Danish Apple Squares

Danish Apple Squares

serves about 20

family recipe

Crust:

3 cups flour

1 Tb. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter

Combine dry ingredients, then cut in shortening & butter as like pie crust. 

1 egg yolk

milk

2 Tbs. butter

Put egg yolk into measuring cup & add enough milk to make 2/3 cup, mix well. Mix egg yolk/milk into flour mixture to make soft dough. Divide into 2 portions, one slightly larger than the other. Sprinkle more flour on pastry board & roll out larger dough portion first for the bottom crust. Place rolled crust into bottom & sides of a standard jelly roll pan (11 x 16 inches). Spread 2 Tbs. soft butter on bottom crust. Roll out the top crust. 

Apple filling:

5-8 large apples (Granny Smith, Braeburn, or your choice or combination of cooking apples)

2 Tbs.cornstarch

1 cup brown or white sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. frozen lemonade concentrate

Peel & slice apples, making 6 to 8 cups. Mix sugar, cornstarch & cinnamon together, then mix into sliced apples & add lemonade concentrate & mix again. Spread apple mixture onto the buttered crust in pan. Cover with top crust. Patching & sealing crust with ice water as needed. Make a few slits on top crust.

Bake 375 degrees for about 55-60 or until crust is golden brown & apples bubble.

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. frozen lemonade concentrate

1 - 2 Tbs. milk

Combine to make glaze pourable & drizzle over cooled pastry.

This recipe has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember but it was forgotten about until recently.  My mom has been leading the baking and we've been making these bars almost every weekend we go to the lake - either to bring to church Sunday morning or just to eat ourselves!  My mom came up with this recipe based on a Danish Apple Squares recipe she received "in the 80's".  But it's diverted so much for the original that she thinks it needs a new name.  Sisters Bars? (Since these bars are much easier when made with sisters/cousins/aunts!)  Marry Me Apple Bars (The men in your life LOVE them!)  Better-Than-Buckhunter Bars?  (The guys say they'll drop the rifles as soon as these come out of the oven!)  Whatever they're called, they are becoming our family's signature dessert!  

Porcupine Meatballs

Porcupine Meatballs
family recipe
serves about 6

2 Pounds Ground Hamburger
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
1/2 Cup Rice, Uncooked
1 Package Dry Onion Soup Mix, Divided
1 Small Can Tomato Sauce
1 Teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet or Worcestershire  Sauce

Mix together hamburger, pepper, rice, and half of the onion soup mix (about 2 teaspoons).  Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls.  Brown the meatballs in a frying pan, but don't cook all the way through.  Place browned meatballs in a casserole dish.  In a separate small bowl mix together the tomato sauce, 1/2 can of water, the rest of the onion soup mix, and the kitchen bouquet.  Pour sauce over meatballs and bake at 350 for 1 hour, covered.  Serve with mashed potatoes.

I was talking with my sister a few weeks ago and these meatballs came up in the conversation.  My mom use to make them for us all the time when we were growing up.  I had totally forgot about porcupine meatballs and I decided I needed to make them ASAP.  I have to say, they are as good as I remember.  Perfect weather-is-getting-cold-and-I-need-some-comfort-food!

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies
family recipe
makes 3 dozen cookies

1 1/4 Cups Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Cup Shortening
1/4 Cup Butter, Softened
1/2 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 Egg
Additional Sugar For Topping (optional)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt together.  Set aside.  In a medium bowl, beat together shortening, butter, peanut butter, and white and brown sugars.  Mix in flour mixture. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and dip the balls into additional sugar if desired.  Flatten crisscross style with a fork or ridged end of a meat mallet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or just until edges begin to brown.

My husband eats peanut butter like it's going out of style.  Do you remember that commercial where this mom sends her college daughter a jar of peanut butter and she sits around eating it by the spoonful?  That's what my husband does. Every day. 

Pink Peppermint Cake

Pink Peppermint Cake
Family Recipe

1 Box White Cake Mix
1 Stick of Butter, Sotftened*
1 Teaspoon Peppermint Extract
Red Food Coloring
1 Jar of Fudge (Mrs. Richards is best!)
16 oz. Cool Whip**
1/2 Teaspoon Peppermint

Make cake mix as directed except substitute butter for oil.  Mix in 1 teaspoon peppermint and add a few drops of red food coloring.  Bake as directed on box. Let the cake cool.

When the cake has cooled, spread the fudge on top.  Mix together the cool whip, 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint and a few drops of red food coloring.  Spread the cool whip over the fudge.  Plate using your fanciest china and enjoy!

*Can substitute shortening for some of the butter for a different texture!
**Can substitute real whip cream for the cool whip.  Beat together 3 cups heaving whipping cream and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until soft peaks form.

