Joan's Fruit Tea

2 c. sugar*
1/2 c. instant unsweet tea
1 1/2 c. orange or pineapple orange juice (not concentrate)
1 c. lemon concentrate
water

Blend first 4 ingredients together. Pour in a 1 gallon container and add enough water to make 1 gallon. Chill before serving.

*2 c. Splenda may be used instead of sugar if desired.

Cherry Limeade

1 c. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 c. sugar or splenda
2 liter bottle Sprite or 7-up
5 oz. jar maraschino cherries, undrained

Chill all ingredients overnite before combining. Place lime juice in a large pitcher. Add sugar/splenda. Add Sprite. Add all the cherries, including the juice. Serve immediately over ice. Garnish with lime slices if desired.

Anne's Grandmother's Fudge Cake

2 c. sugar
4 T. dutch processed cocoa
1 c. butter, softened
4 eggs
1 1/4 c. SR flour*
1 t. vanilla
3/4 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sugar and cocoa thoroughly. Cream butter, add sugar mixture, and beat until well mixed. Add eggs one at a time. Beat thoroughly. Add vanilla. Add flour. Add nuts. Pour in a sprayed or parchment paper lined 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Check it at 45 minutes to determine if it needs to bake longer. It should be crusty on top and the center should be somewhat gooey, but not runny. A toothpick inserted would come out almost completely clean. Do not overbake.

Recipe may be doubled. Divide evenly into 2 pans, or use a 9x13 pan. *Doubling the SR flour made it more cake-like, instead of brownie. (The original recipe used plain flour and baking powder. But I didn't have any on hand.)

These are very good, and my dad who doesn't like chocolate, would eat them like brownies.

Snowball Cookies

1 c. butter, softened
2 c. SR flour
1 c. pecan cookie pieces (I use Fisher brand), divided
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar, divided
1 t. vanilla
1 c. mini chocolate chips, optional

Place butter, flour, 1/2 c. pecans, 1/2 c. powdered sugar & vanilla in bowl. Blend until smooth. Stir in remaining pecans & chocolate chips if using. Refrigerate dough until it becomes firm, Preheat oven to 325. Shape dough into 1" balls. Place 1" apart on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes until set and lightly brown. Cool 10 minutes, then roll in additional powdered sugar. Cool completely before serving with additional powdered sugar if needed, (Reminds me of wedding cookies.) 

Pecan Bread with Butter Sauce

1 c. sugar

1 c. brown sugar

4 eggs, beaten

1 c. olive oil

1 1/2 c. self-rising flour

1 t. vanilla

2 c. chopped pecans*, divided (I use cookie pieces)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, mix together sugar, brown sugar, eggs and oil until smooth. Gently stir in flour and vanilla. Finally, mix in 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans. (or 3/4 c. each pecans and toffee bits) Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining pecans (& toffee). Bake for 35-40 minutes until pick comes out clean. Top warm cake slices with butter sauce.

Butter sauce:

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

2 T. butter

1/2 c. chopped pecans* (I use cookie pieces)

Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. Pour in condensed milk & stir. Continue to stir until heated thoroughly, add pecans. Stir again then remove from heat. Spoon this delicious sauce over individual slices of warm cake.

*I have also used 1/2 pecans and 1/2 toffee bits..Yum!

Sour Cherry Pie

2 unbaked pie crusts, (I use frozen ones-- follow directions on pkg.)
5 c. pitted sour cherries
1 T. lemon juice
2 t. brandy (optional), or rum extract
1/2 t. almond extract
1 c. sugar or splenda
1/4 c. cornstarch
butter
milk
sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine cherries, lemon juice, brandy (if using) and almond extract. Combine sugar and cornstarch. Pour over cherries. Pour mixture into pie crust. Dot top with butter. Make a lattice pattern over top of filling with 2nd crust, if desired. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Place pie on parchment paper covered baking sheets to catch any spillage. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake another hour. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Blueberry Streusel Cheesecake Bread

1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/4 c. milk + 2 T.
2 eggs
4 c. SR flour
2 t. cinnamon
2 t. vanilla
4-5 c. fresh blueberries
1 t. lemon zest (optional)

Filling:
2, 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. lemon juice

Topping:
1/2 c. butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 t. cinnamon
3/4 c, SR flour
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 large and 6 small loaf pans with cooking spray. Beat soft butter and sugar together. Add eggs. Beat well. Add milk on low speed. Add vanilla, Mix. Add flour and cinnamon. Blend on low. Gently fold in blueberries and zest. Divide batter evenly among all pans. Allow room for filling and topping. Combine all filling ingredients and beat until smooth. Spread on top of bread batter in pans. Place all topping ingredients in food processor except nuts, or combine by using 2 forks, if processor not available. Pulse until crumbly. Add in nuts. Divide & top batter in pans. Place pans in oven. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, until pick comes out clean. Remove from oven to cool for 10 minutes. Invert onto plates to cool completely. Do not overbake or bread will be very dry! (I made 2 large heart shaped loaves, and 6 small loaves* with this recipe.) *may use muffin tins instead, if desired. Tastes delicious with coffee or hot cocoa in the mornings.

