It's been quite a while since I've posted on the blog - no promises, but I'd like to get back at it.  I will start with this one

The Grandkid's Favorite Chocolate Cake

1 3/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup shortening

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup water

Bake @ 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes

Fudge Marshmallow Topping

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 cube butter

1/2 cup canned milk

bring to a boil

add 1 1/3 cup chocolate chips

after the cake is removed from the oven and while still hot - cover with miniature marshmallows and top with hot topping.

It always tastes better if you make it a day ahead and let it sit (the cake gets moister)

My mom gets requests from the Grandkids for this one & we adult kids love it too!!

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats

I never seem to have marshmallows around the house when I want a rice crispy treat - here is the solution from and old Grays Lake recipie book with a new twist.

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
by Linda Stoor

1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
1 cup peanut butter
7 cups Rice Crispies
chocolate chips (optional)

Bring the sugar and Karo syrup to a boil - quickly stir in the peanut butter and then the rice crispies.  We like to melt a layer of chocolate chips in a fancy Demarle mold & then spread the treats over that.  We cool it & it is pretty cool looking!  If you don't have one of the fancy molds, just put it in a 9x13 pan & spread some melted chocolate chips over the top.  So easy & good!

Creamy Jalapeno Dip

16 oz [light] sour cream

1 packet Ranch dip mix

2-3 large jalapenos, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced 

1/3 cup chopped, fresh cilantro
Juice of a lime

Milk, optional

Mix the first 6 ingredients together. Use the milk to thin the dip to whatever consistancy you desire. I added maybe a couple of tablespoons. Serve with tortilla chips. Simple. Easy. Delish.

Sour Cream Noodle Bake!

I made this a few weeks ago for my family. Its super yummy!

I can just taste it looking at the picture! 

You should give it a try :)

Ingredients

• 1-¼ pound Ground Chuck
• 1 can 15-ounces Tomato Sauce
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Ground Red Pepper
• 8 ounces, weight Egg Noodles
• ½ cups Sour Cream
• 1-¼ cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese
• ½ cups Sliced Green Onions (less To Taste)
• 1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown hamburger in a large skillet. Drain fat, then add tomato sauce. 1/2 teaspoon salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.

Cook egg noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add to noodles and stir. Add green onions and stir.

To assemble, add half of the noodles to a baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheddar. Repeat with noodles, meat, then a final layer of cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until all cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Make sure you add plenty of Ground Red Pepper...it makes it sooo much better! :)   ~Megan~

Bread

It's not fancy, but I finally have a recipe to make good bread in Wayan.  I don't know how all the elevation stuff works ( we are at about 6500 ft.), but this is the best for me.

1/3 cup yeast
6 cups hot water
1 cup sugar
combine and let the yeast start working

1 cup canola oil
1 cup powdered milk
3 T. salt
warm the oil & then add the milk & salt

Combine them both in my Bosch mixer & add flour until the dough pulls away from the edge of the bowl.  It is anywhere from 12-15 cups.  I let it rise several times - more if we have scones, which is 90% of the time.  I have to keep chasing the boys around home away from the dough.  Bake @ 325 for 40 min.

Looks like this right out of the oven,

then we butter the top - because mom always did it - right?

slice it up,

...and even more butter - Yum!

Baking Powder Biscuits

Baking Powder Biscuits
from Mary Sibbett

2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
5 T. shortening
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup milk

Sift together in a bowl, baking powder, flour, salt, and sugar.  Add shortening and cut in flour mixture until fine and add milk(should be moist).  Drop by onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 for 10 minutes.

Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies


2 cups shortening
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups sour cream
1 T. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. soda
8 cups flour

Beat eggs.  Add other ingredients.  Roll out about 1/4 inch thick.  Bake at 400 until just golden around the edge.