About 5 dozen large cookies.
- 3/4 cup butter, not margarine
- 3/4 cup shortening (143 grams)
- Whip butter and shortening just until fluffy.
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar (325 grams)
- 3/4 cup white sugar (150 grams)
- Blend sugars in gradually.
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 t vanilla (more doesn’t hurt)
- Blend in until smooth.
- 3 3/8 cups flour (435 grams)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- Combine separately and then mix in.
- 2 to 3 cups chocolate chips, perhaps a combination of semi-sweet, milk, and white chips
- Mix in gradually.
- Drop hunks of dough in desired sizes on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes at 375F.
If you must use margarine, use 1 1/2 cups and no shortening.
Sugar measurements are approximate. You can shift the balance between white and brown sugar. You can cut the brown sugar to about 3/4 cup, make the difference up in white sugar, and add about 2 tablespoons molasses. Or, use about 1 cup dark brown sugar and 1 1/4 cups white sugar.
Posted December 29, 2010 by Brenda. Filed under Sauces | tagged pecans
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
- 3/4 cups corn syrup
- 3 Tblsp flour
- 5 ounces evaporated milk
- Toast pecans (300F for 15 min.)
- Melt butter.
- Add brown sugar, corn syrup and flour.
- Boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Cool to lukewarm.
- Gradually stir in evaporated milk and pecans.
- Serve warm.
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 9 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups cocoa, sfited
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Heat cream in butter, bring to a boil. Add sugars, stirring until dissolved.
- Cool for 5 minutes. Add sifted cocoa and salt. Whisk until smooth.
- Keep warm in double boiler until ready to serve.
Posted December 28, 2010 by Brenda. Filed under Appetizers
- 2 12 oz jars Heinz chili sauce
- 32 oz grape jelly
- 1 bag meatballs ( 80 – 96, plain or italian)
- Combine sauce and jelly. Add to meatballs in crockpot. Cook until hot.
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- 1 stick butter
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Line a 13″x9″ pan with foil. Set oven to 350°.
- Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
- Melt butter. Stir brown sugar into butter. Stir in eggs and vanilla.
- Stir flour mixture into butter mixture. Spread in pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and press in slightly.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Cool before cutting.
Posted November 26, 2010 by Brenda. Filed under Breads
- 3 ounces mild or sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons sliced scallion greens
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 box (8 ½ oz) cornbread mix
- 1/3 cup skim milk
- 1 egg
- ½ cup frozen kernel corn
- 2-3 drops hot pepper sauce
- vegetable oil spray
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Melt butter and place in medium bowl. Add cornbread mix, milk and egg, stirring just until evenly blended. Do not overstir. Stir in cheese, scallions, corn and hot pepper sauce. Spray a pie plate with vegetable oil spray and spread mixture evenly in the pie plate.
- Bake 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5-10 minutes before slicing.
- Yields 8 servings.
From my friend Cathy Cozens:
- 3 lb ground beef
- 2 cans (28oz ea) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 cans (15oz ea) kidney, pinto or black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 lb smoked kielbasa, sliced and halved
- 2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 cans (8oz ea) tomato sauce
- 2/3 cup hickory flavored barbeque sauce
- 1½ cups water
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 3 bell peppers, seeded and sliced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon sage
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- In dutch oven, brown beef, drain; add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.
- Yields 20-24 servings.
Posted November 26, 2010 by Brenda. Filed under Desserts
- 1 cup coffee
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 T cream
- 1 T butter
- 1/8 t salt
- ¼ t cream of tartar
- ½ t almond extract
- ½ t cinnamon
- Boil coffee and sugar. Remove from heat and add cream, butter, cream of tartar and salt. Bring back to a boil. Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Remove cover and cook to 240F. Remove from heat and cool to 110F. Add almond extract and cinnamon. Beat until thick and quickly turn into a buttered dish.
Posted November 26, 2010 by Brenda. Filed under Beverages
- 3 quarts water
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups strong tea
- 12 oz frozen lemonade, thawed
- 2 quarts cranberry juice
- 1 quart apple juice
- 2 cups orange juice
- Heat water and sugar to boiling, until sugar is dissolved. Cool.
- Prepare tea using 1 Tbsp loose tea or 3 tea bags and 2 cups boiling water. Cool. Refrigerate all ingredients.
- Just before serving, mix in large punch bowl.
- 60 servings, about ½ cup each.
Posted November 26, 2010 by Brenda. Filed under Desserts | tagged lemon
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 ½ teaspoons gelatin
- 6 large eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup lemon juice (or orange juice, or lime juice)
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest (or orange, or lime)
- ½ cup sugar
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a small bowl. Set aside until the gelatin softens.
- Separate the eggs whites into a bowl for whipping and the yolks into the top of a double boiler (not on the heat yet!). Whisk ¾ cup sugar into the yolks. Then whisk in the lemon juice and zest.
- Put the yolk mixture over moderately bubbling water and cook, whisking continuously about 6 to 8 minutes, until it reaches 170ºF. It should get foamy and thicken somewhat, nearly tripling in volume.
- Remove the pan from the double boiler, add the softened gelatin, and stir until the gelatin has dissolved. Pour into a 2- to 3-quart mixing bowl, and set over a larger bowl of ice water, whisking occasionally until the mixture becomes syrupy and cooler than room temperature (about 6 minutes).
- Beat the eggs whites until foamy. Gradually add the ½ cup sugar. Whip until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Whisk the cooled lemon mixture until it is smooth. Fold about 1 cup of the meringue into the lemon mixture. Then fold in the remaining meringue. Pour into cups or bowls. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.
- For garnishing, I liked using a small dollop of whip cream with a tiny wedge of lemon (or orange, or lime).