Aunt Ruth's Snickerdoodles

The star of the this family recipe is Aunt Ruth. I my opinion  one of the most wonderful people to walk this planet. She was always so kind and loving. -- and such a good cook. You never left her house hungry

Snickerdoodles

• 1/2 cup soft margarine
• 1/2 cup softening
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 3/4 flour
• 2 tsp cream of tarter
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda

For rolling:

• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon 

Preheat oven to 400.
Cream together sugar margarine and shortening beat in the eggs
Mix flour, cream of tarter, salt and soda
Slowly add to the flour mixture to the margarine   and egg mixture.

shape dough into balls. roll in the cinnamon and sugar.
Place on a cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until set.
Should get about 6 dozen














Adams Family Cookbook, cookies,

Sunday Pot Roast

 

Here's Sunday pot roast on Monday. All you need is a crock pot.

• 2 1/2 lb pork shoulder 
• 3 cups green beans
• 4 cups diced potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 small green bell pepper chopped
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 cups baby carrots.
• 14 cup stock
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

This is the easy part, add all the ingredients to a crock pot. Put the roast on the bottom of the crock pot and sprinkle with salt and pepper. add the maple syrup, orange juice and broth. and syrup. add vegetables on top. and cook on low for 7 hours.


crock pot cooking,

Belle's Special Cornbread.

As a food blogger I love creating new recipes and sharing them along with some old family favorites. This recipe is part of that "secret" collection I was never quite sure if I wanted to share. I say this because my Gram made it this way, and I confess I prefer cornbread make like this. No flour,and  no sugar, It's sweet enough and firm enough all on it's own. Gram always said cornbread make with flour and sugar was corn-cake not cornbread.

Depending on the texture you want, choose course ground of a finer ground cornmeal.  the more course the cornmeal the crumblier the cornbread will be.

Since Gram was from NW Arkansas, there is a great mill, to get fresh organic cornmeal and other goodies. It's call War Eagle Mill outside Rogers, AR. Look them up sometime.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup organic yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 Tsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 egg.

Directions:

Mix the baking soda into the buttermilk.
In a large bowl mix the buttermilk mixture, cornmeal, oil and salt.
Beat the egg, then add it to the mixture
Preheat oven to 350. In a well seasoned cast iron skillet, add a little oil. Place it on the the stove top on medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the batter. Let it cook on the stove top for 2 or three minutes.This makes a nice crunch crust. Then put it in the oven and bake until a tooth pick tests clean about 20 mins.

Cut in to wedges and serve with melted butter... Yum.

Adams Family Cookbook

Cousin Joyce's Six Flavor Cake

Here's a yummy entry in the  Adams Family Cookbook. This cake is so moist you don't need frosting. I think it's time to put some coffee on.  

Ingredients

• 2 sticks of butter
• 3 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup oil
• 5 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1  tsp coconut extract
• 1 tsp rum extract
• 1 tsp lemon extract
• 1 tsp butter extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract

Directions

1. Cream butter, sugar  and oil until light and fluffy.
2  Add eggs.
3.  Sift dry ingredients together
4.  Alternately add creamed mixture  with milk.
5. Stir in all the extracts.
6. Pour into a tube pan and bake 1 1/2 hours at 325.

Serve and enjoy

Adams Family Cookbook

Mexi-Stuffed Chicken Tenders

So what can you do with chicken tenders, salsa, couscous and Sargento cheese?

That is the question of the month on "Chopped". The Food Network and Sargento Cheese are sponsoring a contest for home chefs.

This is my creation. Stuffed Chicken Tenders.

I made a "risotto" out of the couscous, chicken broth and cheese, added green salsa Verde, garlic, onion and a little lime juice.
Then pound the chicken tenders flat, rolled the couscous in the tender and baked with more salsa on top.
My final presentaton:

Feast your eyes on this entry for @FoodNetwork's #Chopped at Home Challenge! Vote now: http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/chopped/chopped-at-home-challenge/gallery.html?ngxItemID=64802035&r=a11073cf60a21e5e965678d864973321 …
 and vote for Kimberly.

Zesty Asparagus

Asparagus time! Don't you just love fresh asparagus? And this recipe is very simple to make. This goes great with pork, chicken, grilled shrimp... 

Ingredients

• 1 cup (about 4 oz.) sliced mushrooms  
• 1/4 cup Italian Salad Dressing  
• 1 tsp. lemon juice  
• 1 lb. asparagus spears, ends removed  
• 2 Tbsp. PLANTERS Sliced Almonds  
• 3 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbl melted butter

MIX mushrooms, dressing and lemon juice in large nonstick skillet; cook on medium heat 3 to 5 minutes or just until mushrooms are tender, stirring frequently.

TOP with asparagus; cover. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender.

SPRINKLE with almonds, lemon zest and butter

Magic Lemon Pie

I guess I'm just in pie mode, and Gram has been on my mind lately. She made the best pies It's a wonder we didn't weigh 400 pounds. Going through her cookbook, I found the Magic Lemon, Yummy another favorite. Enjoy

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs, separated
• 2 tsp  grated lemon rind
• 1 can  Eagle Brand® sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup  lemon juice
• 1 9" baked pastry shell or prepared graham pie crust
• ¼ tsp  cream of tartar
• ¼ cup  sugar

Preparation:

1. Beat egg yolks; whisk in lemon rind, sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice. Pour into prepared crust.
2. Bake in preheated 325°F oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Increase oven temperature to 350°F.
3. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy; gradually add sugar beating until stiff peaks form but not dry. Spread meringue on top of hot pie, sealing carefully to edge of crust.
4. Return to oven and bake for 10 minutes or until meringue is golden brown. Cool. Chill before serving, if desired.


