Cinnamon Rolls

This is the BEST! Mother would always make these little delicious cinnamon rolls. The recipe is from the Betty Crocker Cook Book.

Sweet Dough
Mix together 2 cups lukewarm milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tsp salt. (For excellent eating and keeping quality, keep doughs as soft as possible, almost sticky...just so you're able to handle)

Crumble into mixture 2 cakes compressed yeast.(In place of compressed yeast, soak 2 pkg dry granular yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water for 5 minutes without stirring. Stir well before adding)

Stir in 2 eggs, 1/2 cup shortening, 7-7 1/2 cups sifted GOLD MEDAL flour. Add flour in 2 additions, using the amount necessary to make it easy to handle. Knead dough on lightly floured board until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl, turning once. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until double(1 1/2-2 hours). Punch down, pull sides over and turn completely over in bowl. Let rise again until almost doubled(30-45 minutes)

Roll dough into oblong 9 x 18 inch. Spread with 2 Tbsp softened butter and sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon. Roll tightly, beginning at the wide side. Seal well by pinching edges of roll together.

Cover and let rise until double in bulk(30-40min). Bake until golden brown and completely baked through. Oven temperature at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Amount 1 1/2 dozen rolls.

Pantry Plant Food

I found this in Mother's recipes, it's written on a well used old piece of paper with lots of thumb tack holes. We never had many house plants but this is worth a try.

1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp Epson salts
1 tsp salt peter
1/2 tsp household ammonia

Mix and dissolve in 1 gallon of tepid water

Don't use on plants more than once every 2 or 3 weeks or they will bloom themselves to death and the leafy ones will crowd you out of your house.

King Ranch Casserole

This sounds good, I don't remember ever having it at home but Mother had a couple of copies of the recipe, one hand written. Daddy doesn't like casseroles so she probably never made it for us. She might have used it for her bridge club.

2 cups cooked diced chicken
1/2 can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can chicken broth
1 pkg 10 oz. corn tortillas, cut in small pieces
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese(she has 2 cups written in the margin)

Layer chicken,tomatoes,soups,broth and tortillas in a greased 2 quart casserole.
Add chopped onions. Repeat layers and onions.
Sprinkle grated cheese over top and bake at 350 degrees for one hour in a 13 x 9" pan.
(Mother has a note to soften tortillas in hot broth for 5 seconds, and you can add 1 1/2 tsp chili powder and 1/2 tsp garlic salt)

an appetizer

I was talking to my brother Robert about recipes that he remembers, and he remembers one that I also recall as memorable. Mother doesn't seem to remember it and I can't find a recipe, but I can describe it and maybe someone will have a recipe or recall it with greater detail.

I think she took a canned biscuit and cut it in fourths then smashed it into a small ring(like a very small pizza crust). It had a very small meatball on top, probably ground beef that had been formed in a ball and sauted or broiled first. Then topped with some kind of sauce, he thought it was a horseradish sauce. Then it was put in the oven to bake the biscuit. It was really tasty!

I'll have to experiment with this and see if I can get it right.

Sweet and Sour Sausage Balls

This is good, I've made it before. It's good for a party. I don't remember ever having it at home but I got the recipe from Mother.

It says it make 150 meatballs, you could always half the recipe.

This can be prepared a day or more ahead, or freeze.

4 lbs bulk pork sausage
4 eggs slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
3 cups catsup
3/4 cup brown sugar(this amount can almost be doubled)
1/2 cup each white wine vinegar and soy sauce

Mix together sausage,eggs,and bread crumbs. Using palms of hands shape mixture into balls the size of small walnuts. Saute in frying pan until brown on all sides. Drain.
Combine catsup,brown sugar,vinegar and soy sauce.
Pour sauce over sausage balls and simmer 30 minutes stirring once in a while.
Serve hot.
If made ahead, refrigerate or freeze in their sauce. To serve, reheat in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Pecan Pie

3 eggs, beaten
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup pecans, cut up
Mix eggs,syrup,salt,vanilla,sugar,butter.
Add pecans.
Pour into pie crust and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 30-35 minutes.

Grandmommies' Date Nut Pinwheel Cookies

I always loved these cookies when visiting Grandmommy. I think they were a holiday staple for her.

Filling
2 1/2 cups pitted dates, chopped
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
1 cup chopped nuts
Cook this slowly and stir to prevent burning, let cool, chill.

Cookie Dough
1 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
Cream shortening and sugar, add eggs, then add dry ingredients. Chill. Divide dough into 3 parts, roll 1/4" thick. Spread the date filling on each part and roll up like a jelly roll. Chill. Slice and bake at 400 degrees.

French Breakfast Puffs

I found this recipe written a few times on different recipe cards. I don't recall ever having had it but it sounds good. It might have been something Mother thought she might use for Bridge Club.

