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May 21, 2008

Memorial Day Bake Sale

Recipe from GillianIvy


I'm trying to help my Mother gather funds for her to move out to Indiana to be near myself and her grandson. She's fallen on troubled times and needs to expedite the moving process or else become homeless. So I'm having a bake sale on Monday, Memorial day and will transfer proceeds to her PayPal account. Her goal is around $1,000, so far she has only about $125 towards that from generous donations. At the bottom of this page there is a link to donate directly to her PayPal account if you would like to make a contribution. Any amount would help. My Mother is under a lot of stress right now, and any monetary relief would alleviate quite a bit of that.


Here are the recipes I'll be using for my bake sale, I'll post up pictures later on. Our neighbor Jess will be helping with the sale, she's baking up a few things and will help watch Chase while we sell. Good thing is, we get to eat all the leftovers! ;P So even if we don't pool together much profit, it's not a total loss. I'm making "Crispy Peanut Butterscotch Fudge Squares", "Buckeye Candy", "Cake Balls", "Peanut Butter Pie", "No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudgies", "Easy Chocolate Fudge", "Graham Cracker Cake W/Buttercream Frosting", "Chocolate Turtle Bars", and "Chocolate Caramel Crispy Cakes". I've already made a batch of Peanut Butter Fudge. Using 3 ¼ cups Brown Sugar instead of morsels, and milk instead of condensed milk and confectioners sugar instead of marshmallows, and of course Peanut Butter! I'll post recipe later if I can find it again. It's really sweet, cut into very small pieces so you don't go into sugar overload!














Crispy Peanut Butterscotch Fudge Squares



Crust
  • 4 ½ teaspoons light margarine
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3 cups crisp rice cereal

    Fudge
  • 2 tablespoons light margarine
  • 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) Evaporated Fat Free Milk
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1 cup Butterscotch Morsels
  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup cocktail peanuts, chopped


      Crust:
    1. Coat 13 x 9-inch baking pan and rubber spatula with nonstick cooking spray.
    2. Melt margarine over low heat in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Add marshmallows and peanut butter; stir until melted. Remove from heat. Add cereal; stir until coated. Press onto bottom of prepared baking using prepared rubber spatula.


      Fudge:
    1. Combine margarine, evaporated milk, sugar and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
    2. Add marshmallows, morsels, peanut butter and vanilla extract; stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows and morsels are completely melted. Pour over crust. Sprinkle nuts over fudge; press in slightly. Refrigerate until set. Cut into squares.





    Buckeye Candy



  • 2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • ¼ cup (½ stick) butter or margarine, softened
  • 3 ¾ cups (16-oz. box) powdered sugar
  • 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels


    1. Line baking sheets with wax paper.
    2. Beat peanut butter and butter in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in powdered sugar until mixture holds together and is moistened. Shape into 1-inch balls; place on prepared baking sheets. Freeze for 1 hour.
    3. Melt morsels and shortening in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted.
    4. Dip peanut butter centers into melted chocolate using a toothpick, leaving a small portion of the center uncovered. Shake off excess chocolate and scrape bottom of candy on side of bowl. Return to baking sheets; refrigerate until chocolate is set. Store in covered container in refrigerator.





    Cake Balls



  • 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix (or any flavor)
  • 1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting (any flavor)
  • 1 (3 ounce) bar chocolate


    1. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes. When cake is done, crumble while warm into a large bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended.
    2. Melt chocolate coating in a glass bowl in the microwave, or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
    3. Use a melon baller or small scoop to form balls of the chocolate cake mixture. Dip the balls in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper to set.

    Tips:

    1. Crumble the cake right after it came out of the oven, so it was still quite hot, but that makes it really stick together.
    2. Also make sure you crumble it into tiny crumbs. Big chunks the ball won't form as well.
    3. Freeze the balls solid before dipping.





    Peanut Butter Pie



  • 1 cup of jif crunchy peanut butter
  • 1 (8 ounce) package Philadelphia Cream cheese
  • 12 ounces Cool Whip
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 (9 inch) pre-prepared graham cracker pie crusts (I'm using Oreo crusts, yum!)


    1. Mix peanut butter, cream cheese, cool whip, and powdered sugar together and pour into 2 graham cracker crusts and freeze.
    2. Store in freezer.





    No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudgies



  • 4 cups sugar
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 cup full-fat milk
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 1 (18 ounce) container quaker quick oat
  • 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla


    1. Bring the sugar, chocolate, milk, butter and salt to a boil in a heavy large saucepan, stirring constantly; simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat.
    2. Stir in the peanut butter, oats and vanilla (mix fast but completely!).
    3. Drop from a teaspoon or tablespoon onto a baking sheet.
    4. Let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.





