1 cup shredded coconut
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter milk
1/2 stick of butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Beat eggs thoroughly, mix with other ingredients. Pour into uncooked pie shell and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake until golden brown.
Can't be beat!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Dinner on the Ground
Our church would have "dinner on the ground" about once a month. The ladies Bible class that met every week at my grandmother's house was always wanting to cook and show off their skills, so they would plan a "Dinner on the Ground" or "Covered Dish Sunday". They were so funny talking about the up coming dinner. Everyone tried to keep it a secret as to what they would be bringing so the others wouldn't have a chance to show them up. They would hem haw around - maybe potato salad or fried chicken. Gimme a break - potato salad and fried chicken were a given at every dinner we ever had as were lima beans, green beans and corn.
Well some of the recipes I will be posting in the next few weeks are recipes these same women gave me at a bridal shower in 1969. Some had probably never been written down before and probably not written down after, but I was the little angel they bestowed their beloved secrets upon. I have gone back to my treasure box over and over during the past 40 years and still can't get some of them to taste like they did when made by these dear women. The funny thing - they wouldn't let each other see what they had written down at the shower, so I alone hold their secrets. These women will always be dear to me. Their devotion to God and family was astounding and if the women of today would follow in their footsteps we would have a better world. And I am talking about myself, too.
Here is a true masterpiece of a pie. Time consuming, it is rich, flavorful and just wonderful. I remember my Mother making it twice - it was too much trouble, but for those with the time to spend give it a try. This was an extra special company pie.
Peacheesy Pie
The Crust
2/3 cup Shortening
2 cups Pillsbury's Best Flour
1 tsp Salt
6-7 tbsp Peach Syrup
2 tbsp Butter
Cut shortening into flour and salt until the mixture is size of peas. Sprinkle peach syrup over mixture, stirring until dough holds together. Roll our half of the dough on flour surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Line 9 inch pie pan with dough crust. Note - this works best with a deep dish pie pan.
Peaches 'N Cheesecake Filling
1 lb 13 oz can sliced cling peaches
1/2 cup + 1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp corn starch
2 tbsp corn syrup
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 oz package cream cheese
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
Drain peaches reserving the syrup (use syrup in pie crust). Combine peach slices, 1/2 cup sugar, corn starch, corn syrup, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.
In a small saucepan, combine eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons peach syrup. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thick. In a separate bowl soften cream cheese. When soft blend in sour cream and add hot mixture slowly blending until smooth.
Fill Pie crust with peach mixture, dot with butter, then add cheesecake topping. Roll out remaining dough, cut out circles or lattice strips, brush with remaining peach syrup and place on pie.
Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes then cover edge with foil and continue to bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes until deep golden brown.
Enjoy!
Well some of the recipes I will be posting in the next few weeks are recipes these same women gave me at a bridal shower in 1969. Some had probably never been written down before and probably not written down after, but I was the little angel they bestowed their beloved secrets upon. I have gone back to my treasure box over and over during the past 40 years and still can't get some of them to taste like they did when made by these dear women. The funny thing - they wouldn't let each other see what they had written down at the shower, so I alone hold their secrets. These women will always be dear to me. Their devotion to God and family was astounding and if the women of today would follow in their footsteps we would have a better world. And I am talking about myself, too.
Here is a true masterpiece of a pie. Time consuming, it is rich, flavorful and just wonderful. I remember my Mother making it twice - it was too much trouble, but for those with the time to spend give it a try. This was an extra special company pie.
Peacheesy Pie
The Crust
2/3 cup Shortening
2 cups Pillsbury's Best Flour
1 tsp Salt
6-7 tbsp Peach Syrup
2 tbsp Butter
Cut shortening into flour and salt until the mixture is size of peas. Sprinkle peach syrup over mixture, stirring until dough holds together. Roll our half of the dough on flour surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Line 9 inch pie pan with dough crust. Note - this works best with a deep dish pie pan.
Peaches 'N Cheesecake Filling
1 lb 13 oz can sliced cling peaches
1/2 cup + 1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp corn starch
2 tbsp corn syrup
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 oz package cream cheese
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
Drain peaches reserving the syrup (use syrup in pie crust). Combine peach slices, 1/2 cup sugar, corn starch, corn syrup, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.
In a small saucepan, combine eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons peach syrup. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thick. In a separate bowl soften cream cheese. When soft blend in sour cream and add hot mixture slowly blending until smooth.
