Aunt Alma's Crumb Cake

submitted by Ginger Santos
See earlier posting about the
Crumb Cake mystery

2 c sugar

2 c flour

1 c shortening

Crumble above mixture - save out 1 c as topping.

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Add 2 eggs to tensing crumbles in mixing bowl. Beat till smooth.

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 1 tsp baking soda

 1/2 tsp salt

   2 tsp nutmeg

   2 tsp cinnamon

  1 c sour milk (3 tsp vinegar)

Mix together, pour batter into buttered/floured pan. Sprinkle saved cup of crumbles on batter. Bake @ 375 35-40 min.

Thank you Ginger! This is the exact recipe Aunt Midge gave me last fall.   

January Observances

Bread Machine Bake Month - Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
International Coffee Gourmet Month - Home Cooking Rocks
National Fiber Focus Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Oatmeal Month - Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
National Soup Month - Family Soup Supper

DAILY OBSERVANCES
Jan-4 Spaghetti Day - Spaghetti Sauce
Jan-8 English Toffy Day - Toffy
Jan-11 Rhubarb Day
Jan-13 Dinner Out Day
Jan-18 Unsliced Bread Day
Jan-20 National Cheese Lovers Day
Jan-21 Granola Bar Day
Jan-27 Chocolate Cake Day
Jan-28 Blueberry Pancake Day
Jan-29 National Corn Chip Day

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

These rolls have become a family favorite. Richard makes the dough in the bread machine. Recipe from For The Love of Cooking

• 1 cup of water
• 2 tbsp of butter, melted; plus more for brushing on top of rolls
• 1 egg (hold under warm water before breaking it)
• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp regular active dry yeast

Place all dough ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Select the dough cycle and press start.

Once the bread machine stops (it was one and a half
hours on my machine).
Grease a 9x13 glass baking dish.
Divide dough into 15 pieces and shape each piece into a ball. Place 2 inches apart in the baking dish. Brush with melted butter then cover with a clean dish cloth (don't use plastic wrap).

Let rise in a warm place 30 to 40 minutes or until doubled in size. Brush top with butter. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in Ellet

Chop milk chocolate candy-making discs, Hershey bars
or use Nestle Chocolate Chunks 

Once upon a time I sold Airbake aluminum insulated cookie sheets in Kaufman's (now Macy's). I would bring a batch of this cookie dough, set up a toaster oven and begin baking. Within minutes I would have people standing around waiting to try a cookie. Many times customers would ask me for the recipe, which I had memorized, but started bringing copies to hand out. I sold a lot of Airbake too!

1-1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4  cup sugar

1-1/2 cup shortening

3 eggs
1-1/2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1-1/2 tsp salt

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

12 oz. chocolate chips

1 cup nuts, chopped
1 cup milk chocolate candy, chopped or a bag of Nestle Chocolate Chunks

Cream together brown sugar, sugar and shortening with mixer. This step will coat the sugar granules with shortening so the wet ingredients won't dissolve the sugar. Then add eggs and vanilla, mix until creamy.  In small bowl, mix all dry ingredients together, then add to creamed mixture gradually just until flour disappears.  Don't over mix. Add chocolate chips and nuts, and milk chocolate. Mix gently.

Place heaping spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets.  We use aluminum air-bake sheets or use parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 10 - 12 minutes. Let set for 2 minutes on sheet before removing to cool on paper towels or cooling rack. Makes 6-7 dozen.

Warning: These cookies won’t last long so store some in a ziplock bag and hide it in the freezer for yourself when you're really desperate!

You'll never go back to your old recipe. Promise!

In Hot Water

About a year ago I started drinking hot water like Gramsy used to. I don't know what made me try it but I love it! I've found that it takes the place of drinks with calories during the day, it keeps me warm and it tastes better than cold water. I Googled this phenomenon and found that it's actually the temperature of the water that changes my taste buds. Like, when I was pregnant, the only way I could drink milk was on ice. This week a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres show  suggested that we should start our day with a cup of hot water instead of coffee, tea, or juice. In his book, The Guru In You, Yogi Camerson Alborzian said we should be kind to our body and wake up slowly, instead of jolting it with caffeine or sugar. You should try a cup and let me know what you think.