    Easy Chocolate Fudge



  • 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ cup butter (no substitutes)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup chopped walnut or pecan
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows (optional)


    1. In a large microwave-safe bowl place both semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, condensed milk and butter; microwave on MEDIUM for 3-5 minutes, removing and stirring once or twice during the cooking time (do not overcook or the mixture will turn grainy).
    2. At this point mix in the c (if using) until completely combined.
    3. Stir in vanilla and nuts until combined.
    4. Transfer into greased 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Chill in fridge.





    Graham Cracker Cake W/Buttercream Frosting



    Graham Cracker Cake

  • 1 (18 ¼ ounce) package white cake mix1 (18 1/4 ounce) package white cake mix
  • 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 egg white
  • ¾ cup walnut, chopped (I'm using pecans)

    Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup butter, softened well
  • 8 cups confectioners' sugar
  • ½ cup whole milk (or half & half)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla


    1. Combine cake mix, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, water and egg whites in a large mixing bowl.
    2. Blend on medium speed for 3-5 minutes with electric mixer.
    3. Stir in nuts by hand.
    4. Spray 2 9 inch round cake pans with Bakers Joy & pour in the cake batter.
    5. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.
    6. Frost only when completely cool.





    Chocolate Turtle Bars



  • 1 (8 ounce) can crescent roll
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 (12 ounce) package chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup butter
  • 1 ½ cups pecan halves


    1. Pat crescent rolls into ungreased 9 x 13 pan.
    2. Boil brown sugarand butter for 1 minute in sauce pan then pour over raw dough.
    3. Spinkle with nuts. Bake for 15 mins at 375 degrees.
    4. Then sprinkle with chocolate chips and spread when melted. Cool and cut.





    Chocolate Caramel Crispy Cakes



  • 4 (2 ounce) chocolate candy bars (recommended — Mars Bars or Milky Way)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 2 ½ cups crunchy cereal (recommended — Cornflakes, but I'm using Rice Krispies)


    1. Break the candy bars into bits and drop them into a saucepan.
    2. Add the butter and melt, over lowish heat, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula.
    3. When everything is melted (the nougat-like layer takes the longest to go), tip in the cereal and turn them, with your rubber spatula, in the chocolate mixture until they are all pretty well coated.
    4. Fill the mini muffin papers with the mixture and put in the refrigerator, on a small sheet pan or tray, for at least 1 hour.


  • October 14, 2007

    From Grandma Auldridge's notes

    Recipe from Ginny



    Gene gave me a number of random pages of notes written by Grandma, thinking they might relate to a book she was writing, but he was mistaken. Most of them are menus, lists of things to do, gardening notes etc. These 2 recipes were in that bundle, "Cream Salad Dressing" & "Lemon Pie", marked "Mon. 5/20/85 these recipes to Dave & Jean, also; photostat of genealogy chart."

    Cream Salad Dressing



  • 1 raw egg/separated
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 pint cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup vinegar

    mix dry ingredients. add to butter melted in top of double boiler. Stir and cook briefly. Slightly beat egg yolk and mix into cream. Add to pan and cook until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. If lumpy, beat with electric mixer to remove lumps. Add Vinegar. If it seems too bland, an additional 2 Tablespoons vinegar may be added to taste. Keep refrigerated.

    Lemon Pie



  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • grated rind of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 cups boiling water
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 baked pie crust

    Separate eggs, reserving white for meringue. In top of double boiler pan, heat egg yolks and cream in the sugar. Add lemon juice and grated rind.Add cornstarch that has been softened with cold water. [she never mentions how much cold water]. Add boiling water. Cook and stir in top boiler until thick and shiny. Remove top pan from heat and allow to cool. Pour into cooked pie shell and top with meringue.

    Meringue
    Beat the 2 reserved egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gradually add and beat in 8 Tablespoons one tablespoons at a time. Cover filled pie with meringue.Carefully spread across entire pie and out to crust edges then place in oven @ 275 degrees F
    until lightly browned.

    [end of note says; typed and mailed 5/17/85]

  • October 08, 2007

    My Shepherd's Pie

    Recipe from GillianIvy



    Just a little something I'm whipping up real quick like. I'm kinda just throwing it together. It's pretty much your basic recipe, only adding pancake mix to the mashed potatoes and using chicken broth instead of milk. Currently, Kevin and I are trying a low/no dairy diet, as we seem to have an intolerance for lactose. I also like using powdered sauce mixes as they are easy and very cheap. A great way to make a real meal with low hassle. I hope you enjoy my simple "Shepherd's Pie" recipe. Cougar first introduced me to Shepherd's Pie. And I loved it. I don't know what her recipe is, but I'm just sort of making this up as I go. So hopefully, it turns out right. Kevin is my guinea pig. ;P Trying to start some new traditions of family recipes, for my new family. I feel like a domestic goddess. Been cooking dinner EVERY day almost. Wow. Really. And it's been somewhat healthy food! Lol! Not just instant this and microwave that. But REAL food. I'm starting to feel like a real mom. And since Chase is starting to eat big people's food, this is very cool.

