Italian Dressing Mix

Heavenly Homemakers

2 TB garlic powder
1/4 C onion powder
2 TB plus 2 tsp oregano
1/4 C parsley
2 TB plus 2 tsp sea salt
4 tsp pepper
1 tsp thyme
2 tsp dried celery

Shake ingredients together and store in a jar.  This is a master batch.

To make Italian salad dressing:
Mix 2 TB mix with 1/4 C vinegar, 2 tsp water, and 1/2 C olive oil.

I found this recipe over at Heavenly Homemakers.  She has all kinds of recipes for homemade salad dressings.  This is also the dry mix we use in our Shredded Beef Tacos (Street Tacos).  It makes yummy salad dressing without all the yucky preservatives in it.  Good stuff!

Love Always,
Mommy

Dry Rub for Steak

Jalinda from MOMYS

1 TB pepper

1 TB parsley

1 TB sea salt

1 TB onion powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp thyme

Combine all the ingredients.  Baste steaks in olive oil.  Rub in dry rub liberally on both sides of the steak.  Grill until cooked.

Master Batch for pantry

1/4 C. pepper

1/2 C. parsley

1/2 C sea salt

1/2 C onion powder

1/3 C garlic powder

8 tsp thyme

Mommy saw this recipe on the MOMYS list in 2009.  We tried it for dinner and we really liked it.  I like to keep a master batch in a glass jar in the pantry so it is ready to go.  This is a fantastic way to season steak.

Love Always,

Mommy

Peanut Butter and Honey Balls

RaShell Southerland

Peanut Butter
Honey
Powdered Sugar
Graham Crackers, crushed

Mix equal amounts of peanut butter, honey, and powdered sugar.  Chill until firm.  Shape into balls and roll in crushed graham crackers.  Store in refrigerator.

Mommy used to make these when she was a little girl.  I don't know where the original recipe came from and I have just remembered it since I was little.  These are very rich!

Love Always, 
Mommy

Chocolate Blancmange

Raising Homemakers

serves~ 4 to 6

2/3 cup sugar

3 tbsp. cornstarch or 2 1/2 TB arrowroot powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 cup good cocoa (or 2 squares unsweetened chocolate)

2 1/4 cups milk

1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

~Toppings~

Fresh Whip Cream

Chocolate Shavings

Berries or Ice Cream

Mix sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cocoa or chocolate into a saucepan. Gradually stir in milk.   Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it starts to thicken.   Boil 1 min. Remove from heat. Blend in vanilla. Serve Warm or Chill…. in souffle cups or sherbet glasses topped with fresh whip cream, raspberries, and or chocolate shavings.

An amazing chocolate pudding that is very rich and delicious.  We made this one day when Mrs. Munoz was here on one of our sewing days.  Several years ago, Mrs. Meredith Munoz used to come to our house for lunch and sewing time.  It was such a precious time with a good friend.  She was newly married at the time.  She now has her precious little girl Charity.  

This pudding was so yummy!  This is not a difficult recipe and it's a fairly quick and easy dessert to make.

Love Always, 

Mommy

Flaky Pie Crust

Velma Durst aka Grandma Durst

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 C shortening
1 large egg
5 TB milk

Cut in first three ingredients with a pastry blender.

In a small bowl, beat egg and milk.  Stir milk mixture into flour with a fork.  Roll out crust.  Before baking, reduce oven temperature to 350-375 degrees.

Grandma Durst could bake like no one I know- she would bake, can, cook, etc.  Auntie Shea was privilege to spend some time with her in the kitchen and Cousin Davia spent a lot of time in the kitchen with Grandma.  Mommy and Auntie Shea didn't live very close to Grandpa & Grandma Durst so we didn't get to spend a lot of time with them but Grandpa and Grandma sure are special people!

Love Always,
Mommy

Wilkes Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Wilkes Team

1 C butter, softened
3/4 C plus 2 TB sugar
3/4 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 TB vanilla extract
3 1/3 C flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 C chocolate chips

Lightly cream butter and sugars in a mixer with flat paddle.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.

Combine dry ingredients.  Alternately add dry ingredients and chocolate chips.  Mix until evenly combined.

Pinch off 1" pieces, roll into balls, place on lightly greased cookie sheets.  Flatten to 1/2" thickness.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until just starting to brown.  Don't over bake!!

The Wilkes Team has made these for us on several occasions and they are the best chocolate chip cookies!  Sarah Wilkes is the queen of making these cookies!  This recipe always reminds Mommy of the Wilkes Team and our dear friends in Virginia.

Love Always,
Mommy

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ginger on MOMYS

1 C peanut butter
1 C sugar
1 egg

Mix well and bake at 350 degrees until done, about 8 minutes. Yields a quick dozen.

Yes, cookies with no flour!  These are super fast to make and yummy too.  I didn't think it would work but decided to try it.  It worked and they were good!  

Love Always,
Mommy

Peppermint Patties

Lynns Kitchen Adventures

3-3/4 C powdered sugar
3 TB butter, softened
2 to 3 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 C evaporated milk
2 C chocolate chips
2 TB shortening

In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Add milk and mix well.  Spread mixture onto a 9"x13" baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.
Melt 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips and 1 1/2 tablespoon of shortening in a double boiler until melted.   Spread over chilled mint mixture and chill until chocolate is set.

Flip bars over and carefully peel or parchment paper. Melt remaining chocolate and shortening and spread over the mint layer. Chill until set.

After firm, bring to room temperature and then cut them. If the chocolate is solid these will be hard to cut. Bring them to room temperature to cut them, and then put them back in the refrigerator to store them.

We have only made these once but they are so very yummy!  Mommy used green food coloring in the mint layer but used too much and they were BRIGHT green.  I was taking them to church at Christmas time and didn't have time to make more so I took them anyway. They looked funny but tasted great.  I suggest going very easy on the food coloring!  :)

Love Always,
Mommy