Tri-Soup Supper

We got the family together for a Tri-Soup Supper yesterday. We made Cream of Broccoli, Potato  and Chicken Noodle soup for everyone to try which fit nicely in the Buffet Server I got for my birthday. Carol brought rolls and apple pie. No one wanted to vote on their favorite but I think I could have filled all three crock pots with Cream of Broccoli and most would have been happy. I doubled the Broccoli recipe but only made a single recipe of Potato and Chicken Noodle. The noodles started getting mushie after time in the crock pot but Tommy likes it that way. There was plenty left for everyone to take a bowl home. 

Veggie Bar

1 pkg Crescent rolls

1 – 8 oz cream cheese, at room temp

½ cup miracle whip

½ cup ranch dressing

½ cup each: broccoli, cauliflower, green/red pepper, crated carrot

Pat out rolls on cookie sheet. Do not stretch. Bake for 8 minutes at 400. Cool

Mix cream cheese, miracle whip, ranch dressing with mixer.

Spread over crust. Sprinkle with chopped vegetables. Press lightly.Cut into 2 inch squares.

Pasta Salad

1 lb. Rotini, cooked and cooled

1 red onion, chopped

1 green/red pepper, chopped

1 bunch broccoli, chopped

cubed cheese

salami & pepperoni

jar of salad supreme

Italian Dressing

Ranch Dressing, to taste

Salad Dressing

1 cup oil

1/3 cup vinegar

1 onion, chopped fine

1 tsp salt

1 tsp celery seed

2/3 cup sugar          

Oven Potatoes

4 - 5 potatoes, washed & dried, diced with skins on

COMBINE:

1/4 cup oil                                                   

Italian seasoning

garlic salt

seasoned salt

paprika

Combine oil and seasoning. Coat potatoes.  Arrange in  single layer on cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes.

Potato Soup

1 med. onion, chopped

1 celery rib, chopped

1 carrot, grated

1/2 cup margarine

1/4 cup flour

4 cups milk

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1 can kernel or creamed corn

bits of ham for flavor

8 cups potatoes, diced, cooked

1 tsp seasoned salt

Saute’ onion, celery, carrot, and ham in butter.  Stir in flour, add milk gradually.  Cook until thickened.  Add cheese soup, corn and cooked potatoes. Simmer on very low heat. Turn off, let set for 10 minutes. Serve.

Broccoli Salad

Make this popular summer Broccoli Salad with Marzetti's Slaw Dressing instead of the sauce recipe below.  It's so refreshing!

2-3 bunches broccoli

1 med. red onion

1/2 cup raisins or grapes

8 slices bacon, fried, crumbled

Dash of love

SAUCE: 
1 cup Marzetti's Slaw Dressing
or

1 cup mayonnaise                           

1/2 cup sugar

2 TBSP vinegar

Pour 1 cup of  Marzetti's Slaw Dressing and combine with all ingredients. Don't forget the love. Refrigerate a few hours or overnight.  

Cream of Broccoli Soup

1 large bunch fresh broccoli, chunks

1 small onion, chopped

1 small can chicken broth

2 cups milk

1/2 cup flour

1/2 stick butter

8 oz Velvetta cheese

salt, pepper to taste

Steam broccoli and onion in chicken broth for 8-10 minutes, covered. Make White Sauce with butter, flour, milk. (see below). Add white sauce to steamed broccoli.  Add chunks of cheese.  Simmer on low heat until cheese melts.   

Serve immediately. If cooks too long milk will curdle and broccoli will get too done.

May use cauliflower with carrots instead of onion.

White Sauce

I use white sauce for the Broccoli soup, scalloped potatoes, potato soup, chicken a la king.  It comes in handy for making hamburg or sausage gravy too.

First, melt 1/2 stick margarine in sauce pan. Add 1/2 cup flour. With a fork blend until all flour is 

gone.  This is the secret part -  Slowly add 2 cups milk while stirring vigorously with a whisk.  Stop adding milk periodically until mixture thickens then add more.  It’s sort of like trying to get the lumps out of a can of tomato soup.  Start with a little milk.  It’s easier to season the sauce with salt and pepper before adding it to the other items.