    Shepherd's Pie



  • 2-3 lbs. Ground Beef
  • 1 Chopped Onion (optional, use any vegetable desired or omit)
  • 2-3 large Potatoes, peeled (I'm using a mix of red potatoes and baking, and leaving skin on)
  • 1 can Chicken Broth
  • 1 stick Butter/Margarine
  • 1 cu. Pancake Mix
  • Gravy (sauce mix, I'm using an Au Jus mix)

    1. Preheat oven to 350°.
    2. Boil Potatoes, drain then mash. Add Chicken Broth and Butter and Pancake Mix until desired consistency.
    3. Brown Ground Beef, drain grease. Add Onion and Gravy Mix, and follow directions for mix.
    4. In a glass 13x9 pan or two 9" pie pans, make a layer of cooked Ground Beef, top with layer of mashed Potato mixture.
    5. Bake at 350° for approx. 35-45 minutes, until top is golden. Best served warm.


    I plan to serve this with Roasted Carrot Spread on French Bread slices. I'm going to cook it up before bed, but eat it for breakfast when I get up. Maybe Kevin will get some before he goes to work, if I get up early enough to make him eat. Otherwise, he'll get it when he gets home. Time for me to get cooking.

    ~Edit 10/09/2007~

    This is so ultra the yummy! Wow, really. The pancake mix (I used Hungry Jack: Buttermilk) gives it a slight sweetness that is the perfect complement with the meat and potatoes and the Au Jus gravy. I didn't add as much water to the gravy, I only used 1 cup, when it called for three. Absolutely delicious. And the Roasted Carrot Spread went with it splendidly. Though it's preparation/cook time took longer than supposed. I roasted it for nearly 2 hours before the carrots were soft enough. I should've cut them down smaller, I suppose. But I followed the directions to a tee. But it was delicious! They have a slight sweetness to them as well, the garlic with the carrots. I rounded off my meal with a slice of Grandma Pat's Apple Pie and a glass of apple cider. I'll see if Grandma Pat will share that recipe. I've invited Great Aunt Dee and Aunt Pat to post recipes here. I would like to see more Clinton recipes posted. This is easy and cheap to make, definitely give it a try!

  • September 12, 2007

    The Great Pumpkin

    Recipe from GillianIvy



    It's pumpkin time! Randy has a ton of pumpkins this year. We've given many away, but there's still plenty to carve up and plenty more for eating! So, I've listed here a few of my favorite pumpkin recipes. I've just made another variation of Amish Friendship Bread, this time using pumpkin, of course. Just cooked it up today, and it was superb. I'll upload a picture later. My pumpkin favorites are: Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Donuts, Pumpkin Bread, and Pumpkin Pie.

    Savory Pumpkin Soup


  • 4 Medium Cloves Garlic, unpeeled
  • 6 cu. peeled, deseeded Pumpkin
  • 3 tsp. Oil
  • 1 lg. Onion, finely chopped
  • ½ tsp. Ground Nutmeg
  • 1 tsp Ground Cumin
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • 4 cu. Vegetable or Chicken Stock
  • Cream, for serving
  • Ground Nutmeg, for serving

    1. Preheat oven to 375°.
    2. Chop pumpkin into even-sized pieces (larger pieces will require a longer roasting time). Place pumpkin and unpeeled garlic cloves in a baking tray/dish, drizzle with two teaspoons of the oil and toss to coat with oil.
    3. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the garlic so that it doesn't overcook. Continue baking pumpkin until tender and cooked through.
    4. Heat remaining teaspoon of oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, nutmeg, cumin, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for one minute.
    5. Add pumpkin and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer until onion is soft and stock has reduced, about 20 minutes. The more the stock reduces, the thicker the soup will be.
    6. Peel roasted garlic and add to saucepan. We allow the soup to cool for about half an hour before pureeing in batches in a blender. Be careful if pureeing the soup while it is still very hot.
    7. Serve the soup hot. Top with a drizzle of cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg, if desired.


