Berry Pie

Berry Pie
1 No Fail Pie Crust
5 cups berries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour

Prepare pie crust and chill. Combine berries, sugar, and flour.

Divide pie crust in half. Roll one half into a circle large enough to fill pie pan. Transfer crust to pie pan. Add berry mixture Roll out second half. Place on top of berry mixture. Crimp edges. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

No Fail Pie Crust
4 cups flour
1 3/4 cups shortening
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold water 1 tbsp vinegar
1 egg

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in shortening. In separate dish, mix water, vinegar, and egg. Combine mixtures. Chill 15 minutes.

Chicken Noodle Soup

2 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cans chicken broth
2 cups chopped carrots
1 1/2 - 2 cups chopped celery
1/2 - 3/4 cup chhopped onion
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
2 cups cooked diced chicken
8 oz home style egg noodles, cooked (Country Pasta Homemade Style)
salt and pepper, to taste



Heat chicken broth and bouillon together. Add carrots, celery, and onions. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Add cream of chicken soup and milk. Add cooked chicken and noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Chicken and Rice Soup

10 C chicken broth
1 medium onion, chopped
1 C sliced celery
1 C sliced carrot
1/4 C snipped parsley
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 C cooked, cubed chicken
2 C cooked rice
2 T lime juice

Combine broth, onion, celery, carrots, parsley, pepper, thyme and bay leaf in pot. Bring to a boil; stir once or twice. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes. Add chicken; simmer, uncovered, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in rice and lime juice just before serving.

Melanie was looking for this recipe. I didn't see it on the blog so I added it. I'm pretty sure I got this recipe from Cherise.

Homemade Syrups

Coconut Syrup

(From the Sisters Cafe)

7-8 T. butter

¾ c. buttermilk

1 c. sugar

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp coconut extract

Place butter, buttermilk and sugar in a pot. Then turn stove on medium and stir until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and boil one minute. Remove from heat and add soda and flavoring. It will bubble up; just continue to stir and give it a few minutes for the ‘fizz’ to reduce before serving.

Buttermilk Carmel Syrup

(from Our Best Bites)

3/4 c. buttermilk

1 1/2 c. sugar (I've used brown too and it works great)

1 stick (1/2 c.) real butter

2 Tbsp. corn syrup

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine buttermilk, sugar, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda in a LARGE pot. Like one you’d make soup in. Yes, you’ll have way more pot than ingredients (and I’m not referring to the green leafy stuff), but this will boil all over your newly-cleaned stove if you put it in a smaller saucepan.

Bring ingredients to a boil and reduce heat to low (as long as it’s still bubbling, you’re okay). Cook, stirring very frequently, for 8-9 minutes. You’re basically making candy here and candy-making requires constant vigilance.

When it’s done, it should take on this luscious golden-brown color. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

There will be foam on top. It tastes just as good, but it’s not super pretty. If you’re into aesthetics, you can skim it off; otherwise, just give it a good stir.

French Bread (from Hayley)

My sister uses this recipe a lot and I made it for the first time yesterday by hand since I don't have a mixer or bread pans this month. It turned out great.

In a small bowl combined:

1/2 c. warm water

1 tbsp. sugar

2 tbsp. yeast

In a large bowl combined:

2 c. very hot water

2 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. salt

1/3 c. oil

Then add:

3 c. flour

and small bowl ingredients

Mix together and then add:

3 more cups flour or until correct consistency.

Need dough about every 10 minutes for an hour.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Aunt Katie’s Oatmeal Pancakes

Aunt Katie’s Oatmeal Pancakes

submitted by Erin ~ The Sisters Cafe

2 c. quick oats

½ c. flour

3 T. sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

2 ½ c. buttermilk

2 large eggs (slightly beaten)

¼ c. butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

add cinnamon, optional

Combine dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and let sit for 20-30 minutes, covered. Cook slowly on a griddle at 325°, or a little lower. The pancakes are easier to flip if they are not very big. Spray griddle before each batch. Let the pancake cook through on one side and then flip.

***My mom introduced me to this recipe and I love it. It is almost like eating a bowl of oatmeal. Check out the ratio of flour to oats. I will have to post some of the fantastic homemade syrups that can also go with it.*****