The first 2 pictures are before baking, the others are after baking. The streusel topping can not be seen, as the bread is inverted onto plate:

Crockpot Pepper Steak Soup

2.5 lbs. sirloin tip steak, cut into strips (can also use flank or london broil)
1/4 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
2 T. oil
1 pkg onion soup mix
4 c. beef broth (2 cans)
1 T. tomato paste
1 T. worcestershire sauce or teriyaki sauce
1 T. A-1 sauce
1 green pepper, cut in strips
1/2 onion, sliced
1 t. cumin
2 c. uncooked egg noodles*, optional

Combine flour, salt, & pepper in a ziploc bag. Add steak strips. Seal bag and toss until coated. Brown in oil, about 6 minutes. Place in crockpot. Sprinkle with soup mix. Combine broth, paste, and sauce. Pour over beef. Add other seasonings. Cover and cook on low 8 hours. Add noodles. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Serve with sour cream if desired.

*This recipe can also be served over rice or as a wrap. We had them as a wrap and they were delicious! Just place meat, cheese, lettuce, chopped tomato, salsa, sour cream, etc...inside a flour tortilla. Fold over one side, then the bottom, then the other side. Serve with chips and fresh fruit. Yum!

Blueberry Muffins

1 1/2 c. SR flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. oil
1 egg
1/3 c. milk (I had to add a little more for consistency)
1 c. blueberries (I used fresh, but frozen will work too)

Crumb Topping

2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. SR flour
2 T. butter, cubed
1/4 t. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400. Thoroughly spray muffin tins. Combine flour and sugar. Add egg, milk, and oil. Mix well. Fold in blueberries, do not beat. Fill muffin tins to the top.(Be sure you spray around the tops too, they will overflow!) Make crumb topping and sprinkle on top of each muffin before baking. Bake 20-25 minutes until wooden pick comes out clean. (These muffins were huge! & delicious!)

Crumb Topping Directions:

Combine all ingredients with a fork. Sprinkle over tops of muffins before baking.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Whipped Cream

1 c. packed light brown sugar
1 c. butter (2 sticks)
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 3/4 c. SR flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x5x3 loaf pan. In a large bowl, beat sugar & butter until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Add flour gradually to rest of ingredients. Pour batter into pan. Bake 1 hour or until wooden pick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then invert onto plate or tray. Cool completely. Garnish with whipped topping and fruit.

Whipped Topping

1 c. heavy cream
2 T. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla

Combine a;; ingredients in a chilled mixing bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks appear. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

Crockpot Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread with Rum Glaze

2 2/3 c. Bisquick
1 1/2 c. mashed ripe bananas
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter, melted
1 t. rum flavoring
1 t. vanilla
3 eggs
1 t. ground cinnamon
3/4-1 c. milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 c. diced pecans

Glaze:
2 T. butter, melted
1 c. powdered sugar
1 T. rum flavoring (or 1/2 t. extract)
1-2 t. hot water, to reach consistency

Line a round crockpot. In a large bowl, combine: bananas, sugar, melted butter, rum flavoring, vanilla, and eggs until well blended. Stir in Bisquick, cinnamon, chocolate chips and 1/2 the chopped pecans, Pour into crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour 30 minutes-2 hours. (Mine took two hours) Bread is done when a wooden toothpick is placed in it and comes out clean. Turn off crockpot, uncover, & remove ceramic base to cooling rack. Let cool 15 minutes. Loosen bread from the edge and cool another hour. Meanwhile combine glaze ingredients until smooth and thick like syrup. Drizzle over top of cake if desired.and sprinkle remaining chopped pecans on top. Enjoy!

1st picture: after removing from crockpot. 2nd picture: after adding glaze.

Orange Sherbet Brownies

1 box orange cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c. oil
Glaze: (optional)
1 c. powdered sugar
1-2 T. milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix, eggs, and oil until well combined Place in a sprayed 8x8 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool before adding glaze. Combine the powdered sugar and milk until smooth and spreadable. Spread over warm brownies. Cool before cutting. Enjoy!

*Other flavor cake mixes can be made using all the same ingredients and prepared the same way. Yummy!

First picture: right out of the oven. Second picture after being cut. I didn't add any glaze to these brownies.

