My Moms Doughnuts

A family tradition, One of many that I can remember vividly. Making oodles of doughnuts from a young girl on. I remember my brother helping and he was told not toss the doughnut in the fat fryer, Did he listen? You guessed it. No. He was burned by splatters and learned a lesson. So don't throw in the doughnuts, Just touch the oil with one tip and let go easy.

Moms Doughnuts
4 eggs beaten
1 TBSP. Vanilla
2 C. Sugar
6 TBSP. melted Shortening
2 C Milk
1 tsp salt
2 tsp Almond Extract
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Cardamom
5 tsp. baking powder
6-1/2 to 7 C Flour

Oil or crisco for frying

Mix all ingredients in the order given and spoon and turn unto floured board and toss in the flour till its just firm enough to handle and not sticky. roll to flatten and cut with a well floured double cutter. gather scrap and do it again.
Heat oil to 350 degrees F. Fry until brown on both sides. Turning once, Place on paper towels to drain. Tradition says turn them in sugar. We liked them plain.

We have made do with a glass and clean pill bottle for cutters especially with more workers than cutters.

And another tip the doughnut holes are good too and make a great snack. Enjoy.

Andes mints in cookies

I cannot even begin to tell you how heavenly this smells coming from the oven, Your whole house becomes minty fresh.
I took my favorite cookie recipe for Chocolate chip Cookies and added flair. First let me tell you the peeling of Andes mints can be tedious but worth it. Oh, and I know they make Andes chips(Not the same).
They were a refreshing change from the same old cookie.

Cranberry Almond Biscotti

4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 egg whites
4 eggs
4 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 tsp orange extract
1-1/2 cups sliced almonds
2 cups sweetened-dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

Combine dry ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl. Whisk together eggs, egg whites, and vanilla or almond extract in a separate mixing bowl.

Add egg mixture to dry ingredients, mixing just until moist, using an electric mixer on medium speed. Add dried cranberries and almonds; mix thoroughly. If Dough is to soft & sticky to add a little flour.

On floured surface, divide batter in 4 sections and pat each half into a log approximately 12 inches long and 2 inches thick. Place on a cookie sheet and bake 30 minutes or until firm. Cool on a wire rack.

Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Cut biscotti into 1/2 inch slices. I use an Electric knife for perfect slices. Place cut biscottis on a cookie sheet and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Let cool and store in a loosely covered container.

Chocolate Peppermint Cake

2 C. cake flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 C. shortening
1-1/4 C. sugar
1 egg unbeaten
3 ounces chocolate melted
1-2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 C sour Cream
3/4 C milk

Sift or gently wisk together flour, salt and soda. Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy, Add the egg beat well, then add the chocolate and vanilla and blend. Add 1/4 of the flour and beat well then add the sour cream and beat well. Add remaining flour and milk alternately in small amounts till gone.
Pour into greased pans (Layer Cake pans)and bake in moderate oven 350 degree for 30 mins.

Peppermint frosting between layers and over cake. Decorate with a border of chocolate flakes.
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Peppermint Frosting

1/4 C. crushed Peppermint Candy
1/2 C. milk
1 pound or box of powdered sugar

Heat milk and candy over hot water until melted add enough powdered sugar to make frosting thick enough to spread. Will cover tops and sides of 2 8" layers.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake

For Ann
Happy Birthday!

2 C. sifted cake flour
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 C. Shortening
1 C. sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
2 ounces chocolate melted
1/2 C. milk
1/2 C. sour cream
1-2 tsp. Vanilla

Wisk together gently the dry ingredients, Cream the shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and chocolate and beat thoroughly. Add flour mix alternately with the liquids in small amounts, beating well after each addition. Pour into a greased or sprayed with pam bundt pan bake in a moderate oven 350 degree oven for approx. 35-45 mins. or until tooth pick comes out clean. Cool slightly and turn out unto serving plate.

Drizzle the cake when cool with Chocolate Ganache Icing
For the ganache:
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 ounces good semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

For the ganache, cook the heavy cream, chocolate chips, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.

Serve with very Vanilla Ice Cream and Enjoy!

