Share some of your recipes here!

[Rachel-Eyes]

I've started a new project involving the recipes my grandmother collected through the years and MS Word... that's right! I'm typing up all of her recipes and compiling them in one easy-to-use booklet to pass around the family! Because of this, I'm very much in a recipe mood. I've even decided to start a book of some of my own that I've tried.

So I just want to know... what's cooking in YOUR kitchen? 

(Before we get started, I wanted to drop a unit conversion calculator here so everyone can enjoy these recipes. )

Here are some favorites. I don't have all of them typed up yet, so I may add more that sound interesting. The oldest ones date back to 1955, so she's been collecting these a long time and there are so many!



Monkey Bread

Spoiler

My cousin made this in first grade and got the recipe from her teacher. This is a good one to make with little kids! We had so much fun making this together on Saturday mornings way back when. It's really easy too!

"Canned: Buttermilk biscuits

Butter, melted

Cinnamon- 2-3 teaspoons
Sugar- 1-2  cups

Tear biscuits into quarters. Roll in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. Drop in layers in any pan.

Bake 10-15 minutes at 350."

Sugar Cookies

Spoiler

We make these every year for Christmas. This is another good one to make with children- spread flour over a table or other flat surface, roll out with a rolling pin, and use cute cookie cutters to make holiday shapes. We also decorate these with cream cheese-based icing mixed with food coloring, and sprinkles! Leave these out for Santa- I can tell you from experience that he's a big fan!

"Sift together:
2 cups flour and 2 Tablespoons
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon soda
½ teaspoon salt

Blend together:
2/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg beaten
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine and chill for 2 hours.

Bake at 325 for 9 ½ minutes."

Million Dollar Fudge

Spoiler

I don't think we've ever tried this one yet, actually, but it sounds so good that I have plans to do so this week.

"1 16oz Hershey Chocolate bar
2 6oz packages chocolate bits
1 jar marshmallow cream
4 ½ cups sugar
1 large can evaporated milk
1 stick margarine
2 cups nut pieces

Break up Hershey bar in small pieces and combine with chocolate bits, nuts, and marshmallow cream in large bowl. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, evaporated milk, and margarine. Cook at high heat, stirring constantly until mixture starts to boil. Boil for 5 minutes only. Pour hot mixture over other ingredients in bowl. Stir by hand until chocolate is melted. Pour onto large buttered cookie sheet to cool, then cut in squares."

Italian Spaghetti with Meatballs

Spoiler

She made this one a lot when we were little. Mmmmm. I have this weird memory of setting some aside to "feed" to my toys.

"1 ½ lb ground beef
½ cup fine bread crumbs
1 slightly beaten egg
¼ cups grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup warm water
1 ½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon basil
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 12oz 2 ½ cup can tomato sauce
1 6oz can tomato paste
¼ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon anice(?) seed (I can't actually read the writing here...)
18oz spaghetti

Combine meat with next 7 ingredients, and form about 36 1-inch balls. In large skillet, brown meat slowly in small amount of cooking oil. Add remaining ingredients except spaghetti. Simmer uncovered (don’t boil), stirring occasionally 1 ½ to 2 hours. Leave meatballs over spaghetti, then serve.

Parmesan cheese."

Mmmpossible Cheeseburger Pie

Spoiler

Clipped from a magazine under an ad for Bisquick. I don't think we've tried this either, but it looks really good.

"1 lb ground beef
1-1/2 cups chopped onion
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¾ cup Bisquick baking mix
1-1/2 cups milk
3 eggs
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 cup shredded cheddar or processed American cheese

Heat oven to 400.

Grease pie plate, 10x1-1/2”. Cook and stir beef and onion in 10” skillet until beef is brown; drain. Stir in salt and pepper; spread in plate.

Beat Bisquick, milk and eggs with wire whisk or hand beater until almost smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into plate.

Bake 25 minutes. Top with tomatoes and cheese. Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, 5 to 8 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Garnish with lettuce.

6-8 servings."

Cornflake Chicken

Spoiler

I'm planning on making this one for my boyfriend for Valentine's day. I know it seems odd to do something this simple, but he's extremely picky and only really eats chicken, bread, and potatoes, so I thought I'd try something unique that he may like. If he doesn't like it (inevitable with picky eaters), then frozen chicken strips it is!