Fill Pie crust with peach mixture, dot with butter, then add cheesecake topping. Roll out remaining dough, cut out circles or lattice strips, brush with remaining peach syrup and place on pie.
Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes then cover edge with foil and continue to bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes until deep golden brown.
Enjoy!
Mrs. Beasley's Pecan Pie
One of my favorites and a real Southern pie.
Beat 3 eggs well
Add
1 scant cup sugar
1 cup of White Karo syrup
1 cup of broken pecans
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Pour into raw (unbaked) pie crust and bake at 325 degrees until done.
This was the recipe as given to me - I like to add pecan halves to the top before baking instead of the broken pecans in the mix - either way, it is terrific!
Beat 3 eggs well
Add
1 scant cup sugar
1 cup of White Karo syrup
1 cup of broken pecans
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Pour into raw (unbaked) pie crust and bake at 325 degrees until done.
This was the recipe as given to me - I like to add pecan halves to the top before baking instead of the broken pecans in the mix - either way, it is terrific!
Mrs. Biles Sweet Potato Pudding
3 cups grated sweet potatoes
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp soda
1 cup buttermilk
2 tsp ginger
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
Mix all together, cook in oven at 300 degrees about 1 hour or until done.
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp soda
1 cup buttermilk
2 tsp ginger
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
Mix all together, cook in oven at 300 degrees about 1 hour or until done.
Grandmother's Chocolate Pound Cake
This cake is so rich and so heavy and so-o-o-o good!
1/2 lb butter or margarine
1/2 cup crisco (shortening)
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 cup sweet milk (now known as whole milk)
3 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
Per Grandmother Harmon's directions - Mix well adding eggs one at a time to mixture of creamed butter and additional ingredients.
How to do it - cream butter, crisco, and sugar until well mixed. Slowly add flour cocoa, baking powder and vanilla. When well blended add eggs one at a time mixing well between eggs. Bake at 350 degrees until done - usually takes about an hour.
I would like to add a note - I would pull a chair up to watch Grandmother cook. She talked to me the whole time she was working and never told me I was in the way, unless I got too close to the stove. She wrote down her recipes, but she knew I would remember the steps to putting it all together and as I typed this, I realized she was right. I felt as if I was standing in that chair watching her work and talk.
Thanks Grandma, I love you!
1/2 lb butter or margarine
1/2 cup crisco (shortening)
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 cup sweet milk (now known as whole milk)
3 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
Per Grandmother Harmon's directions - Mix well adding eggs one at a time to mixture of creamed butter and additional ingredients.
How to do it - cream butter, crisco, and sugar until well mixed. Slowly add flour cocoa, baking powder and vanilla. When well blended add eggs one at a time mixing well between eggs. Bake at 350 degrees until done - usually takes about an hour.
I would like to add a note - I would pull a chair up to watch Grandmother cook. She talked to me the whole time she was working and never told me I was in the way, unless I got too close to the stove. She wrote down her recipes, but she knew I would remember the steps to putting it all together and as I typed this, I realized she was right. I felt as if I was standing in that chair watching her work and talk.
Thanks Grandma, I love you!
Memorable Thanksgiving
A feast prepared by the talented and loving hands of my family was displayed and then devoured. We ate like we had not eaten all year and then ate some more. My nephew is a Paula Dean fan, so we enjoyed some of her delicious recipes. He told me all the names, but you can forget that, but the fried green tomatoes were a delight. The bread, sausage and cheese casserole was to die for. The pumpkin cheesecake was not only beautiful, but tasty too. Another nephew delighted my taste buds with a pork tenderloin and another with a delicious chocolate peanut butter pie that was not only beautiful, but delicious. The green beans, squash casserole, sweet potatoes, potato salad and macaroni and cheese balanced out the dinner.
The turkeys cooked in apple cider and beer were a real hit as was my daughters dressing as usual. My extra daughter surprised us with her cranberry congealed salad which was delicious. Thanks to my sister in law I had a slice of wonderful coconut pie and pumpkin pie. I am still enjoying the carrot cake my daughter in law brought. The children almost fought over the monkey bread which they finished just before bedtime. The boy cousins had a sleep over at Aunt Nanna Belle's house. It was a real treat for me and I hope for them.