I've been holding out on you.  This recipe is one of my favorites and I'm just now posting it!  I only have it once a year since it's the only cake that I will have on my birthday.  I'm very particular about the way it's made, it's gotta be just right!  On my 21st birthday, my family came up to visit me at college and, of course, were bringing up my cake to help me celebrate.  I had a particularly rough week and was especially looking forward to having a slice. My mom got all the forks and plates ready and I lifted up the lid of the cake and to my horror I found that it was GREEN!  Not my PINK peppermint cake!  My mom had made it with Creme De Mint instead of the peppermint extract and as a result, I had a green cake.  We still laugh about that now.

Apple Pie

Apple Pie
family recipe
serves 8


Crust:
2 1/3 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Shortening
1/4 Cup Butter
1 or 2 Tablespoons Water

Filling:
About 6 Cups Apples, Peeled and Chopped.  We used 4 Granny Smith Apples and 2 Honey Crisp
1 Tablespoon Frozen Lemonade Concentrate
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Corn Starch
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Butter

For the crust:  In a medium bowl mix together flour and salt.  Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening and butter.  Add water a little at a time. The dough should be pretty crumbly.  Set aside.

For the filling:  In a large bowl toss the chopped apples with the lemonade concentrate.  In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, brown sugar, corn starch, and cinnamon.  Combine sugar mixture with the apples.  Set aside.

Back to the crust:  Divide the dough into two parts, one a little bigger than the other (about 40:60 ratio).  Take the larger and roll it out on a lightly floured surface, using additional flour if needed so that it doesn't stick to the board or the rolling pin.  Carefully transfer the crust to a 10-inch pie pan.  If the dough breaks just wet your fingers with a little water and patch the crust back together.  Make sure the dough goes all the way up the sides of the pan.  Spread about a tablespoon of butter on the crust then add the apples.  Roll out the other ball of dough, same as the bottom crust and transfer carefully on top of the apples.  Cut some slits on top if yours made it all in one piece and bake it at 375 for about an hour until crust is golden brown and nice and bubbly.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

In honor of Pi Day, March 14, I thought it would be fun to have pie!  I'm visiting my parents for a few days so I suggested to my mother that we bake an apple pie since she is the resident pie expert.  Also, I don't have to do all the dishes. My mom is a serious pie baker... so are all of her sisters, my aunts.  At family gatherings we usually have about 6 different options of pie.  Minimum.  Mmmmmmm....

Bean Salad For A Crowd

Bean Salad For A Crowd
from my mom's kitchen
serves a lot!

For The Salad:
1 Can Black Beans, Drained and Rinsed
1 Can Pinto Beans, Drained and Rinsed
1 Can Corn, Drained
1 Medium Yellow Onion, Chopped Finely
1 Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped

For The Dressing:
1/3 Cup Cider Vinegar
1/3 Cup Canola Oil
1/3 Cup Sugar
Salt and Pepper, To Taste

In a large bowl, mix all salad ingredients together.  In a separate bowl, mix ingredients for dressing and pour over the bean salad.  Garnish with fresh chopped parsley (optional).  Easy!

Bring this crowd-pleasing side dish to your next potluck.  Very easy and versatile!  Add whatever beans you have lying around and switch up the veggies to your taste.  Since the dressing is a 1:1:1 ratio, you can make this salad as big or as small as you need!  Enjoy!

Soup Week: Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup
Sent To Me From My Aunt Sheila
Serves 4

1 Pound Ground Beef, Browned and Drained
1 10 3/4 Oz. Can Condensed Tomato Soup
14. 5 Can Diced Tomatoes, Undrained
1 Cup Green Pepper, Diced (About 1 Pepper)
1/2 Cup Onion, Diced (About 1/2 Small Onion)
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
Salt and Pepper, Garlic Powder, and Chipotle Powder, To Taste
3 Cups Beef Broth
1 Cup Cooked Rice

Add all ingredients except rice into a slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low setting for 4-6 hours or until pepper and onion are tender.  About 15 minutes before serving, stir in rice and heat through.

I did not follow directions carefully on this recipe... I forgot the tomatoes and cooked the soup on high instead of low!  Whoops!  The soup forgave me and it was delicious!  Next time I think I'll add some corn and a can of beans to stretch this dish a little farther.  This would also be a great recipe that you can prep ahead of time and freeze till you're ready to cook.  Brown the beef and chop the veggies and put it in the freezer.  Have the rest of the ingredients ready to go in your pantry and you've got a really easy meal for a busy day!  Thanks for the great recipe, Aunt Sheila!

