Good Cake or (Raisin Cupcakes) and Butterscotch Frosting

Recipe via Mom

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 - 3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp nutmeg
2 cups raisins

Boil raisins 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup juice from raisins
Cream butter and sugar.
Add eggs
Add dry ingredients alternately with juice from raisins
Bake @ 350^o

This recipe can be made as a cake or as cupcakes.

Frost with Butterscotch Frosting

Butterscotch Frosting

Recipe via: Mom

Melt slowly:
   1/2 cup brown sugar
   6 TBSP butter
Add:
   1/3 cup milk

Boil for 2 minutes

Add:
   1 1/2 cups icing sugar
   1/2 tsp vanilla
   1/4 tsp salt

(might want to double for cake)

Mom's Dumplings

Recipe via Mom Pallett

2 cups of white flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 tbsp. soft margarine or butter (optional)
1 cup of milk (or more)
1 tbsp parsley flakes if desired


Method:
1.Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

2.Cut in butter that's been kept at room temperature or use soft margarine.

3.Stir milk lightly into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon and adjust amounts to make sure that you have a moist dumpling dough.
 4. Drop by tablespoonfuls on top of boiling meat or vegetables, not in the liquid. Cook with lid on for 15 minutes. Do not remove the cover until dumplings are done.
With a slotted spoon remove dumplings to heated bowl or plate.

Dumpling Cooking Tips
•Make sure your soup or stew is on a gentle simmer. The liquid does not have to be boiling to achieve tender dumplings. Remember that pot temperature rises with the lid on and you don't want the contents to stick and burn.

•Drop dumpling dough into the liquid by teaspoonfuls or for larger dumplings use a tablespoon. There's no need to worry about shaping perfect dumplings because they will puff up as they cook. Cover your pot with a lid so that the dumplings can steam.

•Check your dumplings after 10 minutes. You can use a knife to cut a slit in one dumpling to check inside.

Cook until dumplings are no longer raw in the middle. You are now ready to serve your chicken and dumplings or soup and dumplings. Ladle into serving bowls, including a dumpling or two per bowl.

If you like a little sweet with your meat, add:

Raisin Dumplings
•1/2 cup of raisins
•1 tsp chopped onion
•1 tbsp. chopped pecans

Sweet Drop Dumplings
These dumplings go well with beef dishes
•1/4 cup of raisins
•1/4 cup of apples
•dash of cinnamon

For Chicken or Turkey Dishes, add Peaches or Mangos to Your Dumpling Recipe
•1/4 cup of raisins
•1/4 cup of chopped peaches or mangos

Steamed dumplings are a wonderful compliment to homemade soups and stews, adding extra wholesomeness, texture, and taste. The next time you're wondering what to serve with that chicken dish or beef stew, pop some dumplings "under the hood" for hearty, down-home goodness

24 Hour Fruit Salad

Recipe via Mom Pallett

Custard:
Put in top of double boiler:
     2 eggs
     4 TBSP sugar
     2 TBSP butter
     4 TBSP lemon juice

Cook and stir till mixt ure forms a custard
Cool

Whip:
     1 small whipping cream
Fold into custard

Drain fruit:
     2 cups crushed pineapple
     1 large can fruit cocktail

Mix frut with
     2 cups minature marshmallows (colored)
     2 sliced bananas

Fold fruit mixture into custard / whipping cream mixture

Whole Wheat Carrot Bran Muffins

Recipe via Mom Pallett
These are just the best muffins - very moist

In a large bowl mix together:
     1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
     1 tsp salt
     1 1/2 tsp baking soda
     1 1/2 cup bran
     1 tsp cinnamon
     1/2 tsp nutmeg

In another bowl mix together:
     1 1/2 cups milk
     2 TBSP vinegar
     1/4 cup molasses
     1/3 cup honey
     1 cup grated carrots
     2 eggs
     1/4 cup oil
     1/2 cup raisins or craisins
     nuts is desired

Make a well in dry ingredients and add wet ingredients - mix just until moistened - DO NOT OVERBEAT
Fill muffin cups 2/3 full
Bake 375* for 20 minutes
Makes 24 muffins

Fruited Muffins

Recipe via Mom Pallett, Company's Coming - Muffins

Dry Ingredients:
Measure into a large bowl and mix together:
     2 cups flour
     1 tsp baking powder
     1 tsp baking soda
     3/4 tsp salt
     1 tsp cinnamon
     1/2 cup rainsins (optional)
     1/2 cup glazed mixed fruit (deluxe - without the peel) cut into small
      pieces

Make a well in the center

Cream together:
     1/2 cup butter
     3/4 cup sugar
     1 egg

Mix in:
     1 cup buttermilk
     1/2 tsp vanilla

Pour wet mixture into well of dry ingredients.  Stir just enough to moisten. Batter will be lumpy.
Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full
Bake in 400* oven for 20 - 25 minutes

Wait 5 minutes for easier removal of muffins
Makes 18 muffins

Vanilla Glaze if desired:
Mix enough water or milk with 3/4 cup icing sugar to make a runny glaze - drizzle over muffins

Sweet and Sour Ribs

Recipe via Mom Pallett
Brown spare ribs

Sauce:
2 TBSP soya sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar

OR

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
3/4 cup vinegar
2 cups chopped onion
1/2 bottle ((1 cup) ketchup
salt to taste
2 TBSP cornstarch
1 TBSP soya sauce
Lemon juice

Mix and bring to a boil

Caramel Chews

Recipe via Mom
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped nuts
confectioners sugar

Cream melted butter, add eggs - blend well - add vanilla
Mix flour and baking powder and salt - blend into butter sugar mixture
Fold in coconut and nuts
Bake in square pan @ 350* for 40 minutes
Cut in squares while hot
Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Cornflake Cake