Norwegian Doughnuts

One of our family traditions, We would make close to a couple thousand doughnuts for friends and family. It was not surprising how many friends you have around the holidays with these. Excellent doughnuts for having with your coffee or tea. They are simple and plain, you can roll them in sugar or sprinkle powdered sugar over them, but I just like them plain. Yummm!

3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup whipping cream
2/3 cup 35 percent fat sour cream
3 cups flour
2 T. baking powder
1 tsp. cardamom
2 T. melted butter
shortening or oil for frying

Beat eggs and sugar until light and lemon-colored.
Whip cream and sour cream lightly together.
Sift the dry ingredients. Add alternately with melted butter and both creams to the egg mixture. Mix lightly together. Refrigerate overnight.
Roll the dough out and cut doughnuts. Re-roll again to cut remainder.
Heat the shortening or oil to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F). Deep fry, a few at a time, until golden, three to four minutes.

Norwegian Waffles for Dessert

Norwegian Waffles
2 c Sugar

5 Eggs

4 c To 4 1/2 cups flour

1 qt Buttermilk

1/2 ts Baking soda

1/2 c Whipping cream

1/4 c Margarine or Butter; melted

1 tsp. ground Cardamom


Beat together sugar and eggs. Alternately add flour and buttermilk. Stir in baking soda. Add whipping cream, then margarine. Stir in cardamom. Cook in heart-shaped waffle iron, At moderately hot temp. and use a light spray of non-stick cooking spray if necessary to keep from sticking. Every iron is different as well as every stove so just plan for two waffles to be testers. I usually burn my first one and then get the temp. right on the second one. Serve waffles with berry jam.

Waffles are not served for breakfast, but as a dessert with berry jam and whipped cream or ice cream rather than butter and syrup.

Rich Chocolate Brownies and Crème Anglaise Sauce

I recently catered an event with desserts only and this was part of the desserts I brought. Triple chocolate brownies, 3 kinds, Plain and don't let that mislead you. They are in no way shape or form just plain. Some with pecans and some with Walnuts. All have a wonderful richness that is only completed by an under lying blanket of Creme Anglaise sauce freshly made to order just for the event.

I also catered in 2 of my Blackberry Tapioca cobblers made only hours before the event for optimum freshness and goodness and by the way the Creme Anglaise could also marry very well with the cobblers too, as a few tried and raved about. 

Lemon Zucchini Bread~ Best Ever!

OMG, If you have Zucchini coming out year ears or have been given some of a surplus, This is the bread to make! It is moist and delicious with a delicate Lemon flavor. Yummmmmm!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3 Eggs
1 C. canola oil
1 1/2 C. sugar~ (Sugar can be reduced to 1 C.)
The juice and grated rind of 1 lemon
2 C. grated zucchini
3 1/4 C Flour
1 tsp. salt
1tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 C. Coconut
1 box of Lemon Instant pudding -(prepared as Directed)
1 C walnuts -Chopped
confectioners sugar as a sprinkle if desired.

Directions:
In a large bowl add eggs, oil, until mixed. Add sugar, lemon flavoring, Lemon Juice and rinds.
Mix.
Sift together baking powder, baking soda, flour, and salt.
blend with lemon mixture, Fold in coconut, Pudding mixture and nuts.

Bake 1 Hour Remove and cool. Batch has been tested for doubling and even tripling

This was from Three Renaissance cookbook By Dorothy Schetter

LOW FAT HONEY GRANOLA BREAD

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For the BREAD MACHINE - LOW FAT HONEY GRANOLA BREAD


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INGREDIENTS:
1 cup water -- plus 2 tablespoons
4 tablespoons applesauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons dry milk
3 cups bread flour
3/4 cup granola -- cereal
1 3/4 teaspoons yeast

DIRECTIONS:
Add ingredients according to manufacturer's instructions and
use basic cycle. This will yield a 1 1/2 lb loaf.