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

1 1/4 lb ground chicken

1/4 c. Panko bread crumbs

1 large egg

2 scallions, chopped, optional

1/3 c. finely minced celery

1/3 c. finely minced carrot

1 clove crushed garlic

salt and pepper, to taste

1/3 c. Buffalo Hot sauce

1/4 c. bleu cheese dressing (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly spray a non-stick baking sheet. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, panko crumbs, egg, scallions, celery, carrot and garlic; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Roll the mixture (1/8 cup each) into 26 round meatballs. Place meatballs onto baking sheet and bake until cooked through and golden, about 16 to 18 minutes. Place the meatballs in a bowl, add the buffalo sauce and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately, drizzled with bleu cheese dressing, if desired.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake

10 graham crackers

7 T. melted butter
24 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 ½ c. powdered sugar, divided
1 t. vanilla extract
1 ½ c. chocolate chips, melted
2 c. peanut butter, melted

Place graham crackers into a plastic bag and crush them into fine crumbs with a rolling pin/hammer. Pour the graham cracker crumbs into a bowl and combine with melted butter. Press the graham cracker crumbs in an even layer into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate. (Or you can use a store bought extra large crust if desired) In a large bowl, mix together softened cream cheese, 1 ½ c. powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and mix until the color is even. Pour the mixture over the graham cracker crust in the springform pan. Using a spatula or spoon, smooth the top. Refrigerate. In a large bowl, mix together melted peanut butter and 1 c. powdered sugar. Pour mixture over cheesecake in springform pan. Use a knife or spatula to spread evenly and smooth the top. Refrigerate for 2–4 hours. Enjoy!

My Grandmother's Fried Corn

6-8 ears of fresh sweet corn (she liked silver queen)

1 T. bacon drippings

2 T. butter

1/2 c. milk

1 T. cornstarch or flour

1 t. salt

1/4 t. black pepper

Shuck and silk your corn.  Make sure to remove all of the silks and then with a sharp knife cut the corn off into a bowl.  Once the kernels are all cut off, take your knife and scrape down the cob to remove all the milk that is left in it. In a skillet heat together the bacon drippings and the butter. Add the corn and let it cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes. Mix the cornstarch and the cold milk until smooth. Pour into the corn and bring it up to a bubble. Stir and cook just until it thickens. Add the salt and pepper, stir again, and serve. Yummy!

Breakfast Egg Cups

5 eggs
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

spinach, chopped
tomatoes, diced
onion, diced fine
bell pepper, diced
broccoli, cut into small florets 
Parmesan cheese
cheddar cheese

ham, diced

mushrooms, sliced

steak strips, cooked

salsa, medium

6 cup muffin tin

In a measuring cup, beat the eggs until smooth. Set aside. In a sprayed muffin tin, place your desired combination of fillings into each muffin cup. Season each cup with salt and pepper. Pour the beaten eggs into each muffin cup until the liquid almost reaches the top. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, until set. Enjoy!

*you can use muffin papers if desired for easier clean up.

Baking Cookies in Muffin Tins

Your favorite cookie recipe or cookie mix, prepared as directed

Spray or line regular size muffin tins with baking papers. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 1 T. of dough in tins and bake as recipe calls for. Because the cookies are a little thicker, you may need to bake 1-2 minutes longer. You can also add mini or chopped candy like Reese's peanut butter cups, York peppermint patties, caramels, etc..to the cookie batter, then top with another T. of dough before baking for an added surprise. Mini muffin tins may also be used for making cookies. This recipe works well with drop cookies too.

*Baking cookies in muffin tins makes them softer and more uniform in size. They don't spread out and run together.

Enjoy!

Baking Pancakes in Muffin Tins

Bisquick or pancake mix, prepared as directed
blueberries, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, etc..
syrup, confectioner's sugar, whipped cream, etc...

Spray muffin tins. Place 2/3 c. batter in tin. Place desired toppings on before baking. Bake 15 minutes until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Remove from oven. Remove from tins. Top with syrup, whipped cream, or confectioners sugar if desired. Enjoy!

This is a great way to make pancakes for everyone at the same time. Too many times, by the time you have made enough for everyone, the first pancakes made are already cold.

Mom's Sour Cream Ice Cream

2 c. sour cream
1 t. baking soda
4 c. whole milk
1 can Eaglebrand milk
2 c. strawberries, sliced or mashed

Combine sour cream and soda. Beat well. Add milks and beat well. Add strawberries. Pour in ice cream freezer and complete as directed in instructions.

Mom's Macaroon Pie

1 c. sugar
1 c. chopped dates
14 crushed saltine crackers (soda crackers)
3 egg whites
1 t. almond extract
3/4 c. chopped pecans
1/4 t. baking powder
1 c. whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients well. Beat egg whites with baking powder and extract. Fold dry ingredients into egg whites. Grease or spray 9" pie plate. Pour in pie plate and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool. Cover with whipped cream. Keeps well in refrigerator.