Easter Egg Nest Cookies

Easter Egg Nest Cookies

2/3 Cup Flour

5 Cups Flaked Coconut (Or (1) 14.5 oz. Package)

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Food Coloring in a Variety of Easter Colors

1 Package Candy Coated Chocolate Egg Candies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour, coconut, and salt in a medium bowl.  Add condensed milk and vanilla.  Divide coconut mixture into separate small bowls (with separate spoons) depending on how many colors you wish to use.  (i.e. 4 colours = 4 bowls).  Add a couple of drops of coloring in each bowl and stir to mix.  Spoon tablespoon-full drops onto a greased baking sheet then use the spoon and a clean finger to shape into nest shapes.  Bake 12-15 minutes.  Let cookies cool and press eggs into nests. 

I finally found my camera charger.... just in time for Easter!  Earlier this afternoon I impulsively decided to make these cookies after I saw a similar recipe online, then called my mother for her recipe.  When I went to the store to pick up the ingredients, they were practically sold out of all Easter candy.  I even went to a different store... same story.  So I settled for some foil wrapped chocolate eggs, not ideal but they'll have to do!  In other news, M just accepted a job.  We are both very excited!  In June we will be moving into a hotel for 6 weeks while he does training.  So I will be either doing a 'Microwave Month' or most likely not doing any cooking during our stay there.  In the meantime, I hope to catch up on some of the things I made over the last month!

Bruch-osaurus

Brunch-osaurus

family recipe

2-3 Hard Boiled Eggs, Chopped (How to Cook Hard Boiled Eggs)

1/2 Pound Ground Sausage

Butter (Optional)

2 Tablespoons Flour

1 Cup Milk

Salt and Pepper To Taste

Brown the sausage, breaking it up as it cooks over medium heat.  Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon.  Pour out drippings except for 2 tablespoons.  Add an additional 2 tablespoons of butter, if desired.  Whisk in the flour until smooth and bubbles start to appear.  Slowly pour in milk, while whisking and let it cook until it slowly bubbles and thickens.  Toss in the cooked sausage and hard boiled eggs.  Cook until sausage and eggs are heated through.  Season to taste.  Serve over toasted English muffins.

Brunch-osaurus rawwwwwrrrrrr!  My mom use to make this when I was growing up and when she sent me the recipe, she it needed a name.  So when I made it for brunch the other day, my creative husband suggested "brunch-osaurus", which I couldn't top.  He also said this was the best brunch that I've ever made!  Plus, I love sausage... and hard boiled eggs... and my husband :)

White Chili

White Chili

from my cousin-in-law, Jo

1 Pound Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast, Cut into 1/2 Inch Cubes, or 1 Large Can Chicken

1 Large Onion, Diced

1 1/2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder, or 1 Clove Garlic, Minced

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper, to Taste

2 Cans Great Northern Beans or Cannellini Beans, Rinsed and Drained

2 Cans Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth

1 (4 oz.) Can Chopped Green Chilies

1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin

1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1 Cup Reduced Fat Sour Cream

Splash of Milk

In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion and garlic with salt and pepper in oil until onions are translucent and chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream and milk. Serve immediately.

This was perfect for a cold winter day. Hubby and I both loved it! Honestly, it didn't even need a side dish. Now, let's get real... obviously I went for the canned chicken. I don't think the canned hindered the dish at all. If you're feeling ambitious, you can even cook fresh chicken ahead of time. As for the chicken broth, you should always buy low sodium chicken broth so that you can better control the sodium in the dish. At least that's what I've learned after watching Food Network for the last 18 months. Also, in the origional recipe, Jo calls for 2 tablespoons of fat-free half-and-half, but I substituted milk since I was fresh out of cream. Fun fact: the garnish is a mini Baby Bell cheese sliced and fanned out. Thanks for the great recipe, Jo!

Holiday Morning French Toast

Holiday Morning French Toast

family recipe

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter, Melted

3 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon (divided)

3 Tart Apples (Such as Granny Smith) Peeled, Cored, and Thinly Sliced

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries or Raisins

1 Loaf Italian or French Bread Cut into 1-Inch Cubes (Or 9 Slices of Texas Bread)

6 Large Eggs

1 1/2 Cups Milk

1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract

Combine brown sugar, butter, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a 13x9-inch baking dish. Add apples and cranberries, toss to coat well. Spread apple mixture evenly over bottom of baking dish. Arrange bread cubes on top. In a separate bowl, mix eggs, vanilla, and remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon until well blended. Pour mixture over bread, soaking bread completely. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 24 hours. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Like I said, in the last post, I didn't do much cooking this Christmas. I didn't make this, but I ate it! My mom makes it every Christmas morning. And every time she makes it she forgets to make it far enough in advance to refrigerate it overnight (since that would be Christmas Eve, after all, so we'll forgive her) Side note: french toast is my favorite. So are dried cranberries. So is Christmas! Win-win-win!

