Coconut-Cranberry Chews

These are wonderful Christmas cookies. They hold their shape well in traveling or packing in boxes to give to friends. The tart cranberries give a fresh taste.
NOTE: Do NOT use Cranraisins. Those things are horrible. If you cannot find dried tart cranberries, substitute dried tart cherries. Both can be found at Trader Joe's.

Coconut-Cranberry Chews from Challenge Butter co.
The mixture may look dry until it comes together as a dough. If it's too crumbly to form into balls, mix longer. It should be smooth and homogeneous. This makes about 6 dozen cookies.

In a large bowl, beat 1&1/2 cups butter, at room temperature to beat with 2 cups sugar, 1 Tabl. grated orange peel, and 2 tsps. vanilla until smooth. Beat in 1 egg until well blended.
In a medium bowl, stir together 3&1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/4 tsp. salt.
Add to the butter mixture and stir to mix. Beat on low speed until dough comes together, about 5 minutes or so. Mix in the 1&1/2 cups dried tart cranberries and 1&1/2 cups sweetened, dried flaked coconut.

Shape dough into 1" balls, and place about 2" apart on a buttered 12 x 15" baking sheets. (I use parchment paper instead of buttering the sheet.)
Bake at 350 until cookie edges just begin to brown, about 11-13 minutes. Let cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Mother's Whole Wheat Bread

This recipe is from a book I received with my Bosch Mixer and Magic Mill wheat grinder.
I foolishly lent it to someone who never returned it to me. I was heartbroken to discover it is no longer published and is impossible to find in any used book stores. : (
You'd think I'd learn a lesson from this, don't you???

Foolproof Whole Wheat Bread
This makes 3 or 4 large loaves of bread

2 Tbl dry yeast; proof in 1/2 cup warm water with a tsp of sugar
Grind 9 cups of hard winter wheat; this should give you about 12 cups of whole wheat flour.

In a Bosch mixer, combine 5 cups hot water with 7 cups of flour. Mix on low until blended.
Add 1&1/2 Tbl salt, 2/3 cup vegetable oil and 1 cup brown sugar. Mix until blended.
Add 1 cup of flour, and proofed yeast; mix to blend well.
Add 3-4 more cups of flour. Knead about 10 minutes, or until dough begins to clean the sides of the bowl and is the consistency of cookie dough.
Grease 9x5" loaf pans (3 or 4) Grease hands and divide dough. Mold into loaf shape, and place into the pans. Let rise in bulk about 40 minutes, or until dough reaches the top of the pans.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or so, or until bread sounds a bit hollow when rapped on top. It should also pull away from the sides of the pan a bit.
Remove from pans and cool on a rack.

This bread is also good with 2 or 3 cups of high gluten white flour to replace the wheat bread.
It can be frozen well; to simplify things, slice the bread first.

When John would come home from kindergarten, he could eat a good half loaf of this bread. : )

Cheesey Mexican Casserole : )

This makes a generous 9"x13" casserole, which can be made ahead of time.

Crush tortilla chips to cover the bottom of the casserole about 1/4" deep.

1# lean hamburger, cooked with one small diced onion and two garlic cloves.
Add (2) 15 oz. cans of tomato sauce to the meat and heat through.

In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups cottage cheese, 2 cups sour cream, one can of olives, sliced and a 4oz or 8oz can of diced green chiles (NOT jalapenos!)

Pour hamburger mixture over crushed chips, then layer the cheese mixture over that. Grate about 1/2# of Monterey Jack cheese over the top of the casserole. Heat until bubbling, about 45 minutes, in a 350 degree oven.

Cut an avocado into slices and arrange on the top before serving.

Strawberry Pie

The secret to a really good strawberry pie is to use smaller, delicious berries.

Glazed Strawberry Pie
5-6 cups washed/hulled strawberries
1 cup or less sugar
3 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch, packed down
1/2 cup water
1 9" baked/cooled pie shell
Whipped cream

Mash 2 cups strawberries. Mix sugar and cornstarch in a 3 qt. saucepan. Stir water into mashed berries, and add to pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil 2 minutes (the glaze should become clear), and remove from heat. Cool.
Carefully fold remaining berries into cooled mixture. Pile into pastry shell and chill for at least two hours. Serve with whipped cream.

Momma's French Toast

This is the french toast my Mother made; comfort food to me.

8 slices white bread, cut in half.

Mix 1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsps sugar & baking powder
1/2 tsp salt & cinnamon

Mix 1 cup milk
1 egg

Poor milk into flour mixture, beating until smooth.
Heat oil in a frying pan until hot. (Add a drop of the batter, it should rise to the top of the oil.) Dip bread into batter, and place into hot oil. Turn when golden underneath, and cook the second side. Drain on a plate with paper towels.
Have butter and syrup ready.

Serve with fresh fruit and bacon or sausage.

Tortilla/hamburger Stuff

1 lb. hamburger (use 15% or 7% fat)
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
salt (not much) and pepper
15oz. tomato sauce
onion powder, chili powder, cumin, oregano
1 15 oz. can of red kidney beans, drained

Cook the meat with the onion, garlic and salt/peper in a frying pan. Continue to stir and cook until the meat is cooked and the onion is soft. Pour the tomato sauce into the pan and add seasonings. Add the beans and heat thoroughly. Continue to simmer while you prepare the following....

Large bowl of tortilla chips (if these are low salt, you can add more salt to the meat)
shredded cheese, preferably cheddar
torn or shredded lettuce
olives
tomatoes, cut into wedges
sliced green onions
avocado slices
salsa
sour cream
Place all the above into separate bowls and let each person make their own dinner.

Oven Fried Chicken

This is easier and less mess results than frying chicken in a pan.

Chicken parts
all purpose flour in a flat bowl with seasonings mixed in (salt/pepper/garlic powder/onion powder, etc.)

Rinse the chicken and pat dry with a paper towel.
Dredge the chicken in the flour/seasoning mixture.
Shake off excess flour and lay skin side up in an oven proof 11x15" pan which has been oiled on the bottom.
Drizzle oil on top of the chicken, or spray with Pam.
Bake at 375 for about 40 minutes, depending on the chicken. (white meat takes less time to cook as do smaller pieces.)
Half-way through baking, baste the chicken with the fat in the pan. There should be no dry flour left, or the chicken won't brown.
When done, remove to a platter and serve.