Carol's Family Recipes

To Die For Apple Pie

INGREDIENTS

Two Pastries (make your own or use Pillsbury like me)
6 - 8 apples (I like crisp apples like gala) cored, peeled and diced
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons rum
2 tablespoons real butter

DIRECTIONS
Line a pie pan with one of the pastries.  In a bowl, mix apples, flour, cinnamon and sugar.  Pour into pie pan.  Add 2 tablespoons rum and butter.  Seal with top pastry.  Bake at 425 for about 40 - 50 minutes. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream.

Godchild Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

INGREDIENTS

Two Pastries (make your own or use Pillsbury like me)
1 1/4 cups sugar
4  tablespoons flour
2 cups diced rhubarb
2 cups hulled and diced strawberries
2 tablespoons real butter

DIRECTIONS

Line a pie pan with one of the pastries.  In a bowl, mix sugar and flour.  Mix in rhubarb and strawberries.  Pour into pastry shell. Add 2 tablespoons of butter. Seal with top pastry.  Bake at 425 for about 40 - 50 minutes. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream.

Jim's True Blue Beef Stew

INGREDIENTS

1 can Campbells mushroom soup

2 cans water

16 carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch lengths

1 1/2 onions, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch lengths

2 - 3 tablespoons Olive Oil

3 pounds of London Broil or similar Beef Roast, tenderized and cut into 1 inch pieces

4 tablespoons Flour

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder 

2 - 3 cans low sodium Chicken Broth

2 tablespoons Better than Boullion - Beef

1 cube boullion (chicken or beef)

8 potatoes, peeled and diced into 1 inch pieces

Pepper

DIRECTIONS

In a dutch oven or crock pot mix mushroom soup and 2 cups of water.

On a low heat, saute carrots and onion in a fry pan with 1 - 2 tablespoons Olive Oil.  Be careful not to over cook onion as they will become too sweet.  Pour sauteed carrots/onion into same dutch oven/crock pot.

Mix garlic powder and flour in a large bowl.  Add beef and coat thoroughly.   Next place beef in same fry pan as above with 1 - 2 tablespoons of warmed Olive Oil.  Saute on a low heat.  Pour sauteed beef into same dutch oven/crock pot.  Dispose of excess flour mixture (or save to use as thickener for stew later as needed).

Add 2 cans of chicken broth, 2 tablespoons of better than boullion, 1 chicken boullion cube to same fry pan and heat, wisp to mix in any drippings from beef.  Pour into same dutch oven/crock pot.

Add diced potatoes to dutch oven/crock pot.  

If you like your stew thick, mix flour (from above) with a bit of warm water and wisp until completely blended and add to dutch oven/crook pot.  

If you like your stew thin, add additional can of broth.

Cook on low heat until potatoes are softened.

Honey's Orange Date Nut Cake

INGREDIENTS
Cake
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 TBLS minced orange rind
4 cups flour
1/4 teas salt
1 teasp baking soda
1 package chopped dates
1/2 cups pecans (chopped)
1 teas vanilla

Icing
1 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
2 cups sugar
1 TBL orange rind

DIRECTIONS

Cream shortening and gradually add to sugar.  Add eggs one at a time.  Add Orange rind.  Mix in flour, buttermilk 1/2 cup to 1 cup flour at at time till all mixed.  Then add salt and backing soda.  Add vanilla, dates and nuts.  Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees.  Prick with a toothpick to ensure done.  Pour icing over and let soak in.

Good Gollah Chicken Masalla 

INGREDIENTS
Flour Mix
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teasp salt
1/4 teasp pepper
1/2 teasp oregano

Main
4  boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded until 1/4 inch thick
4 TBLS  Butter
$ TBLS Olive Oil
1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup sherry
1/2 cup Masalla Wine

DIRECTIONS

Mix flour Mix together and place in a large shallow bowl.  In a large skillet, melt butter and olive oil on a medium to low heat.  Coat chicken with flour mix then saute one side.  Turn over and add sliced mushrooms, saute.  Add wine and sherry.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Moussaka Quick (if that is even possible)

Ingredients

1-2 eggplant,  cut lengthwise into thin (1/4 to 3/8 inch) slices

salt to taste

¼ cup olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 pound lean ground beef 

1 onion, small chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

ground black pepper to taste

1/2 tablespoon parsley

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, divided

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

1/4 cup red wine

1 egg, beaten

2 cups milk 
½ cup butter
4-6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Lay eggplant slices on paper towels; sprinkle with salt. Let sweat for 15-30 minutes to draw out moisture, then pat dry with paper towels.

Warm olive oil in a skillet and saute eggplant until softened (looks translucent). Drain on paper towels..

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in ground beef, onions, and garlic; season with salt and black pepper. Cook and stir until beef is browned, 8 to 10 minutes.

Add parsley, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to the meat. Pour in tomato sauce and wine; mix well. Simmer for 10-20 minutes. Allow to cool, then stir in beaten egg.