1/3 cup soft shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup milk

Heat over to 350 degrees.
Grease 12 medium or 14-16 small muffin cups
Mix thoroughly shortening,sugar and egg.
Sift together flour, baking powder,salt, nutmeg and add alternately with milk.
Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.
Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Melt 1/3 cup butter.
Mix 1/2 cup sugar,1/6 tsp cinnamon.
Immediately roll hot muffins in melted butter, then in mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Serve hot.

Cobbler Dough

I found this recipe written on the back of an old Farmers and Merchants bank deposit slip. I thought I would include it because I would like to try it tomorrow night, I'm picking up an order of frozen peaches that come from Utah.

1 cup flour sifted with 1/2 cup sugar
2 level tsps baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt
Add 1/4 cup Crisco(I'll use butter)and mix well with pie dough blender
Add 1/2 cup sweet milk and mix
Melt 1/2 stick Oleo(I'll use butter) in cobbler pan
Pour dough in pan
Add fruit on top(that's interesting because I've always added my dough on top of fruit)
Bake at 350 degrees until done

Prickly Pear Jelly

Yesterday my daughter and I made Prickly Pear Jelly. To gather the pears you need a pair of tongs, they snap off nicely. Then you wash the pears in the sink or with a hose outside. Cut the woody pulp end off, again using the tongs to hold them. Then mash them up in a large bowl or pot with a potato masher. Strain the juice in a jelly colander, then strain one or two more times through cheese cloth. I have always had trouble with the jelly setting up. I recently read that you need to include some pears that are not quite ripe. Next time I will try this. If the jelly doesn't set up you can use if for syrup, in salad dressings, as a marinade for meat. It's still delicious and I'm sure you can find more recipes for using the syrup.

2 1/2 cup prickly pear juice
2 Tbsp lemon juice
Mix 1/4 cup sugar and one pkg pectin and bring to boil
Add 3 1/4 cup sugar and boil 2-3 minutes.

Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Will make about 6 half pints.

Green Chile Stew

Recently I went elk hunting with Brandon, it was quite an experience. We now have a freezer full of elk meat and I have been learning how to cook it. I just tried this recipe the other night and it turned out really delicious. You could use beef roast if you want and I used New Mexico roasted hatch chilies.

Green Chile Stew

1 lb. ground or finely chopped elk roast
4 cups beef broth
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
3 large red potatoes
1 large carrot
1 cup frozen corn or 1 can of corn
10 to 14 oz chopped green chiles (½ 20 oz can, or two 7 oz cans)
½ chopped medium onion
½ teaspoon garlic
1½ tablespoon chopped cilantro (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste

Brown meat. Boil or microwave potatoes and carrots until softened, but still slightly firm. Dice them and add them to cooked elk meat with other vegetables.

Add broth and seasonings. Simmer over heat for 1 hour.

Add more or less fresh cilantro to taste, as desired. Go easy on the cilantro until you decide if you like it. It can be overdone easily.

Serve with cornbread or flour tortillas.

For dessert, add some honey to the cornbread or tortillas!

Claudeens's Broccoli salad

I've seen this salad many times and made many different ways but this is my Aunt Claudeens way.

2 stalks broccoli floretes
1 cup raisins
small red or sweet onion(about 1/2 cup)
10-12 slices bacon

Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp white vinegar

Marinade for at least 2 hours.

Mrs. Carter's Pound Cake

Mother used to make pound cake and we would have some warm lemon sauce on top of a slice of cake. I'll have to locate the recipe for the lemon sauce. She must have used her mothers recipe since one of the recipes I found is labeled Mrs Carters Pound Cake.

1 cup Crisco
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
3 cups cake flour
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 tsp baking soda
7 tsp lemon extract(or 5 lemon and 2 vanilla)

Cream sugar and Crisco
Add eggs one at a time and beat well
Sift flour and salt
Add soda to buttermilk
Add flour, milk, and extract all together.
Bake in greased tube pain for one hour at 350 degrees.

I think I will try this recipe with butter instead of Crisco.

My sister Nancy had the lemon glaze recipe.

Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp corn starch, and 1/4 tsp salt.
Stir in 1 cup boiling water and boil for 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
Stir in 1 tsp grated lemon rind, 3 Tbsp lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp. butter.

Grandmommies' Hot Dog Relish

Since this is the time of year to have green tomatoes from the garden I thought this would be a good time for the best hot dog relish of all time. My grandmother(Annise Carter) used to make this. It is good on hot dogs or on beans. I try to make it every year that I can get green tomatoes, I suppose you could also you tomatillos. I cold water bath process mine in jelly jars for 5 minutes.