Whipped Shortbread Cookies

Whipped Shortbread Cookies

family recipe

3 Cups Butter, Softened

1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

4 1/2 Cups Flour

1 1/2 Cups Cornstarch

Sprinkles

Beat butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add dry ingredients (no need to premix dry ingredients before incorporating) Roll into 1 inch balls and dip the balls in the sprinkles. Bake at 300 degrees for 20-22 minutes.

Friends, since I'm still a 'kid' in the eyes of those who provide the big holiday family feasts I didn't do much cooking or baking this Christmas. However, I did help my mom make these little treasures. There are only four ingredients in the cookie - how awesome is that?! As for the sprinkles, you'll want to use ones that are the big crystallized ones... the ones that look like raw sugar. I'm not sure on the official name for those. Use red and pink sprinkles for Valentine's Day. Or stuff with a macadamia nut and dip in chocolate. Or add a 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. Whipped shortbread cookies are so versatile!

Tater-Tot Hot Dish

Tater-Tot Hot Dish

from my mom's kitchen

-1 to 1 1/2 Pounds Hamburger, Crumbled and Browned

-1 Can Cream of Chicken or Cream of Mushroom Soup

-3 Tablespoons Sour Cream

-1 or 2 Teaspoons Kitchen Bouquet

-1 Package (12-16 oz.) Frozen Mixed Veggies (Carrots, Corn, Peas, Etc.)

-1 Package (24 oz.) Frozen Tater Tots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan, layer frozen veggies on bottom. Into the pan in which you've browned the hamburger, stir the can of soup, about 1/3 to 1/2 can of water, kitchen bouquet, and sour cream. Layer the meat mixture on top of frozen veggies, then tater tots. Bake for about 45-55 minutes or until bubbly and tater tots are golden.

Classic. Homey. Comfort food. Delish!

Lefse

Lefse
special family recipe

Equipment needed: Lefse board, Lefse turner, Lefse Grill

Equipment needed: I heart lefse apron. Use those muscles to mix

the potato mixture, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt!

Ready the assembly line

"Roll the balls thin enough so you can see the writing underneath!" says the Lefse Nazi

Carefully transport the lefse to the grill. Sometimes it sticks

to the board and tears... and we don't' like our lefse holey!

It's all in the wrist

Let it cook on the grill for a minute on each side till you see spots.

Butter and Cinnamon sugar are a must.

Roll it up and eat it!

Recipe:

8 Cups Red Potatoes

1/2 Cup Butter (1 Stick)

1/2 Cup Cream

Prepare as like whipped potatoes, cover, refrigerate overnight

Use:

3 Cups of Potato Mixture

1 1/2 Cups Flour

1 Tablespoon Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

Dash of Salt

Use a pastry cutter and work dough till it comes together. Form into 1/4 -1/3 cup balls. Roll thin and bake on lefse grill at 450 - 500 degrees.

(With a strong ND accent) Up here in Nort Dakota we make lots a lefse for da holidays, ya! (End strong ND accent) I have lots of memories making lefse with my mom (the 'Lefse Nazi')and sister. Serve with butter and cinnamon-sugar mixture and embrace Norwegian heritage.

Susan's Pumpkin Bars

Susan's Pumpkin Bars

from the kitchen of Aunt Susan

Bars:

2 Cups Sugar

4 Eggs

2 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

2 Cups Pumpkin

1 Cup Oil

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sugar and eggs in a large bowl. Mix by hand- don't use a mixer! Stir in flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Then add vanilla, pumpkin, oil, and cinnamon. Pour batter in a greased (or sprayed) 11x17 pan and bake 20-30 minutes. Frost with cream cheese frosting when bars are cool.

Frosting:

4 oz. Cream Cheese

1/2 Cup Butter

1 Teaspoon Cream or Milk

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

2 Cups Powdered Sugar, Plus More if Needed

Combine with an electric mixer. Lick all utensils and bowl clean.

Well, I hope you have pumpkin saved up from when I first warned you about the shortage! These are AmAzInG! I ended up baking mine 40 or 45 minutes. I think it was because I used a different pan size than the recommended 11x17. When I checked it after it had been in the oven for 30 minutes, I saw that the edges and top was getting done a lot faster than the middle, so I turned the temp down to 300 and checked it every 5 minutes after that. The bars turned out more like a cake, but that's fine with me! Perfect for a fall afternoon with a cup of coffee. Thanks Susan!

Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups combined butter and shortening
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 360 degrees. Cream together butter, shortening, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt then add them to the large bowl in 2 or 3 batches. Fold in chocolate chips. Make golf ball size cookies and bake 16-18 minutes.


Who doesn't love Mom's chocolate chip cookies???