When cousins don't get to see each other often, they have to squeeze every second from every minute they are together. Thank goodness they all get along and are not together long enough to get tired of each other. They had a great time together and built memories for their brain bank.
Mom and Dad arrived and had a great old time. Dad isn't as mobile as he once was, but still manages to get around. We even managed a family picture! It has been a while since everyone was together at one time, so Mom took advantage of it. We have such a great family!
It was a perfect day for the kids to play outside and they took advantage of every minute of daylight, which isn't much this time of year. The older boys took to the woods while our little angels stayed on the porch and did their shopping and tended their dolls. Then they all played a little baseball, but the little one's lack of abilities caused the game to fall short. Give them a few more years and we will have a heck of a ball team. We have 5 girls and 4 boys - just right for a baseball team.
And today, I am thankful for a wonderful Thanksgiving and a loving family.
Happy Reading!
Belle
The turkeys cooked in apple cider and beer were a real hit as was my daughters dressing as usual. My extra daughter surprised us with her cranberry congealed salad which was delicious. Thanks to my sister in law I had a slice of wonderful coconut pie and pumpkin pie. I am still enjoying the carrot cake my daughter in law brought. The children almost fought over the monkey bread which they finished just before bedtime. The boy cousins had a sleep over at Aunt Nanna Belle's house. It was a real treat for me and I hope for them.
When cousins don't get to see each other often, they have to squeeze every second from every minute they are together. Thank goodness they all get along and are not together long enough to get tired of each other. They had a great time together and built memories for their brain bank.
Mom and Dad arrived and had a great old time. Dad isn't as mobile as he once was, but still manages to get around. We even managed a family picture! It has been a while since everyone was together at one time, so Mom took advantage of it. We have such a great family!
It was a perfect day for the kids to play outside and they took advantage of every minute of daylight, which isn't much this time of year. The older boys took to the woods while our little angels stayed on the porch and did their shopping and tended their dolls. Then they all played a little baseball, but the little one's lack of abilities caused the game to fall short. Give them a few more years and we will have a heck of a ball team. We have 5 girls and 4 boys - just right for a baseball team.
And today, I am thankful for a wonderful Thanksgiving and a loving family.
Happy Reading!
Belle
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Mama Cook's 1-2-3-4 Cake
Can you tell I have been cooking - or thinking about it? This is a basic cake recipe handed down for many generations.
1 cup milk
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
4 eggs
1 cup of butter
Mix well - beat on high for about 3 minutes. Bake at 300 degrees until springs to touch.
These old recipes based "mixing" and "cooking" on common sense. Mix well means mixed until ingredients are thoroughly combined but not until the bubbles are frothing. Cook until down or springs to the touch - toothpick in center comes out clean. The women of yesteryear didn't care a whit whether the enzymes had broken down. They just tried to feed their families tasty and filling food. I don't have a clue as to the fat, sugar, protein, or cholesterol content is and really don't care. This cake is good!
1 cup milk
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
4 eggs
1 cup of butter
Mix well - beat on high for about 3 minutes. Bake at 300 degrees until springs to touch.
These old recipes based "mixing" and "cooking" on common sense. Mix well means mixed until ingredients are thoroughly combined but not until the bubbles are frothing. Cook until down or springs to the touch - toothpick in center comes out clean. The women of yesteryear didn't care a whit whether the enzymes had broken down. They just tried to feed their families tasty and filling food. I don't have a clue as to the fat, sugar, protein, or cholesterol content is and really don't care. This cake is good!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Egg Custard Pie
Here is an old, old recipe that makes just about the best basic pie around. Before the advent of the cheese cake, variations of this pie was always at the Sunday table and made for special occasions.
Egg Custard Pie
3 eggs or 6 egg yokes (If you use just the yokes, save the egg whites for whipping into a meringue)
1/3 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups of milk ( I use one can of evaporated and one can of water)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Lightly beat eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla together (mix on medium for 2-3 minutes) or until the eggs start frothing. Pour into pie plate (I use purchased) and bake at 425 for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 and bake until custard is firm.
If you want to add meringue - beat 3 egg whites, 3/4 cup of sugar, and 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar until egg whites are stiff. Pour onto pie and bake at 350 until meringue browns lightly.
This is a really easy pie and doesn't tie you to the kitchen all day! Delicious to boot!
ADD ON:
Add cinnamon or nutmeg a different taste. Some substitute buttermilk for a firmer consistency and slightly different flavor.
