Chocolate and Nut Bars

1 3/4 cups corn flake crumbs
1 pkg 6 oz semisweet chocolate bits
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 can 15 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 can 3 1/2 oz flaked coconut
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
powdered sugar (optional)

In large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients except the powdered sugar. Spread mixture into a 11" x x7" greased baking pan or dish. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars when cool.

Fudge

The heart of homemade candies, fudge is loved by all. I have two recipes to share. The Peanut Butter fudge is my favorite and also my downfall.

Chocolate Fudge

2 squares unsweetened chocolate ( 2 oz)
2 cups sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup evaporated milk
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts - walnuts or pecans are best (optional)

Finely grate or chop chocolate pieces into a small bowl. Ina 2 quart saucepan, cook sugar, salt, chocolate and milk slowly (medium low) stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Cook over medium heat to softball stage (235 degrees) stirring constantly. Cool, then add butter and vanilla beating on medium until fudge starts to stiffen. Add nuts and continue to beat until fudge starts to set. Pour fudge into a buttered 8" x 8" or 9" x 13" dish or pan. Allow to thoroughly set, cut and devour!

Peanut Butter Fudge - Beware contains nuts for those allergic

2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 cup undiluted evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 jar 12 oz chunk style peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a 2 quart sauce pan or heavy skillet, combine chocolate, milk, sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat, bringing to a light boil and boiling for 4 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in marshmallows, peanut butter and vanilla
extract until evenly blended. Pour into a buttered 8 inch square pan and spread to corners. Chill, cut into square.

Note: this recipe can be made without the chocolate - but why?!?

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Tip - If using all-purpose flour always add 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt for every 1 cup of flour - Self rising flour already has baking powder, baking soda and salt added.

If the recipe has a range of quantity, always start with the lesser amount and add to as needed.

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies


1 to 1 2/3 cups self-rising flour
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening or butter
1 egg
2 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

Sift together flour and sugar twice. Cut butter or shortening into the flour/sugar mixture until mixture resembles coarse mill or oatmeal. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla. Drop or shape cookies, placing on cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated to 375 degrees oven for about 8 minutes.

Note: I like to soften (not melt) the butter and cream the sugar and butter together, adding the flour slowly to the mix.

If I remember right, this recipe makes about 2 dozen large cookies and 3 dozen small cookies - it may be more or less.

This is also a basic cookie dough recipe. Adding cocoa will give you chocolate sugar cookies, but taste the batter, you may need to add more sugar a tbsp at a time. Cocoa needs sweetening, however you can use semi sweet chocolate without adding additional sugar. Most nuts used in baking can be added, if adding pecans - you now have pecan sandies. Raisins or oatmeal can also be added for a change of taste, but I have a killer oatmeal cookie recipe I will post later.

Cookies are easy to bake and an inexpensive way to experiment with baking. Make a batch with shortening and then one with butter and see which you prefer. More or less vanilla can be used, depending on taste. Experiment, eat well, but most of all have fun!

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!