Fried Beets

Flour, salt and pepper canned, sliced beets.  Fry in skillet with oil until browned.

Fried Zuchinni Summer Squash

Slice zuchinni, summer squash, onion.  Fry in small amount of oil or Pam until tender. Season with salt & pepper.

Beer Battered Onion Rings

2 large onions

1 cup beer

1 cup flour

Mix beer and flour.  Coat onion rings.  Deep fry.

Can also use cauliflower, broccoli or squash.

Grilled Vegetables

Marinate yellow summer squash, zucchini and large onion slices in Italian salad dressing for several hours.  Grill.

Corn Casserole

This is a great side dish with Oven Chicken Fajita and Almost Homemade Spanish Rice!

1 can creamed corn

1 box Jiffy corn bread mix

3 tsp brown sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup green pepper, diced

1/4 cup onion, diced

2 TBSP butter

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Saute green pepper and onion in butter.  Mix corn bread mix with milk and egg.  Add onions and cheese.  Combine. Prepare casserole dish with Pam. Bake at 400 for 30 - 35 minutes. 

Easy Cheesy Potatoes

Another family favorite!

1- 1/2  bags frozen hash browns, thawed (approx 48 ounces)

2 TBSP butter

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

1 small onion, diced

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or mix cheddar and Monterey Jack
sprinkle with love

Saute' onions in butter.  Mix all ingredients together.  Bake uncovered in 13 x 9 dish at 350 for 45 - 60 minutes. Check with fork and continue baking if potatoes are not completely tender.

Hearty Beef Crescent Pie

1 ¼ lbs ground beef

1/3 cup onion, chopped

¼ cup green pepper

14 oz can tomato sauce

4 oz can mushrooms, drained

14 oz can green beans

¼ tsp cumin

¼ tsp garlic salt

¼ tsp salt

1 can refrigerated crescent rolls

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

Paprika

In large pan brown ground beef, onion & green pepper. Drain fat. Stir in tomato sauce, green beans, mushrooms, cumin, and garlic salt. Simmer.

Separate crescent rolls. Place in 9 inch pie pan; press together over bottom and up sides to form crust.  Combine egg and 1 cup of cheese; spread over crust. Spoon hot mixture into crust. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and paprika. 

Bake at 375˚ for 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 – 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

2 cups uncooked macaroni

1 TBSP onion, finely chopped (optional)

¼ cup butter, melted

¼ cup flour

2 cup milk

2 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Make White Sauce with butter, flour and milk, add cheese, stir until melted. Make sure white sauce is thin by adding a little more milk. Cook macaroni, drain then add all ingredients in 9 x 13 casserole, use Pam spray. Bake at 325˚ for 35 - 45 minutes.

Mexican Rice

1 jar salsa

1 cup rice

1 cup water

Tabasco sauce

Heat salsa and water.  Add rice and a few drops Tabasco.  Cook to rice directions.  Let set for 10 minutes to soak liquids.

Also serve sweetened corn casserole, refried beans and fried ice cream for dessert.  Make frozen margaritas and you’ll feel like you’re at Chi Chi’s

Country Breakfast Pie

1 pkg Jimmy Dean sausage

9 inch pie shell

1 + 1/2 cups grated Swiss cheese

1/4 cup green and1/4 cup red pepper, chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup light cream

Note about pie shell: I tried the refrigerated Pillsbury brand and like it much better than a frozen pie shell. I used my own 9 inch glass pie pan. We measured a 9 inch frozen pie shell and the outer edges were barely 9 inches. That's why I always had left over filling when using the frozen shell. But the best, of course, is to make your own fresh pie crust.

Cook sausage until done.  Crumble, then drain.  Mix cheese with sausage.  Sprinkle in pie shell.  Combine eggs with other ingredients.  Pour into pie shell. Bake at 375˚ for 40 to 45 minutes.  Cool slightly.

Chicken Fajitas

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

marinade                                           

1 green pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

taco sauce

4 flour tortillas

cheddar cheese, shredded

Cut chicken into 1/2 inch strips - 2 inches long.  Marinated for 2 hours.