Egg Custard Pie
3 eggs or 6 egg yokes (If you use just the yokes, save the egg whites for whipping into a meringue)
1/3 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups of milk ( I use one can of evaporated and one can of water)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Lightly beat eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla together (mix on medium for 2-3 minutes) or until the eggs start frothing. Pour into pie plate (I use purchased) and bake at 425 for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 and bake until custard is firm.
If you want to add meringue - beat 3 egg whites, 3/4 cup of sugar, and 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar until egg whites are stiff. Pour onto pie and bake at 350 until meringue browns lightly.
This is a really easy pie and doesn't tie you to the kitchen all day! Delicious to boot!
ADD ON:
Add cinnamon or nutmeg a different taste. Some substitute buttermilk for a firmer consistency and slightly different flavor.
Beer Butt Turkeys
I know! I know! It is suppose to be Beer Butt Chicken, but my husband along with all his friends and some information from his cooking show has set him on fire.
We regularly cook Beer Butt Chickens - you have to try these if you haven't before. Wash chickens, fill cavity with seasoning of your choice (we love Montreal Chicken by McCormick - they have several combinations to suit your taste), season the outside of the chicken, open beer and stick can into cavity of chicken. I set mine in a small roasting pan for stability and put on grill (on low). It takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours to cook. It is so moist and flavorful - no! it does not take up the taste of the beer!
So, Hubby is going to buy the tall boy beer, pour out the beer and replace the beer with Apple Cider. Season his turkey, ram the can up the rear and let her roll. It will probably take 5- 6 hours to cook. Now, I don't really know if I want him to mess up Thanksgiving dinner and me to end up with no turkey, so I bought a couple of extra turkeys to be on the safe side. I really would have preferred him to experiment before the big event. It probably wouldn't matter, as he keeps getting new tips and ideas as he goes along, so his method changes constantly as does his madness.
Before he gets in today, we may have a whole new menu. But, please, I beg you, those bringing covered dishes please don't change a thing. We must have something to eat! Wish us luck!
Blessing and happiness to all and
Happy Reading
Belle
We regularly cook Beer Butt Chickens - you have to try these if you haven't before. Wash chickens, fill cavity with seasoning of your choice (we love Montreal Chicken by McCormick - they have several combinations to suit your taste), season the outside of the chicken, open beer and stick can into cavity of chicken. I set mine in a small roasting pan for stability and put on grill (on low). It takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hours to cook. It is so moist and flavorful - no! it does not take up the taste of the beer!
So, Hubby is going to buy the tall boy beer, pour out the beer and replace the beer with Apple Cider. Season his turkey, ram the can up the rear and let her roll. It will probably take 5- 6 hours to cook. Now, I don't really know if I want him to mess up Thanksgiving dinner and me to end up with no turkey, so I bought a couple of extra turkeys to be on the safe side. I really would have preferred him to experiment before the big event. It probably wouldn't matter, as he keeps getting new tips and ideas as he goes along, so his method changes constantly as does his madness.
Before he gets in today, we may have a whole new menu. But, please, I beg you, those bringing covered dishes please don't change a thing. We must have something to eat! Wish us luck!
Blessing and happiness to all and
Happy Reading
Belle
I Feel Good
Food is cooking. the smells are divine, fire in the fireplace, the house is almost clean and family is on the way! I love Thanksgiving.
Turkey and Dressing
Venison Roast
All the good relishes
Veggies
and my oh my, pies and cakes and all the goodies!
I have so much to be thankful for this year!
Thank you sweet Jesus for all the blessing you have bestowed upon me and mine this past year. We are far from worthy of your many blessing, but we love you, Jesus, and we pray for your guiding hand in all we say and do. Amen.
Turkey and Dressing
Venison Roast
All the good relishes
Veggies
and my oh my, pies and cakes and all the goodies!
I have so much to be thankful for this year!
Thank you sweet Jesus for all the blessing you have bestowed upon me and mine this past year. We are far from worthy of your many blessing, but we love you, Jesus, and we pray for your guiding hand in all we say and do. Amen.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Out of Pocket Part 2
I have been working in other areas this week and have ignored my readers and this post in the process! I am sorry! My creative skills are limited, but I have been diligently working on reformatting (without changing too much) and adding to my Google Site. Please check it out and tell me what you think. I would welcome some comments from my readers.