Adams Family Cookbook

Best Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 2 cups onion, chopped
• 2 cups celery, chopped
• 4 medium potatoes, cubed
• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• 8 oz chicken stock
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 cup water
• 2 (28oz) cans chopped tomatoes
• ½ tsp basil
• ½ tsp oregano
• ½ tsp pepper
• Salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley
• 2 lb fresh cooked chicken breast fillets, chopped into cubes.

Instructions: 

In a large pot, heat the oil. Add chopped peppers, celery, onion, garlic and carrots and cook for about 15 minutes. Add the potatoes, clam juice, water and stir. 

Then add basil, oregano, pepper and parsley and bring to a quick boil. Lower temperature to medium and simmer the soup until the potatoes are beginning to soften. Add the cans of tomatoes and simmer for a further 30 minutes. 

Add the chicken for the last 3 minutes, or until heated through. . Adjust seasoning to taste

Let the soup stand for a little while, then serve with crusty French bread.

12 Budget-Minded Mood Boosting Foods

Top 12 Mood Boosting Foods to Try on a Budget

Happiness is only a few forks and spoons away. Diet can affect moods, and specific foods can be used to improve how you feel. However, splurging on expensive saffron isn’t necessary. These mood boosting foods are easy to add to a budget-conscious grocery list. 

The food you consume affects body and brain chemistry, so it’s important to choose the right ingredients while shopping.

Put these items in your shopping cart and enjoy:

Turmeric. Turmeric is an inexpensive spice available in grocery stores. It influences the brain by increasing neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of happiness.

Tomatoes. The lycopene in tomatoes is linked to the reduction of inflammatory compounds. These compounds affect the mood and lead to depression, so eating tomatoes is one way to stay happy.

Cherry tomatoes are recommended over regular tomatoes because they have more lycopene. However, all tomatoes have this important nutrient.

Beets. This vegetable belongs on the mood boosting grocery list because of betaine. It’s a special compound capable of making antidepressant molecules in the brain and protecting cells from stress.

Beets also have betalains that are responsible for reducing inflammation in the body. Studies show that inflammation contributes to depression.

Beets improve your mood by slowly releasing sugar as they’re digested.

Celery. It’s a popular diet food, but it’s also a great mood enhancer. Celery has 3-n-butylphthalide, the chemical responsible for reducing stress hormones, in large quantities.

Asparagus. Its tryptophan levels make it a vegetarian alternative to turkey. Asparagus’ tryptophan contributes to the creation of positive neurotransmitters in the brain.

Asparagus’ folate levels also play a role in boosting your mood. Folate is also needed to make positive neurotransmitters. The study, “Is low folate a risk factor for depression? A meta-analysis and exploration of heterogeneity,” showed that people with low amounts of folate in their body are more likely to suffer from depression.

Swiss chard. Do you want to increase your energy while lifting your mood? Swiss chard helps both of these areas with its magnesium.

Magnesium is an essential mineral linked to a happier state of mind.

Lentils. Lentils are a common budget grocery staple, and they can improve your mood. Lentils are a good source of folate, which helps the brain avoid depression. 

Lentils also have L-tyrosine. It’s an important amino acid used by the brain to make happy neurotransmitters. Lentils are a healthy, simple, and inexpensive way to stay positive.

Oatmeal. Steel cut or flavored, oatmeal is another way to boost your mood.

Oatmeal has high levels of magnesium necessary to stay positive. It also has fiber that reduces blood sugar spikes and prevents mood swings.

Honey. Honey can calm your nerves and decrease anxiety. Multiple nutrients are responsible for this effect.

Eggs. Eggs have the same tryptophan found in turkeys, so they’re an essential part of creating good neurotransmitters in the brain.

Vitamin D fortified cereal. Name brands aren’t necessary to get a vitamin D boost from your cereal. A budget-conscious grocery list can include less expensive generic versions as long as they’re fortified with the vitamin.

Vitamin D is essential for the creation of serotonin. This neurotransmitter makes you feel happy and calm, so it’s important to get enough vitamin D to make it naturally.

Dark chocolate. Bulk and generic versions of dark chocolate are less expensive, so they can fit a budget grocery list. 

Dark chocolate lowers the amount of stress hormones in the body. Additionally, its cocoa flavanols make you feel calmer. A study from the Swinburne University of Technology found that eating dark chocolate was linked to better moods.

The right diet can boost your mood naturally. Plus, you can purchase plenty of mood enhancing foods on a budget.

Delicious Spicy Cucumber Salad For 2

 Ingredients:

 

• 1 large cucumber, cut into small chunks
  • 4 green onions, thinly sliced
  • ½ red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced
  • Juice of lime
  • 2 tbsp of soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp water
  • ½ tsp sugar

 

Instructions:

 

Place cucumber chunks, onions and chilli into a bowl. Add the lime juice, soy sauce and sugar. Combine and chill for a few hours.

 

This makes a great side salad with any BBQ meat.