COOKIES!!!

Walnut Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

3/4 cup Crisco shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Heat Oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil cookie sheets.

Beat shortening, sugar, and brown sugar with electric mixer until creamy.
Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Beat into the shortening
mixture until well blended. Stir in oats, raisins and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfulls onto cookie sheet space about 2 inches apart. Bake 10 to 12 min. Place on rack to cool completely.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pistachio Cookies: Same recipe as above with two changes.
In place of raisins I add 1 cup milk chocolate pieces. In place of walnuts or pecans, add 1 cup of chopped pistachios.  These are Wade's favorite!

Chocolate Chip Cookies......taste good and easy to make!

3/4 cup crisco
1 1/4 cup light brown sugar firmly packed
2 tbsps milk
1 tbsp vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Do Not grease cookie sheet.

Beat shortening and brown sugar in large boal with electric mixer. Beat in milk, vanilla and egg. Stir in flour, salt and baking soda. Blend in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by teaspoonful 2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 min. Remove from oven. Cool on baking sheet for 5 min and then transfer to rack to cool completely.

White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cookies

Use the same recipe as above. Substitute 1 cup white chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts. I made these once and didn't chop the nuts and they fell apart. So best results with chopped nuts:)

I am posting some pictures of Momma's Loofa Gourds she is growing. They are really neat. They grow on the vine green and then they turn yellow and then dry out and turn brown. The vine has to be up off of the ground or they will rot.  To get to the loofah you break the outside layer and shake out the seeds. Then trim the ends and cut into pieces small enough to bathe with. I didn't know that loofahs grew like that. I really thought they were a sponge from the ocean!

Sunday Oct. 24, 2010 Squash and Miss. Mud Cake

This is a picture of some squash, green beans and onions I cooked in the oven last night. I sliced the squash, snapped ends of beans off, sliced onions and sprinkled all of them with salt, pepper, nature's seasons, and olive oil. I rolled them around a little to coat all of them and then roasted in the oven at 350 for about 20 min. After 10 min. I took them out and gently stirred them, then returned to the oven until done.  We had these along side the crab cakes.

I usually cook squash and beans on top of the stove in water or chicken stock so I thought I would try something new for me. The oven method works great all three were tender and the flavor was very good.

Today is Sunday, Wade wanted me to bake some chocolate brownies so I went to Granny's recipes for Mississippi Mud Cake. I remember this as a real treat when Granny would make this.  I have always wondered why it was called Mississippi Mud Cake......... Until today when I poured the chocolate frosting on top of the melted marshmallows and I realized it has that mahogany color the rich red earth in Mississippi has. The marshmallows peeping out resemble cotton on the ground in the mud.

When we went through the Memphis airport last week I pointed out posters of John Deere cotton pickers to Wade......Cotton in the Mississippi Delta, you can't get more southern than that!

I am including a copy of Granny's recipe. I couldn't use it exactly as written because I only had plain flour not self rising flour so I found another recipe that I have used many times with plain flour and buttermilk, and soda etc. I will include both for you.

When my girls were little I usually made this cake because it was easy and fast to make. No mixer just a big wooden spoon needed! Another reason I made it often is that it is easy to transport in the 11 x 16 pan. I have one with a removable plastic top with handles.....that I never trust! Kids love it! And big boys like Wade!!!   : -)

MISSISSIPPI MUD CAKE 2010

Brownie:

2 cups plain flour

2 cups sugar

1 stick butter

½ cup shortening

4 tablespoons cocoa

1 cup water

1 tsp baking soda dissolved in buttermilk

½ cup buttermilk

2 eggs slightly beaten

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup walnuts

approx. 15 large Marshmallows cut in half

Preheat oven 400 degrees

Lightly grease 11 x 16 pan

Sift sugar and flour in large mixing bowl.

Melt butter, shortening, with cocoa and water bring to a boil. Remove from heat, stir into sugar and flour, stir in other ingredients until well blended. Pour into grease 11 x 16 inch pan. Bake 20 minuetes at 400.

Slice 15 large marshmallows in half. About 5 min before brownie is done make frosting.

Frosting:

1 stick butter

4 tablespoons cocoa

6 tablespoons milk

1 box confectioners sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

After 20 min take brownie out of oven and lay sliced marshmallows on top about ½ inch apart. Return to oven until marshmallows melt and begin to toast about 2 min. Watch it closely…..

