Today was messy . . . ;)

Today was messy . . . 

(Just keepin' it real here, folks!)

Today was FUN!!!

But tomorrow will be

a RESTFUL one!

Friday is always Preparation Day for Shabbat . . . 

so it can get a little crazy . . . and messy . . .

and somehow everything turns out well in spite of it all!

Today I made the traditional Challah bread

and will share my favorite recipe, plus tips on how to make

these cute Challah rolls

next week, so stay tuned!  Until then . . . 

May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Shabbat Shalom!

Red Box Recipes - Oopsies CAN Be Delicious!!

So if you're looking for the perfect

Better-Homes-N- Gardens

cooking post, ummm . . .

this isn't it.

Unless, you're looking for a surprise,

in which case, you've found it!

Now, you may be thinking

"this looks like granola" -

and, yes it does, but . . .

no, it isn't.

Or, "hmmm, this looks like

something whole grain", and

yes, it does, but

no, it isn't . . . not totally,

anyway!

This (drum roll, please)

is a cookie recipe gone

DELICIOUSLY WRONG!!!

Yep, you read that right - sooo wrong,

and yet so yummy that I

decided to blog about it anyway!

Because it really is worth trying!

I followed the directions exactly,

except I used real butter, not margarine.

What I actually ended up with was

chocolatey-peanut buttery-oatmeal goodness!!

This can be enjoyed as a breakfast cereal,

as a topping over, oh, pretty much anything

- OR -

just with a spoon right out of the pan!

(I speak from personal experience . . . trust me on this one!)

Here is the vintage recipe -

taken from the Salina Journal, Salina, KS

(not sure what year??  1950's or 60's probably)

Unbaked Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2 Cups sugar          3 Cups quick unrolled oats

1/3 Cup Cocoa          1/2 Cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 Cup margarine           1/2 Cup peanut butter

1/2 Cup milk                                   1 tsp. vanilla

Enjoy!

And if you make it, I would love to hear what you did with it!

Red Box Recipes - Cocoa Ripple Ring

Today I'd like to share with you a special, down-home recipe from my family's treasured red recipe box!
It's one my Aunt Pauline gave my Mom - probably back in the 1970's when she first got a Bundt pan!

Cocoa Ripple Ring ~

Ingredients -                                                  

Cream together:  1/2 Cup shortening
                            3/4 Cup sugar
                            2 eggs

Sift together:  1-1/2 Cups flour

                       2 teaspoons baking powder 
                       3/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all of the above together alternately with 2/3 Cup milk - beat thoroughly.

Directions ~

Spoon 1/3 of the above mixture into a Bundt pan.  Sprinkle 1/3 Cup instant sweetened cocoa powder & 1/3 chopped nuts (walnuts work well) on top.  Then spoon half the remaining dough on top of the cocoa and nuts, and sprinkle another 1/3 Cup sweetened cocoa and 1/3 Cup nuts on that.  Top with the remaining dough mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Red Box Recipes - Turkey, Green Bean, & Dressing Casserole

Here's a family favorite my Aunt Pauline shared with my Mom a few years back - so easy and dee-lish!!  (And you know we looooove "easy" around here!)

Ingredients ~

Prepare one package of dressing according to instructions on the box or bag.  Add celery, raisins and sausage to taste.  Place half the dressing on the bottom of a casserole dish.

Turkey - cut in small pieces and cooked.  (Great use for leftover turkey!)

One can of green beans

One can of mushroom or chicken soup

On top of the layer of dressing place the turkey, then the green beans, the soup (directly from can - no water added), and lastly place the rest of the dressing on top.  Bake at 350 degrees until the dressing is golden brown and done.  Enjoy!

Red Box Recipes - Quick & Easy Dessert

This one is sooooo easy, fast, and yummy!  My Aunt Pauline gave it to my Mom - back in 1961!

Quick Dessert ~ 

Ingredients -

1 Can Wilderness Pie Filling - any flavor.

1/2 package white cake mix (dry) patted down

1/4 pound margarine, melted

  Directions -

In a 5" x 8" Pyrex (glass) baking dish, pour in the pie filling.  Pour the white cake mix on top.  Pour the margarine over all.  Bake at 350 degrees til top is golden.

Crock Pot Corn and Potato Chowder - Yummy Fall Fare!

There's a crispness in the air in Kansas these days - 

Fall is finally here!  Yay!

Today is kinda rainy-drizzly-cloudy outside,

so it's the perfect time for some yummy Fall delicious-ness!

So I cranked up my crock pot, and made one of my favorite soups -

"Crock Pot Corn and Potato Chowder!"

a great recipe I found via Pinterest at the

"Crock Pot Gourmet"!

Here is the link - 

http://crockpotgourmet.net/2014/07/22/crockpot-corn-and-potato-chowder/

Served with crackers and cheese,

it really hit the spot on this chilly day!

Enjoy!

Red Box Recipes - Great Aunt Bertha's Ice Box Cookies

  I just adored my Great Aunt Bertha!  Spent quite a bit of time with her, in her teeny tiny little house, when I was growing up.  She taught me how to make paper doilies, gave me "very grown up" Gardenia scented stationery for my 10th birthday, and introduced me to "Bozo the Clown" on TV!  (Is my age showing just a little here??)  What a sweet, fun, Christian lady she was!

Back in the 1930's, she wrote this recipe down on a little card.  That was in the days before refrigerators - when you had to keep food fresh in an "Ice Box" - that had a big block of ice in the top compartment to keep things cold (for a few days, anyway!)  Then the Ice Man had to replenish your supply - by horse-drawn wagon - old fashioned goodness!

Ice Box Cookies -

Ingredients ~

1/2 Cup shortening
1 Cup brown sugar - "roll out lumps"
1 egg
Cream together and add -

1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/4 Cups flour - more if needed to make roll.
(Sifted together)

Chill overnight, slice, and bake in 350 degree oven.
(Doesn't say for how long - but these are done when the edges are lightly browned.  So you'll have to experiment!)

These were a favorite of mine as a child - and have a lightly sweet, old-fashioned flavor - Mmmmmm!!

Down Home Cookin' - Easy Busy Day Casserole!

This is so easy, I almost hesitate to even call it a recipe!  It's one I use when I'm basically too (pick one here)
~ Too tired to cook!
~ Out of fresh veggies!
~ Having a crazy-busy week and don't have time to really "cook"!
(You can choose "All of the above", too! LOL!)

You get the idea.  But you still have to eat!  And preferably eat a balanced meal -
~ sooooo ~
here it is, folks!

1 pound ground beef (ground turkey or sausage work well, too)

1 pound pasta, cooked. 
3 cans vegetables - your choice.

Directions -

In a large pan, or a Dutch Oven - cook, rinse, and drain the pasta.  Brown the meat either on the stove, or in the microwave, and add this to the pasta after the pasta has finished cooking.  Lastly, add the 3 can of vegetables.  Mix thoroughly.  Cook on medium heat for approx. 5 minutes, stirring periodically.  Then let simmer on low heat for approx. 15 minutes.  Plate and enjoy!  You can also top this with grated cheese, or pour gravy or your favorite meat or tomatoe sauce on top, and it will be yummy!