Brown chicken, green pepper and onion in butter until chicken is done. Add taco sauce until coated. Simmer 5 minutes.

 Warm flour tortillas between damp paper towels in microwave for 45 seconds.  Place mixture in center of each tortilla. Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese.  Fold tortilla. Serve with sour cream.

White Sauce

I use white sauce for the Broccoli soup, scalloped potatoes, potato soup, chicken a la king.  It comes in handy for making hamburg or sausage gravy too.

First, melt 1/2 stick margarine in sauce pan. Add 1/2 cup flour. With a fork blend until all flour in gone.  This is the secret part.  Slowly add 2 cups milk while stirring vigorously with a whisk.  Stop adding milk periodically until mixture thickens then add more.  It’s sort of like trying to get the lumps out of a can of tomato soup.  Start with a little milk.  It’s easier to season the sauce with salt and pepper before adding it to the other items.

Chicken A la King

2 chicken breasts

1 can chicken broth

1 can mushrooms

1 cup diced carrots, cooked

1 cup frozen peas

White Sauce

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk
salt & pepper
Pinch of love

Tenderize chicken breasts by placing inside a gallon Ziploc bag and pounding with a meat tenderizer for a moment. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Season both sides with salt, pepper and chicken seasoning. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cut into 1 inch cubes.

Cook carrots with 1 TBSP water in the microwave for 7 minutes. In a large sauce pan, bring chicken broth to a boil add cook sliced carrots, cubed chicken, frozen peas and mushrooms. Add the White Sauce last (see recipe below). Simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Serve over cooked noodles.

White Sauce

In a sauce pan melt butter. Add flour and incorporate with butter. Add half of milk, stir constantly with wire whisk until thick, then add remainder of milk. Stir until thickened again. Add salt and pepper.

Slow-Cooked Pepper Steak

2 lbs. beef round steak

2 Tbsp cooking oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 chopped onion

1 chopped green pepper

1 tsp. sugar

 salt, pepper

1 can Italian seasoned diced tomatoes

1/2 cup water

1 envelope stew sauce

Cut beef in 1 x 3 inch strips; brown in oil.  Add all other ingredients in crock pot with meat.  Cook 5 - 6 hours.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Tender Chicken Breasts

Coat skinless, boneless chicken breasts with flour, salt, pepper.  Fry in oil until lightly browned.  Place in crock pot with 1/2 cup water.  Sprinkle with rosemary.  Cook on high 4 - 5 hours.

Serve with:  mashed potatoes, boiled red skinned potatoes, cheese potatoes, rice, or noodles cooked in chicken broth.

Easy Lasagna

1 - 15 oz jar spaghetti sauce                      

1 lb. ground beef

1 - 4 oz jar mushrooms

2 eggs

1 ½ cup cottage cheese

1 Tbsp. parsley flakes

9 uncooked lasagna noodles

8 oz mozzarella cheese, grated

 Brown ground beef; drain. Add sauce and mushrooms; heat. Mix eggs, cottage cheese, parsley in bowl.  In 13 x 9 inch pan Place 3 uncooked noodles; spread 1 cup sauce and half egg mixture, some mozzarella cheese.  Repeat layers 2 more times.  Pour 3/4 cup hot water in each corner of dish.  Cover with foil.  Bake 1 ½   hr at 375˚

Mexican Lasagna

1 ½ lbs ground beef

1 jar salsa

1 can diced Italian tomato

1 packet taco seasoning

1 packet ranch dressing

1 median onion

1 cup sweet corn

1 red pepper

Taco sauce

Cumin

Brown meat, then add all other ingredients, heat through. Cut 4 tortillas in half. Layer meat mixture, then taco sauce. Repeat one more time.

Bake at 350˚ for 20 – 25 minutes.

Ham & Potato Casserole

6 - 8 potatoes

1 large onion

4 - 6 ham slices

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cup milk

salt, pepper

Peel 6 - 8 potatoes, slice. cut onion into several wedges. Spray Pam in large glass baking dish.  Layer 1/2 of potatoes, 1/2 of the flour, 1/2 of the onions and a layer of ham. Then repeat with remaining ingredients. Add milk, slices of butter, salt and pepper. Cover and bake at 375˚ for 1 ½  hours.  You could also cut ham into cubes and toss ingredients before baking.