When marshmallows are melted remove brownie from oven and pour the frosting on top of the marshmallows. Allow to cool completely on wire rack Store covered.

Shrimp Cakes with Corn and Avocado Salsa

Pumpkins, and gourds from Rabun Gap.

Our Boys Gizmo and Louie!

Tonight we are having some old friends over and I am making shrimp cakes with salsa for dinner and our favorite Remoulade Sauce! This is a really simple dish for me to make and it is very delicious. We are so blessed to live here with these beautiful Gulf Waters! Hope you try this recipe soon. If you don't have access to fresh shrimp try can shrimp instead. Be sure to drain them first!

Shrimp Cakes with Corn and Avocado Salsa

Shrimp Cakes

1 lb. shrimp peeled and deveined

Olive oil

1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1 garlic clove minced

¼ cup thinly sliced green onion about 3 green onions include green tops

3 Tablespoons Kraft Mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 ½ teaspoon hot sauce

½ teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 large egg

¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

¾ cup panko bread crumbs

Corn Avocado Salsa

1 cup white frozen corn thawed

¾ cup diced ripe avocado

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped and seeded poblano pepper

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Cakes:

Clean shrimp and place in bowl and chop fine…….in food processor about 10 pulses

Heat nonstick skillet over medium heat and coat pan with olive oil. Add bell pepper and sauté 3 min. Add garlic and sauté 1 more min. Place sautéed pepper mixture in a large bowl. Add chopped shrimp, green onions, mayonnaise, lime juice, hot sauce, sugar, salt and egg. Stir until blended well. Stir in cilantro and panko.

Divide into 10 equal portions shape into a ½ inch thick patty.  Dredge both sides in remaining panko. Chill for at least 1 hour.

Heat pan over medium high heat. Coat pan with olive oil. Add 5 cakes to skillet and heat on each side 4 min. Remove from pan keep warm and add last 5 cakes cook 4 min each side.

Salsa:

Thaw corn in mixing bowl.

While cakes are chilling make salsa.

Chop avocado, onion, pepper, cilantro, combine with corn, sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Cover and chill until crab cakes are ready to serve.

This is the shrimp peel/devien tool I told you about in an earlier blog. It makes the job of cleaning shrimp go really fast. I usually get heads on shrimp.  Wash the shrimp in a collander. Pull the head off and insert the tip of the tool under the back of the shrimp and push back towards the tail and fin of the shrimp.  This will cause the shell to pull away from the meat. Pull away any loose shell and tail fin. By placing the tool on the top back side of the shrimp the vien will come out with the tool. Rinse this away and place in bowl to drain.

Remoulade Sauce

Blend all of the following ingredients and chill.

1 cup Mayonaise

1/4 cup creole mustard

2 1/4 tablespoon horseradish

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Note the specified horseradish is not prepared horseradish. You want horseradish.....check in the grocery seafood section. Most stores will have it on ice or in the cooler.









Fresh Pear Cake, Carrot Cake and Italian Cream Cheese Cake

This picture was taken during a Holland family reunion in the 70's. I think it is in Granny's back yard on the Cottonwood Highway. Pictured L to R Lena Mae Pitts, Bertha Holland and Naomi Avery. Three Sisters happy to be together.

 Aunt Jeanette's Fresh Pear Cake. This was addressed to Granny September 13, 2000.

Aunt Ruby and Bertha had a huge pear tree in their yard and Uncles Elmire and Ernest had pear trees too. There were always lots of pears going around.  :) Personally I love them.

I am sure there is a recipe for pear preserves in Granny's recipes. I will search for it and pass it on to you soon. I am guessing that golden raisins might taste good in this recipe. I thought I might try it with those and soak them in a little rum before I mix them in. I am also going to glaze it and add a little rum or rum extract to the glaze of confectioners sugar.  I will let you know how it turns out. Wade likes rum cake, but isn't big on fruit cooked. I am always looking for ways to tempt him to eat fruit!

This is a copy of Granny's Carrot Cake recipe.  Great recipe. Wesson oil is a brand of vegtable oil.

Italian Cream Cheese Cake

These recipes were passed through the family. We could always count on at least 1 or 2 for a big get together.
The Italian Cream Cheese recipe calls for oleo and solid vegetable shortening. Oleo is the same thing as margarine. I think best results and flavor will probably come from using room temperature unsalted butter.
Crisco brand Solid vegetable shortening was always Granny's choice.

Lane Cake For the Holidays......

