2 teaspoon salt.
1 Clove garlic crushed.
1 hard boiled egg chopped very very fine.
1 teaspoon pepper.
1 teaspoon crushed oregano( I use dried).
Dash of sugar..
Juice from 1 wedge of lemon.
1/4 Cup olive oi.l
1/4 C Red Wine Vinegar.
1 fresh head of Lettuce.
1 medium sweet or vidalia onion sliced very thin.
3/4 Cup Parmesan cheese shredded.

In a bowl first 9 ingredients with a whisk. In a large salad bowl place lettuce that has been torn into bite size pieces and the onion. Top with the Parmesan cheese. Just before serving (family style) pour the dressing on and toss this salad well.
You can serve this as a prelude to your Italian meal, or serve it with a loaf of good crusty bread and a glass of red wine and you have a wonderful meal!!

Citrus Party Punch

My Mom gave me this recipe. She used it for parties and showers. It looks lovely in a large punch bowl. It will be a favorite.  


1/2 Gallon of Orange Sherbet.
1 2ltr Bottle of Ginger Ale.
1 2ltr Bottle of 7-up.
1 large can of frozen Orange Juice concentrate.
1 small jar of cherries.

Orange slices
(use 3/4 of the cherries and 1/2 of the juice).
1 PT of Vodka.
2 trays of ice cubes.

About 30 minutes before serving, assemble the Punch in a large Punch bowl.
Put the sherbet in the bowl, then pour the liquids around it. Add orange slices, the sherbet will keep it cold. Ladle in a cup, and don't forget the cherries.
Enjoy , perfect for showers, and summer parties.

Mom's Jewish Apple Cake

There is nothing like a good homemade cake. This cake is heavy. It's moist and flavorful. It's one that surely is a treasure to have in your collection.


3 Cups Flour.
2 1/4 Cups Sugar.
1 Cup Veg.Oil.
1/3 Cup Orange Juice.
4 Eggs.
1/2 Teaspoon Salt.
2 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla extract.
3 Teaspoons baking powder.
4 cups of sliced apples (to keep apples from sinking, dust them with flour lightly before adding to batter.)
*********
1 1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon.
5 Tablespoons Sugar.( mix these two together and set aside )

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Mix ingredients together, Beat 4 minutes. Spray a tube pan with oil spray.
Alternate batter and apples, sprinkling the Cinnamon Sugar over each apple layer, finish with apples.
Bake for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.

This is a wonderful home made cake. It is a cake my mother used to make and my family loved it. I made it not too long ago for my grandson, and he just loved it.
I hope you and your families enjoy it too.

Peanut Butter Fudge

It took quite a bit of searching to find this recipe. It was a treat made by our lunch ladies at Featherbed Elementary School. Back when I was a student there all of the lunches were homemade right in the huge kitchen there. It's just the best Peanut Butter Fudge I've had. So glad I found it.


2 cups sugar.
1 cup milk.
1 cup brown sugar.
3 Tablespoons Butter.
2 Cups peanut butter (smooth).
2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
1 candy thermometer

Cook first three ingredients to the soft ball stage (234 to 238 degrees) until drops in a cup full of cold water just barely form a ball and will fall apart when removed from the water.
Remove from heat and add the last three ingredients. Beat until it begins to thicken and pour into a buttered 9-by-12 inch or 11-by-13 inch pan, the smaller the pan the thicker the fudge.
Cool and cut into squares.
Enjoy

One of the favorites enjoyed by many who went to Baltimore County Schools in the 60's. It's so good. Somehow, kids were not allergic to Peanuts back then.

Dee's Pumpkin Bread

This bread is so wonderful. It's moist and flavorful. The pumpkin and all the spices just warm the soul. You can eat this plain as it is, or make honey butter, or soft cream cheese to spread on slices.

2 Cups canned Pumpkin ( Libby's)
3 Cups Sugar

3 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Oil
4 Eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground Cloves
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
2 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
2/3 Cup Water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Mix all ingredients until blended.

Grease or spray 3 large loaf pans.
Evenly distribute the batter in the 3 loaf pans.
Bake for 1 hour.
Enjoy

I make this every Fall. I always make enough to freeze and give as gifts.