Spinach Noodle Casserole

Beautiful green noodles
cooked in chicken broth

2 large cans tuna or chicken

½ stick butter

1 cup red pepper, diced

1 cup celery, diced

1 cup onion, diced

8 oz cheddar cheese, grated

6 oz jar olives, sliced

1 small can mushrooms

2 – 6 oz bags spinach noodles

4 cups chicken broth

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Sauté’ diced vegetables in butter.  Cook noodles in chicken broth until done. Reserve  about 1 cup of broth when draining.  Add all ingredients together in large bowl, mix gently. Add some reserved broth if it seems dry.

Bake at 350˚ for 40 - 50 minutes or until hot through center.

Meatloaf

2 lbs ground beef

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 cup crushed saltine crackers

1 large can tomato sauce

1 med. onion, chopped

salt, pepper, 

oregano, 1/2 tsp

garlic, 1 tsp diced

3 TBSP brown sugar

Crush crackers, place in small bowl, cover with milk, allow crackers to soak up milk.  Mix all ingredients.  Add 1/2 can of tomato sauce. Form into 2 small loaves in roasting pan (I use blue roaster). Pour remaining tomato sauce on top of loaves.  Bake at 350˚ for 1 ½  hours.

Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

Look what I found in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator! We made this cookie dough for the Christmas Cookie Baking Bash.  I know, cookies should be abolished in the New Year but this cookie is an exception because it contains oatmeal, raisins and walnuts, which cancels out the butter, sugar and flour. Right?

1 ½ cups butter (3 sticks) room temp
2 cups brown sugar
2 large eggs

2 cups flour

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup coconut

1 cup chopped walnuts

½ cup raisins

Cream together brown sugar and butter. Add eggs. Stir in flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder. Add Vanilla, oats, coconut, walnuts, raisins.  Divide dough in 1/2 place each part in a gallon ziplock baggie and pat down to 1 inch thick. Refrigerate 3 –  or more  hours. 

Cut cold dough into squares

Place on cold cookie sheet

Cookie will look raw until cooled.

Cut cold dough into 1 inch chunks. Use parchment paper on cookie sheet or use an aluminum air-bake cookie sheet. Bake 10 – 12 minutes at 350°,  will look glossy in the center. Allow cookies to set for 2 minutes on the hot cookie sheet to finish baking. Then move cookies to cooling rack.

Mexican Pinwheels

2 – 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

½ cup salsa

1 can black olives, chopped finely

1 bunch green onion, chopped finely

1 envelope Ranch Dressing Mix

1 package flour tortilla

Mix ingredients, spread on each tortilla, roll and refrigerate. Slice ½ inch thick.

Comfort Food

I just returned from having out patient surgery (nothing serious) and thought I'd better post this blog before the lidocaine wears off. Every time we passed fast food coming home, Richard asked if I wanted him to stop. I wasn't interested. But when we got home and I looked at all the leftovers I suddenly knew what I wanted...Katie's new Chicken Noodle Soup. We had the baked chicken from my experiment with Miracle Whip and Ritz crackers, enough celery and the most important ingredient, one can of vegetable broth. I sauted' the onion and celery, opened the cans of broth, all while keeping my left arm close to my side. Now, it's simmering while the carrots get tender. Noodles will be added in a few minutes. I can smell it already.
I know I'll be thinking about the hot soup every time I apply the ice pack!

Buckeyes

3 + 2/3 cups powdered sugar

1 ½ cup peanut butter

½ cup margarine, softened

1 tsp vanilla

½ tsp salt

Chocolate for candy making                                                                                                      

Tommy taste-testing Buckeyes, 1992

Blend peanut butter, powdered sugar, margarine, vanilla and salt. Shape into ½ inch ball. Place chocolate in glass dish and microwave 20-30 seconds at a time til melted. Keep checking and stirring so it doesn’t burn.  Insert wooded toothpicks into candy ball then dip ¾ of the ball into chocolate. Place on waxed paper until set. Remove wooden toothpicks and smooth over holes. Place in small paper bonbon cups, if desired.  Makes about 8 dozen.