I am going to try to get the favorite holiday recipes posted for you guys. I know that Niki and Robin would like to have these.

I am guessing this was clipped in the 40s or 50s...."Modern Day Cooks" love it! Use parchment paper to line your pans with.

One of my favorite memories is helping Granny make this Lane Layer Cake.  She used a cast iron meat grinder that clamped to the edge of her counter top to grind the pecans, raisins and coconut.  I was the lucky girl who was allowed to put the pecans and raisins in. The modern day equivalent to Granny's meat grinder is the food processor. Just add 1 cup of pecans, 1 cup raisins and 1 cup coconut together and pulse until well chopped.  The meat grinder was more fun!

The next recipe is for a loaf pan Whiskey Cake. This cake uses 1 cup bourbon!!! Guess this was before Modern Day Cooks! I haven't made this one yet. I have a regular loaf pan and I think this recipe may be too much for it. There probably are larger loaf pans than mine...... Oh well I will fill some small individual ones with the extra.  But if you are buying one for this purpose choose a large one.

OLD-FASHION WHISKEY NUT CAKE

2 CUPS BUTTER

2 ½ CUPS SUGAR

6 EGGS SEPERATED

4 TABLESPOONS VANILLA

3 CUPS FLOUR SIFTED AND DIVIDED

1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

1 TEASPOON NUTMEG

1 CUP BOURBON WHISKEY

2 POUNDS CHOPPED PECANS

1 POUND WHITE RAISINS

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Separate the eggs, setting the whites aside.  Add the yolks one at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla.

Sift 2 ½ cups flour with the baking powder and nutmeg and fold into the batter.  Add the bourbon.

Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the batter. Mix the pecans, raisins and the remaining ½ cup of flour and stir gently into the mixture.

Pour into a large loaf pan and bake at 250 degrees for two hours.  Remove from oven and allow it to cool completely on wire rack.  When completely cool cover with let it stand at least two days before serving. 

GRANNY STORED HER FRUIT AND NUT CAKES IN A LARGE TIN AND CUT APPLES AND LAYED THEM IN THE CAN AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAKE PAN. THE APPLE AROMA MELLOWS THE WHISKEY FLAVOR…..THIS WAS ALWAYS A TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY CAKE FOR OUR FAMILY. SHE WOULD MAKE THIS CAKE AT LEAST 2-4 DAYS BEFORE SERVING IT. ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A TIN OR PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR THE CAKE TO REST IN, JUST WRAP IT IN PLASTIC WRAP AND LET IT STAND IN A COOL PLACE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

She would hate this picture and would not want me to put it out there for everyone to see but this is her sweet face in the morning before her coffee!

Here she is with Greg on his Yamaha motorcycle!   This was probably about 1974.  She wouldn't like this one either!

Topsy Turvy Week

Sun setting behind the Emerald Grand....this was Tuesday 19th of  Oct. The sunset gradually moves to left and we have a great view of it for the next 4 months until it finally makes it's way back to the West. Changes with seasons due to the earths distance from the sun........will document today's sunset and compare. I was surprised that it moved as far towards our Eastern side as it did this month. The first of Oct. it was sinking to the right of the "Massive Over Built Emerald Grand."  Sorry but I feel that it was a bad decision to build so large on that spot.....I'm not a fan of the improvements there. But that's just my personal opinion. We walk there from home and our friends and family visiting always enjoy it. But I remember things the way they were before and silently grieve for them.

Tricia and Lee Ann Halloween, 1987, Lee Ann 3 and Tricia 5.  Tricia wanted me to paint her face and I did then she started crying because she said she was too ugly!!! So we took the paint off except for a little and she became a gypsy instead of a witch! The Jack O Lantern wore the witches hat :) Lee Ann had a minnie mouse mask...you can see it's gone to the table in exchange for a big piece of candy!

Oldie of Tricia and niece Amber on the beach....fall of 86. Amber is as brown as a beaver.

My precious angels! 

When I see Amber with Holland and Hudson, her boys, I am amazed how fast time went by!

This week has been full of surprises and changes. So I am pulling up my socks and walking outside to work in the yard, where there is peace and quiet, except for the Raptor that occasionally roars over head making an unbelievable amount noise. It is so fast that by the time the loudest noise is upon you the plane is gone! I do mean roar. The hanger and landing strip are behind us on the other side of the Choctawhatchee Bay. We always have an air show going on here!

