White Cookie

I got this recipe a very long time ago, from a family friend.  It works for any occasion, and tastes great with or without frosting.


Ingredients
2 cups soft butter
6 cups flour
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
6 Tbsp milk
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt


Directions
Preheat oven to 350*.

Combine butter and flour as for pie crust.

In small bowl, beat eggs, then add the rest of the ingredients.

Combine the two mixtures.  Cover and chill for several hours.

Roll dough on floured surface and cut into desired shapes.

Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes.

Frost and decorate, if desired.

Momma's Homemade Pizza

This is something I have been making since I was about 16 years old.  I have a well-loved pan that I use, that is no longer made, so I cannot replace it.  I look, on occasion, for another, similar pan, but have not been successful.  This pizza has evolved over the years, and finds itself on our menu usually once a week.


Ingredients
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
3 cups flour
1 egg
2 Tbsp. oil
pinch white sugar
pinch salt
splash milk
splash vanilla
crisco
1 jar Pizza Quick sauce
1 pound mozzarella, shredded
½ pound colby-jack cheese, shredded
toppings, as desired


Directions
Preheat oven to 425*.

Mix yeast and warm water in large bowl.

Add flour, egg, oil, sugar, salt, milk, and vanilla.  Using a dough hook, mix until not sticky, adding more flour if needed.  Optional - cover and let rise for up to 30 minutes.

Using your fingers, spread dough on greased pan, creating edges by going up the sides of the pan so that the cheese does not melt off during baking.

Bake at 425* for about 14 minutes, turning half-way through.  Times vary depending on oven.

Let cool for 10 minutes.

Use paper towels to soak up excess grease on top of pizza.  You may need to go over the pizza a few times if you have added pepperoni or sausage.

Cut into pieces and enjoy!

Cheesecake

From the early days of our marriage, my husband has loved my cheesecake.  So much so, that at his family's gatherings, I was always required to bring this cheesecake.


Ingredients
1 package graham crackers
2 Tbsp sugar
1 stick butter, melted
2 packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs


Directions
Preheat oven to 350*

Crush graham crackers in gallon zip-log baggie.  Use a rolling pin to crush all pieces.  Combine crushed graham crackers, sugar, and melted butter in s small bowl.  Press mixture into bottom and half-way up the sides of a springform pan.  Bake at 350* for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and reduce heat to 300*.

Beat cream cheese.  Add sugar gradually, ¼ cup at a time, scraping bowl between each addition.  Beat until fluffy.

Add vanilla, beat for one minute, scrape bowl, and beat for one more minute.

Add one egg at a time, scraping bowl between each addition.

Pour mixture into pan.  Bake at 300* for 80 minutes.  Let cool for at least 1 hour before placing in refrigerator.  Let set for at least two hours.

Apple Cranberry Stuffing

This comes from last year.  I wanted to try something new for Thanksgiving....something different.  So, I searched and searched online, and found this.  I have made it twice this year, once for Thanksgiving, and once for a Christmas party.


Ingredients
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried cranberries
¼ cup butter
½ onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped
3 eggs
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ tsp cinnamon
2 packages Hawaiian sweet rolls


Directions
On the night before, cut Hawaiian rolls into ½-inch cubes.  I cut them through the center (top-bottom), then slice each into thirds, and into thirds the other way.  Spread out and set onto cookie racks to dry overnight.

Preheat oven to 350*.  Lightly grease a 13x9x2 baking dish.

In small bowl, combine chicken broth and cranberries.  Let sad for 30 minutes.

In large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.  Add onions, celery, salt, and pepper.  Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently or until tender.  Add apples and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat and place in a large bowl.

In a small bowl, beat 3 eggs.  Set aside.

In the large onion/celery/apples bowl, stir in cranberry mixture, chicken soup, and cinnamon.  Add Hawaiian rolls, stirring gently to combine.  Add eggs.  Spoon mixture into prepared dish.

Bake at 350* for 30-40 minutes, or until center is set.

Coconut Cranberry Muffins

This has to be my most-used recipe.  I discovered it while on a trip to Sedona, AZ.  My husband and I went down for a few days to a Bed and Breakfast called Adobe Village Inn.  We stayed in a little cottage, and were provided with a wonderful breakfasts each day.  Upon leaving, I was going to purchase one of their recipe books, but it did not contain the muffin recipe.  The owner went and made a copy for me, which I happily shared with everyone that has tried these.


Ingredients
2 cups flour
⅓ cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
6 oz milk
5 oz applesauce (I use 1 Mott's applesauce cup)
5 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp coconut extract
½ cup grated coconut
1 egg
1 cup chopped, dried cranberries
½ cut white chocolate chips


Directions
Preheat oven to 400*.  Combine all ingredients.  Fill lined muffin tins and bake for 15 minutes.  Let cool on rack and enjoy!  :)

Char's Bar and Grill

Char's Bar and Grill.....Right next to Joe's Pool Hall


The name comes from a time as a teen, when I was at the local mall with my little brother.  We came across a place that did airbrush signs.  His name, Joey, fit well into "Joe's Pool Hall", (with a blue, brick background), so we got that for him.  We couldn't think of something for my name.  Finally, we decided on "Char's Bar and Grill" (with a pink, tropical background), which would be located next to Joe's Pool Hall, of course.  (We figured that if you are going to play pool, you will get hungry and thirsty!)  We hung them into our bedrooms, and were happy with our purchases.  I don't know if my brother still has his sign, but mine is hanging in my craft room, right above the door, just as it was when I was a kid.

The purpose of this blog is to share my favorite recipes.  So, check it out and try something new!