1. Heat milk in a saucepan (medium). Add 1/4 cup butter then whisk in flour.  Set aside. 

2. 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.

   2. Arrange a single layer of eggplant in the prepared baking dish. Cover eggplant with meat sauce, then sprinkle some Parmesan cheese. Layer with more  eggplant, meat sauce and  cheese. Keep layering until you have no more eggplant, cheese or meat sauce. 

Pour béchamel sauce on top and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg on top. Cover with any remaining cheese.

Bake until bubbly and browned, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Katie's Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups of flour
3/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cups brown sugar
1 teas salt
1 teas baking soda
2 eggs
2 sticks butter melted
1 plus teas vanilla
1 package good chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.  Stir in vanilla, eggs and melted butter.  Once cooled a bit, add chocolate chips.  Spoon  onto cookie sheet (1 1/2 inch globs) and bake at 375 for 8 - 12 minutes.

Christoval Chili

INGREDIENTS
2 LBs browned ground beef
1 tsp cumin (or more)
3 TBLS chili powder
2 TBLS flour
4 cloves chopped garlic
2 cups water
1 Tsp salt
2 cans tomato sauce

DIRECTIONS
Saute ground beef in a fry pan.  Drain grease.  Next stir in cumin, chili powder, garlic and flour.  Add water and tomato sauce and salt.  Cook on low heat until ingredients mixed well.

Add shredded cheese and onions to top.

Cherry Jello Holiday Cookies

(from an online website with a twist)

INDGRIENTS
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 package Cherry Jello
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS
Mix flour, baking powder and salt
Beat butter in a bowl til creamy
Add 1/2 cup flour and dry gelatin beat until fluffy
Add in eggs and vanilla
Add in flour mixture
Form into 1 - 2 inch balls and slightly flatten
Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet
Bake 400 degrees for 6 - 8 minutes
Cool

NOTE.  I sometimes add a chocolate kiss to the center of these before I bake.  Others, I added a dusting of powdered sugar after baked.  You can also use Lemon Jello, Orange Jello etc - but the Cherry Cookies are my favorite!

Pat’s Ginger Soft Snaps

INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar (not packed)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 heaping tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg

DIRECTIONS
(Bake 375 for 8-10 minutes until set and tops crackled)
Mix the oil and molasses, add the egg and mix well, then add sugar and mix well. Then add dry ingredients.  After mixing, dough should resemble soft clay.  I constantly powder my hands while rolling out a long section of dough (rope) about 1inch diameter entire length of baking sheet, pat it down to about 1/4-1/2 inch thick and 1 1/2 wide. Bake until set/crackled top but you can cook them longer/shorter depending on how you want them, i cook them until fingerprint is left in top which is on the softer side of things.  Cut into desired sections and cool on aluminum foil.  They keep really well and you can easily double this recipe.
I usually can get three of the dough ropes  down on a baking sheet, it makes them easier to cut with the side of my spatula.

Apple Graham Bread Pudding

INGREDIENTS  

Peeled and cubed apples (enough for a pie) 

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup sugar

2 tbls rum

1/2 stick butter

1 teas cinnamon

1 tea vanilla

4 eggs

1/2 cup 1/2 & 1/2

1 cup graham cracker crumbs 

DIRECTIONS

Using stovetop, in a large cast iron skillet, melt butter, both sugars, and cinnamon on low heat.  

Add in cubed apples, rum and graham cracker crumbs.  

In a bowl, whisk eggs and 1/2 and 1/2 then stir into apple mixture

Cook for about 5 minutes more on stovetop

Move cast iron pan to oven and bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.  

The outcome should become semi solid (like bread pudding), jiggly but not wet (and if you like - browned around the edges).  Serve with vanilla ice cream while still warm/hot. 

This was an experimental Dessert that turned out really well. 

Hacienda De Los Emigrantes
Mac and Cheese

INGREDIENTS

Mac and Cheese (cooked and mixed up and moved to a large bowl)

1 cooked and shredded chicken breast (optional)

1/4 cup medium Salsa

1/2 cup onion and 1/2 cup bell pepper (cut into small bites and sauteed)

1/2 cup shredded cheese

1 can rinsed pinto beans

1 cup sour cream (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients except sour cream together in the large bowl that is holding the Mac and Cheese

Microwave for about 3 minutes

Pull and add sour cream on top of each serving.