There are also some old WW II planes that fly on Thursday evenings and most Saturdays and Sundays, around the harbor and the Emerald Grand, they are very loud and right in our front door. Frankly I am a little scared by them because two have crashed since March doing stunts. They crashed East of us about 3 miles down the beach over the Gulf in the Miramar Beach area.  Not so sure it's a good idea for them to fly the Harbor Walk.....but I'm just one little person up here on the mountain shaking in my boots! Wade loves it and so does nephew Colton, and all of the other air enthusiast that live in the area. :)

There are alot of things happening here in Destin this weekend. The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation "Arts Festival" is going on this weekend in Henderson Park on the beach. There is also a very large Harley Davidson gathering here this weekend. Not sure about the details on that, probably gathering at the Boardwalk in Fort Walton. The church in front of our house has a sign up that says "HOG WASH this weekend ALL HOGS WELCOME!" Not sure if they are washing motorcycles or souls! Probably Both!!!

This picture was taken Tuesday evening in Destin.  Saturday is the full moon and we will be on the beach for sunset and moon rise. I am collecting firewood to take down for a small fire. Will send pictures soon!  Hope you have a safe and fun weekend.

Cheesecake Recipe from Janis and Minnesota pictures

October 19, 2010

Wade and I are back in Destin after a long weekend trip to Minneapolis for a visit with my brother and sister in law, Edwin and Becky Everett. We had a wonderful time. Of course all of the leaves were changing colors and falling and everything was just gorgeous.
Edwin and Hammond, had lots to talk about and Becky and I had alot of fun catching up and shopping. Everyone in Wade's family calls him Hammond, his middle name..... but when I met him he was introduced as Wade so I end up using both, Wade and Hammond!  Becky took me to Pottery Barn and Renovation Hardware in Saint Paul Saturday. That was a treat for me!! Saturday night we all went to the Fitzgerald Theatre for Garrison Keillor's Prarie Home Companion. Everyone really enjoyed it even Dylan and Joey. Joey especially liked the sound affects guy! Dylan liked the music and Zac, like the rest of us, enjoyed everything. One of my favorite authors Alexander McCall Smith was a guest on the show. He is the author of the series of books The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency.  I loved those stories and the HBO series based on the books was very good also.

The following pictures are of Gale Woods Farm, outside of Minneapolis. We were there
Thursday for a tract meet that nephew Zac was running in.

Edwin, Wade, Dylan, Becky and Joey waiting for the run to start.  Yes Dylan and Joey are almost as tall as their Mom. Sweet Boys!!

This view is of the left side of the barn complex. This section has a dinning hall/conference room, book store, showers and lockers. Metal screened structure on the side is the chicken pen. Doors on the side of the main barn allow the chickens to go into for their roost and to get out of the cold weather in winter.

Giant pumpkin and gourd display in front entrance.

The sheep were housed on the right side of the center section, where the cattle are housed. Very nice barn.  This farm is part of the park system, and is used for educational and recreational purposes by the community. Beautiful setting.

Picture of the Track teams lined up to start the 5K run.  Zac did great and came in with the top 10 percent of the group.  Not sure of the exact time but we were surprised they ran it so fast. They started coming in around 17 min. which I thought was really good. :) 

Zac was on the far side in solid blue tank.

Cheesecake Recipe From Janis

This cheesecake recipe was given to me by my dear friend and college room mate, Janis Vines. She passed away with cancer just before Tricia was born in 1982. I think of her often and especially during fall, her favorite time of year.

This cake has 3 layers. The crust or first layer has the consistency of a chocolate brownie, then the strawberry pie filling, and last the chocolate cream cheese layer.  Oh my goodness it is sooo good.  Great to make ahead and serve for dessert at a family get together or party during the holidays.


Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake

1/2 cup butter room temperature
4 1ounce squares of unsweetened baking chocolate
1 1/2 cup sugar for 1st layer
3/4 cup sugar for 2nd layer
1/4 cup whole milk
2 tsp vanilla extract divided
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
1/2 cup sour cream
2 1 oz. semisweet choco. baking squares melted
1 cup canned strawberry pie filling

First Layer:

Preheat oven to 325.
Lightly grease 9" springform pan.

Melt butter and unsweetened chocolate squares in a 3 qt. heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool 5 min.
Stir in 1 1/2 cups sugar.
Add 2 eggs, 1 each time, stirring to blend well after each addition.
Add milk and 1 tsp vanilla
Add flour and salt, stirring until well blended. Spread mixture evenly into a lightly greased springform pan. Bake for 25 min. Remove from oven and let cool in pan on wire rack.