"4 skinless chicken breasts, flattened
1 cup crushed corn flakes
¼ teaspoon of pepper
¼ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of poultry seasoning

Combine seasoning and flakes

Place on baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes."

Champagne Salad

Spoiler

This is another one that I don't think she ever made, though it looks so good that I will probably try this on my own.

"Cream together ½ to 2/3 cups sugar and 8 oz cream cheese. Mix in 1 large carton of Cool Whip. Then add 1 cup sliced strawberries, 1 cup drained crushed pineapple, and 2 diced bananas. Mix well and pour into container to freeze. (Double the recipe for 9x13.) Cover tightly with saran wrap and foil or in plastic container with lid.

Thaw 30 minutes before serving.

Note: Bananas do not discolor!"

I think that's enough for tonight, but when I come across some other interesting ones, I will be sure to post them!

Please share some of yours too. I'm going to fill up my book with everything that you guys mention, and write your usernames with it along with the date. I'm pretty excited about this! I love to cook.

[kaoskat]

That sounds awesome! Good luck with your book!

[ponylady]

I just made this for the first time this weekend for a pot luck. I must say it was easy and down right delicious. 

Spoiler

Twinkie Cake

Ingredients:
1 box of Twinkies
4 Bananas, peeled and sliced
1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapples (drained well)
1 box (3 oz.) Instant Vanilla Pudding
2 cups cold milk
1 tub (8 oz.) Whipped Topping, thawed
Maraschino cherries and chopped nuts, for topping

Directions:
Remove Twinkies from the wrappers. You'll use about 7 Twinkies.
Although, I think I've made this a few times before where I ended up using 8. Must've been the way I sliced them.
Place sliced Twinkies in a 9 x 13 pan, cream side up.

Next, layer sliced bananas on top of Twinkies.

Now spread the crushed pineapples on top of the bananas.

In a separate bowl, combine instant pudding mix with 2 cups of cold milk. Whisk it together until combined and allow it to thicken slightly. It should take 3-5 minutes. You want it just a bit thickened, but still pourable.

Pour pudding over crushed pineapple. Spread it out so it is evenly coated.

Now spread the whipped topping over the pudding layer.

This next part is optional (but I think it makes it look pretty).
Drain a few maraschino cherries on a paper towel.

Sprinkle chopped nuts on top of cake. Then place a few cherries on top.

Cover and store cake in the fridge. Let it set for about an hour before serving.

Cook's Note: If you cannot find Twinkies where you live or you want to try another variation, you can always use sliced pound cake or sponge cake for the bottom layer.
Enjoy!

[AnnaPommes]

well, my granny used to make this redwine sauce with apples! it goes well to meat with noodles or potatoes or rotkohl and whatnot. ^^

basically, you just put small cutted onionpieces in the pan with some honey (i use a big spoonfull) and heat it until the oniond become slightly transparent. oh, put rosemary in it with the onions! i use a lot.
when they are transparent, pour in some red wine and balsamico with broth (the kind you like).(add in some small cut apples here)
let it cook down until it is just one thirt left. then taste it and season with pepper, salt and honey. when it tastes right, you put in something to thicken the sauce, like starch. finished!

we usually eat it with chicken, turkey or duck. ^^ and my favorite are these flat broad noodles. for the apples, slightly sour apples are the best. (yummy)

[melodys_angel]

Lately its just been simple things..but we were just talking about my salad so..

Typical Italian style salad dressing--

Note that I don't measure anything..I eyeball it.  Ive done it long enough to just know.  This is something my nonna would typically do.  I don't have her recipie but I can get mine tasting darn well near hers if not identical

1 part vinegar (rice (what I believe my nonna uses), red wine, balsamic and apple cider all work well here)
2 parts extra virgin olive oil (the good stuff)
salt..usually about a tsp but its to your taste.  Taste the mixture and see if it needs more.
1 clove garlic, crushed (optional, I rarely use garlic because I cant have it)
oregano, usually about a tbs but again, to your taste.  I typicaly go heavy handed >D

Combine and mix well.  You should beable to taste the vinegar kick clearly.  To be used as a salad dressing, a marinade or to base/cook in.

ETA--also works as a great bread dipping sauce!

[Rachel-Eyes]

Thanks so much for your input guys! All of those sound delicious. I can't wait to try them!