4 cups onion
4 cups cabbage
4 cups green tomotoes
6 cups sugar
4 cups white vinegar
12 green hot peppers(I use jalapeños)
6 sweet peppers(recipe calls for 2 red/4 green, I usually use all green)
1 Tbs celery seed
2 Tbs mustard seed
1 1/2 tsp Tumeric
2 cups water
1/2 cup salt

Grind vegetables in food grinder or food processor and sprinkle with salt. Let stand overnight.
Rinse thoroughly
Combine sugar,vinegar,water and spices. Bring to boil. Add vegetables and simmer 3 minutes.

NOTE: This first time I ever made this I didn't know about jalapeño peppers and I didn't wear gloves when I handled them. I was miserable for a few hours with burning hands. It was a lesson learned!

Claudeen's Sweet and Sour Meatloaf

My sister Marlene suggested I share this recipe for meatloaf. Our aunt Claudeen is a wonderful cook and I'll be sharing quite a few of her recipes.

1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar(use more)
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp prepared mustard
1 egg
1 small onion
1/4 cup crushed crackers
2 lbs ground chuck
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix tomato sauce, mustard, sugar, vinegar.
Mix the rest like normal meat loaf.
Put 1/2 sauce in and the rest on top. Bake 400 degrees for 45 minutes.

Potato Casserole

This is a really good holiday recipe. Mother would often make it for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It makes a lot, it's rich and very good, everyone LOVES it!

24 oz frozen hash browns
1/4 cup melted butter
1 small onion chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup grated cheese
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cup corn flakes(you could substitute fried onion rings)
1/4 cup melted butter

Grease 9 x 12 dish
Spread hash browns
Sautee onion in 1/4 cup butter
Add soup, sour cream, salt, pepper
Spread over hash browns
Sprinkle with cheese
Sprinkle with corn flakes or onion rings and dribble 1/2 cup melted butter.
Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Audrey Dean's Meatballs

1 lb ground beef
1 egg
1 slice of bread crumbled(soft)
1/4 cup milk
salt,pepper,nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped onion
Mix and shape into flat meat balls. Brown in skillet. Pour one can tomato soup over and a little water. Sprinkle with sugar. Simmer covered 45 minutes.

This is a good,easy meatball recipe. I always remember the browned meatballs, and the tomato soup makes a nice sauce. It is good with mashed potatoes. I had never actually seen the recipe so I didn't know about the sugar or nutmeg. I'll have to try it again.

A good "no name dessert"

This dessert recipe I found written out on an index card in my mothers recipes, it has the name Clara Turnbow written on it. I'm not sure who that is but I do remember this recipe. It's very sweet, easy, and good.

1 can Eagle Brand© milk
1 can Mandarin oranges
juice of 2 lemons
1/2 pint whipped cream
vanilla wafers

Line 9" pan with wafers(bottom and sides)
Mix lemon juice, Eagle Brand© milk.
Drain oranges slices and arrange over wafers
Pour milk and juice mixture over.
Top with more wafers and spread whipped cream over. Sprinkle with crushed vanilla wafers.
Chill 24-48 hours.

The Best Hot Dog Ever!

When Daddy would be out of town on business this is something that Mother would make. It is the ULTIMATE comfort food! Take a hot dog and cut a slit lengthwise about halfway through the dog. Insert a slice of cheese(American Cheese is what we had)cut to fit. Then top with a slice of bacon the length of the dog, secure with a couple of toothpicks on either end and broil until bacon is crispy. This is sooooo good, especially with a side of macaroni and cheese.

A little family history

I grew up in the 50-60's in a family of 4 children, we lived in Oklahoma and Arkansas. This was the post WWII era where dads were at work and moms were at home. We had white bread, canned vegetables, jello, koolaid,spam(even though we didn't have that very often), we always had milk with dinner. One memory I have of dinner is that Daddy would break up his bread in little pieces and when you weren't looking he would try to throw a piece of bread in your milk. We though it was gross but he liked it and would have milk and bread when he was a boy, so we all had a big laugh when he would be successful.

Appetizer

This is simple side dish/appetizer. It is unusual but very tasty and refreshing. You take half a banana cut lengthwise. Top with mayonnaise(or in our family it was Miracle Whip)and sprinkle with paprika.

Saturday 10/10/2009

I was going through my mothers recipes and realized what a treasure they are. They hold many wonderful memories of dinners and sharing. I remember sometimes calling her from many miles away as a mother myself asking about how to prepare something just like she did. Growing up we always had dinner at 6pm on the dot, and we were always together as a family. We didn't have exotic meals but they were always good, and we always had some kind of little desert.

Mother is 84 now and not cooking like she used to so I thought it would be great to preserve her recipes for the family and be able to share with others. I have sisters, a daughter,sister and brother-in laws, aunts, and cousins that also have wonderful recipes, so there will be others that can share.

Mother and I spent a wonderful morning going through her recipes at the kitchen table. There were recipes written on scraps of paper from many years back from her mother, aunts, cousins and friends. It brought back memories for both of us.

Enjoy!