POUND CAKE
Do I have a story for you today!! I was going through my recipes looking for a pound cake recipe of which I have many, and I found one that had been given to me back in the late 50’s or maybe early 60‘s by my good friend Barbara McKenzie. Here name is now Barbara McGuire. I got to reminiscing and decided to try to look her up on the internet. To my surprise I found her. She is still in Macon Georgia and over the years has become a true southern bell. I was so excited about being able to chat with her after all these years. We talked and talked and I asked her if I could post her recipe and she said yes, so here it is……….
You must have a cold oven. Do not preheat. This is ½ of a recipe- double it if you like.
6 medium eggs
1 ¾ cups sugar
½ lb. butter
2 cups plain flour
Separate eggs. Beat egg whites until stiff and set aside.
Cream butter and sugar adding egg yolks one at a time.
Add flour on low speed.
Last add well beaten egg whites.
Flavoring is optional. She uses lemon and vanilla.
Put cake in tube pan or angel food cake pan.
Put cake in oven and turn oven to 325 degrees.
Bake 40 minutes and check for doneness. If not done, increase time and keep checking. Depending on your oven it could take a little longer. Half of a recipe does not take as long as it would if you doubled the recipe.
I have been telling you folks all along that cooking brings family and friends together. Today I proved it. What a great day!!!!
Enjoy,
Gogi
Thanks Barb for the recipe!!!
Salads&Snacks12 Apr 2008 09:09 pm
COTTAGE CHEESE SALAD
Summer is coming and we are all looking for something we don’t have to turn on the heat to prepare. This salad takes a small amount of preparation time , but not much.
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1 red apple diced
1/4 cup nuts chopped
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup sour cream
1 T lemon juice
1/2 cup cottage cheese
lettuce leaves
Combine all ingredients, except the last two; chill; place on lettuce and top witih cottage cheese.
You can make this into a larger recipe because this only serves one.
Enjoy
Gogi
CHICKEN AND DUMPLIN'S
Here is a quick meal and it is quite tasty. A retired lady at my church who was on a fixed income had many different dishes she used to come up with that were inexpensive. She used to buy cream of chicken soup in the can and fix as directed. Then she would add small canned biscuits that had been cut in 2 ro 3 pieces with the scissors or a knife to the soup after she had brought the soup to a boil. She sometimes added leftover chicken pieces and or mixed vegetables.
This may not be enough for a family of big eaters but it certainly could be a lunchtime treat. Besides it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to prepare and cook it.
Just a suggestion!
Gogi
TAKING A BREAK
I thought I would take a moment and share with you one of my make-do moments. I had family over for hamburgers and sausages on the grill and was trying frantically to figure out what to serve with them. I went to the closet and checked out what I had on hand and found whole kernel corn, black beans, and hot picante sauce. I quickly drained the corn and beans and added the sauce with some sliced green onions and wallah—I had a dip for my tortilla chips. The idea of the evening was to kick back and not make a big fuss over a large meal. I finished off the main course with tossed salad with a choice of salad dressings.
My next problem was a quick dessert. I took a half of left over angel food cake from the freezer, pulled it apart and put it in a glass dish. Next I put 2 packages of strawberry Jell-O over the top and zapped into the frig. When dinner was over we had a nice light, quick dessert with whipped topping on it.
With this kind of a menu we were able to sit, talk, and enjoy the evening.
Try one of your make-do dinners some evening. It is very relaxing and fun.
Enjoy
Gogi
Candy&cookies&Snacks09 Apr 2008 07:21 pm
PEANUT BUTTER CRISPIES
Here is a quick recipe for you to fix for the kids or the kids to fix for themselves!!
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
Cook above for 4 minutes.
Stir in 6 cups corn flakes.
Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
Cool and serve!!
You could add gumdrops, candy corn, marshmallows or whatever to this mixture.
Have fun
Gogi
AUNT HELEN'S CHOCOLATE PIE
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 squares melted unsweetened chocolate
l tsp vanilla
3 egg yolks beaten
2 cups milk
2 T. flour
pinch of salt
In a pan, melt the chocolate. In another pan, stir together the sugar, flour, and salt. Add chocolate and stir. Slowly stir in the beaten egg yolks and milk. Cook over low heat stirring constantly until mixture becomes thick. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Pour in a bowl and put saran wrap on top to prevent from forming a thick surface on top. Cool and put in pie crust of your choice. Use flour or graham cracker crust.