Rouladen ala Niki 

INGREDIENTS

Round steak

German  Ground Mustard

Bacon

Stacker Pickles

Chopped Onion

Mashed Potatoes

Red cabbage

DIRECTIONS

Round steak thin cut

Cut into pieces 4 nor 5 inches wide by 6 or 8inches long

Pound to tenderize and thin if needed

Coat with stone ground or German mustard

Salt and pepper

Place a layer of uncooked bacon to fit meat

Lay Dill Stacker pickles cut to fit sideways

Cover with chopped onion roll the meat keeping stuffing inside

Tie with cotton string. It’s messy and slippery

Oil heavy pan. Add extra bacon fat if you've trimmed some

Brown meat on all sides

Cover with water

Add a few cut carrots if you like, or maybe a little garlic

Simmer for at least an hour

Strain the juice and make gravy’s potash toes

Serve with Mashed potatoes and other German stuff: Red cabbage, Creamed spinach, or Sauerkraut, sometimes Apple sauce

Honey's Holiday Thumbprints

INGREDIENTS

Cookie
1/2 cup soft butter

1/2 teasp salt

1 teasp vanilla

1/2 cup brown sugar - packed

1 1/2 cup flour

2 TBLS milk

Top Per Cookie 

Teaspoon Pomegranate Jelly

1/2 Pecan 

DICRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375

Mix butter, salt, vanilla and brown sugar until fluffy

Blend in flour and milk 

Roll into 2 inch balls. Place on cookie sheet and then flatten/dent center with thumb. 

Add a teaspoon of pomegranate jelly to the dent and place a pecan half on top 

Bake 10 - 12 minutes 

Hollandaise Sauce

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large egg yolks

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 tablespoon milk

• ½ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

  
  

  Directions

  1. Whisk egg yolks, lemon juice, milk, salt, and pepper together in a microwave-safe bowl. Whisk in

     melted butter, a little at a time, until smooth..

     Cook in the microwave on medium power in 15-second intervals, whisking after each interval, until sauce is thick and hot, about 1 minute.

     
     

Pat's Sweet Sausage Cabbage Pie with Dill and Feta

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 sticks butter chilled and cut into pieces

3/4 teas salt

1/4 cup ice water

1 pound sweet sausage

1 shredded cabbage

2 tbls olive oil

1 onion - sliced and slivered

5 minced garlic cloves

pinch pepper

8 ounces feta

1/2 cup chopped dill

1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tbls water for egg wash

DIRECTIONS

Pastry 

Mix butter, flour, 1/4 teas salt and ice water to make pastry.  Roll out.

Remove sausage from casing and crumble meat.  Saute over medium heat/  Drain off fat and give to dog. 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Blanch cabbage for 1 minute.  Remove, drain and then soak in ice water and allow to cool.  Drain. and Spin Dryer.

Heat olive oil in skillet on medium heat.  Add onion and cook til tender (about 5 minutes).  Add 1/2 teas salt and garlic.  Stir cooking until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add meat, then cabbage.  Cook about 10 minutes. Cool then add feta and dill.  

Preheat oven at 375.  Line a baking dish or pie plate with pastry. Fill with cabbage mixture.  Place on top and brush with egg wash.  Bake 40 - 50 minutes.  Serve hot. 

New Orleans Bouillabaisse

6 quarts

1/4 cup olive oil

1 pint chopped celery

1 pint chopped onions

2 cups chopped bell peppers

1/2 tsp chopped garlic cloves

Sauté

Add

1/2 gal water

28 oz whole peeled tomato squeezed

28 oz tomato sauce

1/2 oz Lea & Perrins worchshire sauce

3 oz beef base

1 tsp course pepper

1/4 pint chopped carrots

1/4 sliced mushrooms

1/4 tsp finely chopped saffron

2 whole bay leaves

Makes 1.5 gallons

Let simmer for 30 min

Add 4 oz straight sherry

Seafood -cook in sauce ( adjust items as desired/availability)

Clams 2 per person

Crab legs

Petite lobster tails

Scallops 1/4 lb per person

Prawns 1-2 per person

Fish 1 chunk per person

(Halibut, Snapper or any boneless fish)

Pork Loin Pinwheels

Ingredients

1 pork loin

1 package frozen spinach

1 diced onion

8 cloves of garlic mashed

1 package creme cheese

1 tub Mediterranean feta

1/3 cup soy sauce

Defrost a Pork Loin and cut into 1 inch by 2-3 inch - long strips.  In a fry pan, saute 1 package frozen spinach with 1 cut and diced onion and 8 cloves of garlic (mashed). Put mixture in a bowl and add 1 small package of Mediterranean Feta, one package cream cheese.  Stir into a mash.   Coat 1 side of of pork with mash then roll into pinwheel and place in pyrex 10 by 10 tray.  Keep doing this with all the pork until you have the pyrex full.  Spoon 1/4 cup soy sauce on top of the pinwheels and  bake at 325 until the pork is 180 degrees (about 1 3/4 hours)

Caramel Apple  Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar

• 1 ½ cups vegetable oil

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 3 large eggs

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

  1 teas baking powder'

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 cup apple sauce base (from canning)

Frosting

• 1 cup butter 

• 4 teaspoons milk

• 1 cup brown sugar

1 cup Powdered Sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a cupcake tin.

2. Beat sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; stir into batter just until blended. Fold in apples using a spoon. Pour into cupcake pan. 

3. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the crown or the cake comes out clean, about 20 minutes for cupcakes (1 hour  for bundt cake). Allow to cool in pan for about 15 minutes then invert on to a wire rack.

4. To make the caramel frosting: Heat butter, milk, and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar, then remove from the heat. Add powdered sugar and whisk til consistency of frosting. Frost warm cupcakes.