Recipe via Mom Pallett

Boil together until it reaches soft boil stage when dropped in cold water:
     1 cup white sugar
     1 cup corn syrup
     1 cup cream

Pour above mixture over:
     1/2 pkg corn flakes
     1/3 small pkg rice krispies
     1 cup coconut
     1 cup salted peanuts

Mix well
Put into large buttered pan
Press down and cool

Chilli

Recipe via Mom Pallett

Brown ground beef

Blend:

     1 can tomatoes

     1 can tomato paste

     1 can tomato soup

     2 TBSP brown sugar

     1 TBSP vinegar

Add:

     2 - 3 cans kidney beans

     1 chopped onion

     chopped celery

     chopped green pepper (optional)

     garlic (chopped) to taste

     garllic powder

     salt

     pepper

     chili powder

     crushed dried chillies (optional)

     dash of hot sauce (optional)

Simmer on stovetop

Serve on toast or over baked potatoes with sour cream and grated cheese

Crunchy Chocolate Bars - Dad's Cookie Squares

Recipe Mom Pallett
I can never get enough of these ~ the filling is so silky and melts in your mouth

Crust:
     1 pkg Dad's Coconut cookies - crushed
     1/3 cup melted butter

Reserve half of the crumbs, pack remaining crumbs into 8 x 8 pan
Set in fridge while making filling

Filling:
Melt and Cool:
     1/2 cup butter
     3 squares semi-sweet chocolate
Add:
     1 beaten egg
Add:
     1 1/2 cups icing sugar (more if needed)
Beat and add:
     1 tsp vanilla
Beat until stiff
Add:
     1/2 cup chopped nuts

Pour on crust
Sprinkle reserved  crrumbs over mixture in pan
Chill well
Cut into fingers or bars
Best if kept refrigerated ~ Tastes great frozen too!
(double for a 9 x 12 pan)

Oatmeal Coconut Cookies

Recipe via Mom Pallett

Cream together:

     1 cup butter

     1 cup white sugar

     1 cup brown sugar

     2 tsp vanilla

Add:

     2 eggs

Mix into butter/egg mixture:
     2 cups flour
     1 tsp baking soda
     1 tsp baking powder
     1/2 tsp salt
     2 1/2 cups oatmeal
     1 1/2 cups coconut
     Smarties (optional)
     Walnuts chopped (optional)

Roll into balls and flatten with fork
Bake 350* until done

Peanut Butter Cookes

Recipe via Mom Pallett
Cream together:
     1 cup butter
     1 cup white sugar
     1 cup brown sugar

Add:
     2 eggs
     1 tsp vanilla

Add:
     3 cups flour
     2 tsp baking soda
     1/2 tsp salt

Mix in:
     1 cup peanut butter

Roll into balls and flatten with floured fork

Bake 10 minutes @ 375*

Dad's Cookies

Recipe via Mom Pallett

1 cup margarine
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup coconut

Cream sugar and margaring
Add egg, then rolled oats
Sift soda, flour, baking powder
Add to butter mixture ~ Mix well
Form into balls
With margaine on bottom of glass ~ dip in sugar and press (flatten) cookies
Bake @ 350* for 10 - 15 minutes

Caramel Chip Cake (Confetti Squares)

Recipe via Mom Pallett

We always had these squares for Christmas ~ it was tradition!!

Melt & cool:
     ½ cup butter
     2 pkg caramel chips (1 – 12 oz size)

Add:
     1 cup fine coconut
     1 cup chopped nuts
     1 cup peanut butter
     1 pkg colored miniature marshmallows

Mix & press into 9 x 12 pan
Refrigerate & cut into squares – Can freeze

Scalloped Potatoes

Recipe via Mom Pallett
White sauce:
Melt:
      1/4 cup butter
Stir in:
     1/4 cup flour
     2 TBSP chicken soup base (optional)
     1/2/ tsp salt
Mix until smooth

Add 2 cups milk

Boil until thick

Pour over sliced potatoes and onions
Grate 1/2 cup cheese and sprinkle on top (optional)
Bake 400* - 30 minutes
         300* - 1 1/2 hour
Does not curdle

Mom's Beef Stew

This one's for you Monica!
Recipe via Great Grandma Pallett
Stewing beef
Flour
Salt & Pepper to taste
Garlilc
Onions
Celery
Carrots
Potatoes
Peas
Water to cover

Cut stewing beef into bite size pieces
Put flour in bag – add stewing beef – shake to coat beef
Heat oil in pan
Add floured beef and onion and brown

Put browned beef mixture into pot or crockpot
Add celery, carrots, potatoes
Add water to cover
Simmer until done
Add peas at end

To make gravy:
    Mix flour and water and add to stew mix in to make gravy

Mom's Homemade Tomato Soup

Recipe via Grandma Pallett
1 quart milk
1 large can tomatoes
1/2 tsp soda
salt & pepper to taste
Simmer slowly for 2 hours - be careful not to curdle this soup


Variation  ~   Hearty Tomato Soup

Recipe via The Shepherds House
In heavy pot sauté until onion is golden:
Oil as needed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1- 2 stalks of celery, chopped (optional)
2 carrots, chopped

Add:
1 28-oz. can unsalted tomatoes (I mash with a potato masher)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
sprinkle of pepper
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon each oregano and basil
Add in to above mixture:
3 cups milk, hot
1 Tablespoon butter

Stir and enjoy!!

The original recipe adds in rice as well, which you can add if you would like. I think it also makes a great base for other soups. We have added in chicken and green beans and it was delicious too!