Friday, February 19, 2010

Aunt Ethel Glenn's Peanut Butter Cookies

I have fond memories of Aunt Ethel. This recipe appeared in the old blue Kimberly Ward Cookbook. I have been making these for many years. We love them. Sometimes I put chocolate chips in them.

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
3 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups chocolate chips (optional)


Cream butter. Add vanilla and sugars gradually, creaming well. Beat in eggs mixing thoroughly. Add peanut butter and mix well. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and stir into mixture. Can add chocolate chips at this point.

Roll into small balls and place on cookie sheet. Flatten with tines of fork that has been dipped in hot water.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Makes 5 dozen.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Divine Breadsticks

My family LOVES these. It is from My Kitchen Cafe. The second time I made them I just pulled off pieces and rolled them between my hands to make a rope and it worked just fine.

1 ½ cups warm water
1 tablespoon instant yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)

Mix all ingredients (except melted butter) in a large bowl or electric mixer and knead for three minutes. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread melted butter onto an 11X17-inch baking sheet. Roll out the breadstick dough about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick and cut into strips with a pizza cutter. Twist slightly if desired and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic salt, herbs of your choice and Parmesan cheese. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes. Bake 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Zucchini Coconut Loaf

I found this on Allrecipes.com. We had several zucchini to use from our "bountiful baskets" so I went searching for recipes. I loved this! I did use craisins instead of currants.

Ingredients:
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 cup grated zucchini
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup currants

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
2. In small pan boil one cup water. Add currants or raisins, and boil for two minutes. Drain.
3. In mixing bowl beat egg, oil, and sugar. Stir in zucchini and vanilla.
4. In another bowl, measure flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, walnuts, and currants or raisins. Stir to combine thoroughly. Pour all at once over batter in mixing bowl. Stir to moisten. Turn into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Turn out on rack. Cool and wrap.

Lemon Tea Bread

Cherise actually gave me this recipe. She told me that when she last made it the texture was a little crumbly so I adapted for our higher altitude with good results. This is heavenly!

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 C butter
1 1/4 C sugar minus 2 T
2 large eggs
2 1/4 C flour
1 T baking powder minus 1/2 tsp
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 C milk plus 2 T
2 tsp lemon rind
2/3 C chopped blanched almonds or macadamia nuts, optional

Glaze
2/3 C powdered sugar
2 T lemon juice
1 tsp lemon rind

Beat cream cheese and butter at high speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Mix after each addition. Stir in 2 teaspoons lemon rind and nuts. Pour batter into three greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Combine remaining 1 tsp lemon rind, powedered sugar, lemon juice, stirring well. Spoon glaze over warm loaves. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

Sweet and Chunky Chicken Salad

I made this for a dinner at Braswell's and also for a sisters' lunch at my home. I always double it, and I use a pint of the chicken that I canned.

1 (10 ounce) can chunk chicken, drained
2 T mayonnaise
1/8 C chopped dill pickle
1/8 cup chopped onion
2 T sunflower seeds
1/4 C dried cranberries

Mix until well blended and chicken chunks are broken up.