Top with meringue or whipped cream.
If you are going to make meringue, beat the three egg whites with 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar until they form soft peaks.. Add l T of sugar at a time (making a total of 4 T). Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown- preferably on the middle shelf of the oven. Eggs should be room temperature before whipping for meringue.
This is the chocolate pie recipe I promised !!!
Enjoy
Gogi
Baking&cookies&dESSERTS06 Apr 2008 09:37 pm
AUNT HELEN'S BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES
This recipe was given to me by my Aunt Helen Childress. She was one who took a lot after my grandmother Mary Ann when it came to baking. She made some of the most scrumptious caramel rolls and cream pies. After my husband and I went shopping on a Friday night, he would say I do believe I smell cream pies in the air. Aunt Helen probably has pies in the kitchen just waiting for us to come. Sure enough, we would turn the car in that direction and head toward her house. When we arrived at her doorstep, we were not disappointed. She would have the most beautiful, big, wonderful pies you ever laid your eyes on setting there on the table. She would also have a great plate of homemade cookies. What a treat!
One of her good recipes I want to share with you is her banana oatmeal date cookies.
2-3 bananas
1 cup chopped dates
1/3 cup oil
½ cup chopped nuts
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg beaten
2 cups oatmeal
Mash bananas, add oil and eggs. Add remaining ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls (your choice of size) and bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes.
Enjoy just like we used to when we made a visit to Aunt Helen’s kitchen!
Look for Aunt Helen’s chocolate pie recipe to follow soon.
Gogi
Tips and Shortcuts05 Apr 2008 06:55 pm
JUST A NOTE
I certainly hope that those of you that check my blog will find it helpful in your daily cooking. My recipes are geared to include the ingredients that most of you have in you closet or cupboard. There are many recipes out there that sound totally wonderful but my budget and food cupboard are simply not compatible with them. I need to pick and choose what is best for my family and my pocketbook. I think Wolfgang and Emeril are great but I just cannot reach their level of daily cooking because of the many ingredients that are foreign to me. I was brought up in a simple way of living and cooking. I guess you might say I am a graduate of the make-do school of cooking. Thank God for my grandmother. She was the best make-do cook that ever was.
I think the reason I like Paula Dene is because of her down to earth recipes and they remind me of my grandmother’s cooking.
Until later.
Gogi
LEFT OVERS
How many times do we look at a left over and say to ourselves- should we or should we not throw this away? I have come to the conclusion unless you have lots of money the answer is don’t throw it away. Either give it away of package it up so it can be preserved for a period of time.
If I have cookies or brownies that are not exactly fresh, I put them in a plastic bag, crush them up, and use them for ice cream topping or a dessert crust of some kind.
I use all left-over donuts, fruit breads, French bread, any kind of white breads, for making bread pudding, French toast casserole, breakfast casseroles, dinner casseroles, you name it. Waste not, want not. My grandmother never wasted anything.
Any vegetables left over from a veggie tray, or that have served their time in the frig and not been used, are put into a bag and frozen until I need to make soup. It is great because it is all right there and ready for me to pop out of the freezer and use.
These are just a few simple tips for the day. Many wonderful creations can come out of our left overs. Besides that, it helps to save on the budget.
Enjoy,
Gogi
GRANDMA'S DELICIOUS THING
Here is a recipe I uncovered in my travels through my recipes the other day while looking for something new and different and easy. Several years ago I played cards with a group of ladies and we shared recipes. Billie Johnson served this on one of our game nights and it was an absolute hit. Since then I have used it many times. If you look closely, it is basically a cream puff recipe only divided in half and iced. Have fun with this one. You will love it. Thanks Billie!
1 cup flour
½ cup oleo
2 T. water
3 eggs
Combine water and oleo in pan. Put in microwave and bring to a boil. Add 1 cup flour all at one time beating with hand mixer until smooth. Add one egg at a time beating after each egg.
Divide in ½ and make 2- 12×13 rectangles and put on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Remove from oven. Cool. Ice with 1T oleo, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp. almond flavoring (or vanilla if desired).
Enjoy,
Gogi
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