    Store soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

    I've just made this soup tonight. I made only one serving to try it out. Using the leftover pumpkin from my "Cat & Moon" jack-o-lantern, I just tossed in the oven with some pumpkin seeds and garlic cloves. Sprinkled on the olive oil, then after I was done feeding Chase, I took out the garlic and the seeds and put the pumpkin back in for another 30 or so minutes while I fed Chase again. Then I went to check on the pumpkin, and it was tender enough to cut with a spatula, so I took it out. I then put a can of chicken stock on the stove and threw in the skinned pumpkin while Chase played in the exersaucer. After it came to a light boil, I tossed in the roasted garlic and let it boil for a few minutes before turning off the heat to let it cool. About this time, Chase was done in the exersaucer, he wanted to play. So I watched the season premiere of "Heroes" on NBC. When the show was over, Chase was ready to eat and take his nap. So I laid him down and went back to the kitchen with the baby monitor on. A quick whirr in the food processor and then reheating for a minute in the microwave and my soup was done. I seasoned it a little differently, added some Cajun seasoning, and omitted the onion (didn't feel like cutting and peeling and all that). Mmmmm, was this soup ever yummy. And with a batch of toasted and lightly salted pumpkin seeds to set it off. Definitely a very good low maintenance meal to make for breastfeeding moms who can't cook in the kitchen for more than 15 minutes at a time. The roasted garlic is superb. I want to eat it on everything. Tomorrow I plan to make the pumpkin pie. We'll see.


    Not-Mom's Pumpkin Donuts



    Spiced sugar:
  • 1 cu. sugar
  • 4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. ground nutmeg

    1. Mix all ingredients in medium bowl to blend.


    Dounuts:
  • 3 ½ cu. All Purpose Flour
  • 4 tsp. Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. Ground Ginger
  • ½ tsp. Baking Soda
  • ¼ tsp. Ground Nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp. Ground Cloves
  • 1 cu. Sugar
  • 3 tbsp. unsalted Butter, room temperature
  • 1 large Egg
  • 2 large Egg Yolks
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
  • ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk
  • 1 cup canned pure pumpkin
  • Canola oil (for deep-frying)

    1. Whisk first 8 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until blended (mixture will be grainy). Beat in egg, then yolks and vanilla. Gradually beat in buttermilk; beat in pumpkin in 4 additions. Using rubber spatula, fold in dry ingredients in 4 additions, blending gently after each addition. Cover with plastic; chill 3 hours.
    2. Sprinkle 2 rimmed baking sheets lightly with flour. Press out 1/3 of dough on floured surface to 1/2- to 2/3-inch thickness. Using 2 1/2-inch-diameter round cutter, cut out dough rounds. Arrange on sheets. Repeat with remaining dough in 2 more batches. Gather dough scraps. Press out dough and cut out more dough rounds until all dough is used.
    3. Using 1-inch-diameter round cutter, cut out center of each dough round to make donuts and donut holes.
    4. Line 2 baking sheets with several layers of paper towels. Pour oil into large deep skillet to depth of 1 1/2 inches. Attach deep-fry thermometer and heat oil to 365°F to 370°F. Fry donut holes in 2 batches until golden brown, turning occasionally, about 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Fry donuts, 3 or 4 at a time, until golden brown, adjusting heat to maintain temperature, about 1 minute per side. Using slotted spoon, transfer donuts to paper towels to drain. Cool completely.


    Powdered Sugar Glaze:
  • 2 cu. powdered sugar
  • Whipping cream

    For powdered sugar glaze:
    Whisk powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons whipping cream to blend. Whisk in additional cream, 1 teaspoon at a time, to form medium thick glaze. Can be made up to 3 hours ahead. Add donut holes to bowl of spiced sugar and toss to coat. Spread donuts on 1 side with Powdered Sugar Glaze. Arrange donuts, glazed side up, on racks. Let stand until glaze sets, at least 30 minutes.

    Makes about 24 donuts and 24 donut holes.


    Amish Pumpkin Bread


    Using the Amish Friendship Bread recipe, I added pureed Pumpkin, used Pumpkin Pie Spice instead of cinnamon, and used ½ cu. Brown Sugar & ½ cu. Sugar instead of 1 cu. Sugar.


    The Best Pumpkin Pie


  • Unbaked Pie Crust
  • ¾ cu. granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp. ground cloves
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cu. Pureed Pumpkin (or 1 can 15 oz.)
  • 1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk
  • Whipped cream (optional)

    1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Mix the sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves (or use 1 ¾ tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice) in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
    2. Pour mixture into pie shell.
    3. Bake in preheated 425° oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350°; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

    Don't freeze as this will cause the pie filling to separate from crust.

    ~Edit 10/09/2007~

    As a note... Make sure to drain your pureed pumpkin. My pie ended up kinda squishy. Still tasty.