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Feta Chicken

Feta Chicken
Submitted by: Debbie

Photo by: FAITHFUL96 "Chicken wrapped around tomato-basil feta cheese - simple, succulent, and sensational."
Original recipe yield: 6 servings.
Prep Time:15 MinutesCook Time:30 MinutesReady In:45 MinutesServings:6 (change)

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INGREDIENTS:
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
6 ounces tomato basil feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup Italian-style dry bread crumbs, divided

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DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Place chicken breasts between 2 pieces of waxed paper. Gently pound chicken with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick; remove wax paper. Place 1 ounce of feta cheese in the center of each chicken breast, and fold in half.
Spread 2 tablespoons bread crumbs in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange chicken in the dish, and top with remaining bread crumbs.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Chocolate Caramel mini cheesecakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 18 minutes
(Makes 12 individual cheesecakes)



Ingredients

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 1/4 cups (7 1/2 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® SWIRLED Milk Chocolate & Caramel Morsels, divided
12 oz. cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup NESTLÉ CARNATION Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 large egg
3 tablespoons NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa
1 teapoon vanilla extract
Caramel ice cream topping

PREHEAT oven to 300º F. Paper-line 12 muffin cups.

COMBINE crumbs, sugar and butter in small bowl. Press rounded tablespoon of crumb mixture onto bottom of each cup. Divide 1/2 cup morsels between all cups.

BEAT cream cheese in small mixer bowl until fluffy. Add sweetened condensed milk, egg, cocoa and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Spoon 1/4 cup mixture into each cup.

BAKE for 18 to 20 minutes or until centers are set. Remove from oven to wire rack. While still warm, top cheesecakes with with remaining morsels. Morsels will soften but will retain shape. Cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

SERVE drizzled with caramel topping.

Courtesy of http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/

Enjoy!

Chicken Fried Chicken

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RECIPE: CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN

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INGREDIENTS:
30 saltine crackers
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dry potato flakes
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves


DIRECTIONS:
1. Place crackers in a large resealable plastic bag; seal
bag and crush crackers until they are coarse crumbs. Add
flour, potato flakes, seasoned salt, and pepper to bag
and mix well.
2. Beat egg in a shallow dish or bowl; heat oil in a large
skillet over medium high heat.
3. One by one, dredge chicken pieces in egg beat, then
place in bag with crumb mixture, seal bag and shake to
coat.
4. Reduce heat to medium and cook coated chicken in skillet
for 15 to 20 minutes, turning frequently, until golden
brown and juices run clear.


Yield: 6 servings.

Courtesy of http://www.thedailyrecipe.com

Basic Cake Mix

Basic quick Cake mix
There's a really good basic mix that is a starting point for
almost any kind of simple cake.

BASIC QUICK CAKE MIX

5 cups flour
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
1 1/4 cups oil

In a large mixing bowl, with a pastry blender, mix
ingredients until fine. Store in an airtight container or
plastic bag and use within 2 months. (Keep in refrigerator)

*VANILLA CAKE

4 cups Quick Mix for Cake
2 eggs, separated
1/3 cup water
2 teaspoons vanilla pinch salt 1/4 cup sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour 2 round cake pans or a 9x13x2-inch pan.

Pour 4 cups of Cake Mix into a large mixing bowl. Mix yolks
with 1/3 cup water and vanilla; beat well and stir into dry
mix in bowl. Beat egg whites until foamy and add salt and
sugar; beat until meringue forms stiff peaks. Fold beaten
egg whites into the cake batter.

Pour into pan(s) and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

This is courtesy of I'm Not Martha' blog
She has other homemade mixes there also.

Todays dessert Mmmmm Lemon Bars

INGREDIENTS:
crust
1 cup butter
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling
4 eggs, beaten until fluffy
2 cups sugar
5 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons grated lemon rind
Confectioners sugar for topping

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 300.
In a large bowl, cream together
butter and confectioners sugar; then blend in flour
and salt.
Press mixture down in a flat buttered cookie
pan. Bake at 300 for 20 minutes.

While crust is baking,
in a medium bowl blend together eggs, sugar, lemon
juice and rind. Pour over crust.
Raise temperature to 350
and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes at 350.
Remove from oven and let cool. When cooled, sprinkle
generously with additional powdered sugar.