Second Layer:

Set oven to 300 degrees.

Melt semi sweet chocolate, stirring constantly, set aside.

Beat room temperature cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar, using mixer medium speed, until well blended. Add 1 tsp of vanilla, beating just until blended.
Add 3 eggs, 1 each time, beating just until blended after each egg.....(when the yellow blends add another)
Add sour cream and melted semi sweet chocolate, beating just until blended.

Now you are ready to assemble the cheesecake.
Spoon strawberry filling over chocolate cake layer and then layer chocolate and cream cheese mixture over pie filling.
Bake at 300 for 65 to 70 min. or until edges of cheesecake are set, (the center will not appear set)
Turn off the oven and let cheesecake stand in oven for 15 min.  After 15 min. in the cooling oven, take the cheesecake out, run a knife around edge to loosen sides. Important to Cool completly on wire rack. Then cover and chill in refrigerator for at least 8 hours.....Serve with a dollop of whipped cream with a fresh strawberry on top or a teaspoon of pie filling.

Tuesday October 12 Yellow Squash

Last week, I took some pictures of the Museum of Fine Art in Auburn I thought some of you might like to see. It is a very nice building and is a great landmark for the city of Auburn. Auburn is really a nice place to live. I enjoy being there for my visits with Lee Ann. It makes Lee Ann's sofa bearable!! Just kidding Lee Lee :)  I was surprised that there is so much natural light in the building. It's beautiful inside and outside.  In these pictures you can't see the terraces that run the length of the building on this side.                                                  

Main entrance below, opposite side of buidling shown in pictures above.

My trip to Rabun Gap the 1st of Oct. was great. I posted some of the pictures and promised some more of the farmers market but there were so many people there all I could take pictures of was people! I took some nice pictures of some cabins on Betty Creek just past Andy's Trout Farm on Betty Creek Road in Rabun, Gap.  Heaven can't possibly be more beautiful and tranquil. I could have stayed there forever. I took a picture of the sign for the cabin rentals in case any one wants to rent them.  There are 4 o4 5 cabins for rent. Great place for a group to go. There are so many things to do and see in Rabun County I stayed within a 10 mile radius of Mother's house all weekend. I went to the flea market to look for some old keys for my friend Elizabeth. The lady walking ahead of me bought the only ones in the booth where I knew there would be some.......I told him to keep a look out some more, Lib! I also went to the State Park on Black Rock Mountain. I also went to see some stables and kennels that are built across from The York House Inn. The York House is the oldest operating Inn in Georgia. I want to take some pictures there. I will have to wait until Nov. or Dec. when things slow down up there. October is the heaviest traffic month. Everyone wants to see the leaves turning.  They had just begun to change the 1st. But this weekend, the 15th and the next, they should be at their peek. Nothing more beautiful than the Smokies in fall. :o)

I am posting the recipe for Yellow Squash and Onions. This is one of our favorite squash recipes.

Yellow Squash and Onions

5-7 small to medium young yellow squash washed and stems removed
1 small vidallia onion sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt & Pepper to taste

Slice yellow squash in thin round slices. Slice onions in rounds. In medium sauce pan sautee onions in 3 tbsp of olive oil. When onions are translucent add the squash, and about 1/4 cup water. Add 1/2 tsp of salt. Stir until squash begin to wilt. Reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook until the liquid is cooked out. Stirring occasionally. I like black pepper so I always add black pepper before I take them out of the pan.

The last time I cooked squash and onions I had some left over and Wade had a wonderful idea and added it to his spaghetti sauce. It was absolutely delicious! We also used the spaghetti sauce and made pizzas. Streatching those dimes!!!! I'll write down Wade's spaghetti sauce for you and that will be the next recipe post.

Cabbage Patch Kid!

I was the cabbage patch kid this morning. I went over to Osage Farms cabbage patch and took this picture of the cabbages and a bonus is the beautiful Rabun Gap Nacoochee School! Had a good day.
I will go to the market tomorrow and post some vegtable recipes this week! There are still alot of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, pumpkins and gourds, squash and as you can see..... cabbage!

Osage Farms Rabun Gap, Ga

Black Rock Mountain State Park

Rabun Gap, Ga.

"Grandma's house built 1876"

                                                         Wolffork Valley, Rabun Gap, Ga.