The Holiday season is fast approaching and I am far from being prepared. I will get there though and as usual it will probably be just in the nick of time. Turkey and dressing first, then tree, then on and on and on.
I am trying to remember why I needed so desperately to get my sewing machine moved. (see article ) I have managed to come up with a few ideas today, but all the great things I had planned to do has slipped away. It will come back, just had a lot on my mind today. Then hubby came in and a pair of pants needed repair. NOW I remember why it had to be moved now. I knew something was going to rip out or tear up and I would need my machine in a hurry. Stuff happens.
My garden is in limbo right now - not dead, but not doing much either. It is waiting for me to get tired of looking at the droopy flower heads (that I should have deadheaded a long time ago) or for that big frost to come that will finish them off. I have raked twice as many leaves as those that fell today and the trees are still turning loose with steady abandon. It too will wait for another day.
I am trying to decide which coupons I have printed off the web are legitimate and which are fakes. I sure don't want to get to the checkout line and some aggressive cashier handcuff me for trying to use a counterfeit coupon. Boy, life sure is getting confusing. I handed the cashier a twenty dollar bill the other day and she examined it for 3 minutes to make sure she didn't have to call the police and then explained she didn't have a "pen". Good grief I would have loaned her mine if I had known!
I normally don't cook sweets. I don't need them, but if they are here I will surely eat. I look forward to the Holiday feasts and the excuse to make yummy pies, cakes, and other goodies. Most will never see Thanksgiving Day as I will finish them off the night before the big dinner just to make room in the fridge for other stuff. I love anything with creamy chocolate, carmel and nuts - any kind - walnuts, pecans, peanuts. That combo seems to make me really smile, you know the ear to ear smile.
Have to run. I am going through all my old recipes to reminesce and then I'll something quick and easy to do. My heart is in the right place, the body is just lazy!
Happy reading!
Belle
Update: I am searching for a recipe for a Humingbird Cake. If you have said recipe I would appreciate a copy. Many thanks!
The Holiday season is fast approaching and I am far from being prepared. I will get there though and as usual it will probably be just in the nick of time. Turkey and dressing first, then tree, then on and on and on.
I am trying to remember why I needed so desperately to get my sewing machine moved. (see article ) I have managed to come up with a few ideas today, but all the great things I had planned to do has slipped away. It will come back, just had a lot on my mind today. Then hubby came in and a pair of pants needed repair. NOW I remember why it had to be moved now. I knew something was going to rip out or tear up and I would need my machine in a hurry. Stuff happens.
My garden is in limbo right now - not dead, but not doing much either. It is waiting for me to get tired of looking at the droopy flower heads (that I should have deadheaded a long time ago) or for that big frost to come that will finish them off. I have raked twice as many leaves as those that fell today and the trees are still turning loose with steady abandon. It too will wait for another day.
I am trying to decide which coupons I have printed off the web are legitimate and which are fakes. I sure don't want to get to the checkout line and some aggressive cashier handcuff me for trying to use a counterfeit coupon. Boy, life sure is getting confusing. I handed the cashier a twenty dollar bill the other day and she examined it for 3 minutes to make sure she didn't have to call the police and then explained she didn't have a "pen". Good grief I would have loaned her mine if I had known!
I normally don't cook sweets. I don't need them, but if they are here I will surely eat. I look forward to the Holiday feasts and the excuse to make yummy pies, cakes, and other goodies. Most will never see Thanksgiving Day as I will finish them off the night before the big dinner just to make room in the fridge for other stuff. I love anything with creamy chocolate, carmel and nuts - any kind - walnuts, pecans, peanuts. That combo seems to make me really smile, you know the ear to ear smile.
Have to run. I am going through all my old recipes to reminesce and then I'll something quick and easy to do. My heart is in the right place, the body is just lazy!
Happy reading!
Belle
Update: I am searching for a recipe for a Humingbird Cake. If you have said recipe I would appreciate a copy. Many thanks!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Not My Style
"Wonderful story, but not my style" - "Good story, you need a publisher" same ole story a dozen times ten. Duh!?! One publisher has held my manuscripts for 4 months. Are they lost in a stack or can they not bear to tell me my stories are no good? Maybe my stories are good, but I can't write! Oh well, on to the next group of 12. Thanks for letting me vent.
By the time I get published, I'll have a book of short stories!
By the time I get published, I'll have a book of short stories!
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