Sunday, December 27, 2015

Great-Grandma Jones's Carrot Pudding

1 c. grated potatoes (add 1 tsp. soda and stir)
1 c. grated carrots
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. flour
1/3 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
1 c. raisins
1/2 tsp. ground  allspice
1 tbsp. shortening
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon

After adding soda to potatoes, add remaining ingredients.

Fill mold 2/3 full or a quart jar 1/2  full and steam 4 hours..  (Cover jar with lid loosely or mold w/foil tight.)

Lemon sauce:

1/2 c. sugar
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1 dash salt
1 c. boiling water
2 tbsp. butter
1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice.

Mix first 4 ingredients.  Gradually stir in water.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, till thick and clear.  Blend in butter and lemon juice. Makes 1 1/3 cups.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Chocolate Pudding Cake

This is Matt's favorite cake. We eat it every year for his birthday.

Chocolate Pudding Cake
Makes 9x13 cake

Crust
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup butter

Cheesecake layer
1/2 tub large cool whip
2/3 cup powdered sugar
8 oz softened cream cheese

Pudding Layer
2 1/2 cups milk
1 small package chocolate instant pudding
1 small package vanilla instant pudding

Top Layer
1/2 tub large cool whip
chocolate shavings

Preheat oven to 325. Cut butter into sugar and flour, press into 9x13 pan. Bake for 15 minutes, cool completely. Mix together cheesecake layer in separate bowl. Spread cheesecake layer over cooled crust. Mix together pudding layer. Pour over cheesecake layer and refrigerate for an hour. Spread other half tub of cool whip over the pudding layer, sprinkle chocolate shavings on top.


Grandma's Cobbler

There is nothing better than a big bowl of boysenberry cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!

Grandma's Cobbler
Makes 9x9 baking dish
double recipe to fit 9x13

Fruit
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 cups fruit
1 tablespoon butter
Sugar to taste

Topping
1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 slightly beaten egg

Preheat oven to 425. In saucepan, mix cornstarch, fruit, butter, and sugar to taste. Grandma says she never puts sugar in because their berries are so sweet, but if using tart fruit, add a tablespoon or so. Cook until bubbly. Pour fruit mixture into 9x9 baking dish. In bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Use pastry cutter and add butter till coarse. Mix in milk and egg, stirring to moisten. Drop by spoonful over hot fruit. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 425 till golden brown. Eat with vanilla ice-cream.

Wassail or Hot Cider Punch

This is Grandma's recipe and is perfect for chilly fall nights or Christmas morning.

Wassail

2 cups apple juice
1/2 cup sugar
3 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup lemonade
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 whole allspice
4 cups orange juice

Put all ingredients except orange juice and lemonade in the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Add orange juice and lemonade, heat again. Serve hot.

Frosted Sugar Cookies

These McLean sugar cookies are a holiday tradition. Use with different cookie cutters for different times of the year. I always make these on Christmas and Halloween.

McLean Sugar Cookies
Makes 2 dozen

3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
4 tsp milk
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Thoroughly cream shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Add egg, beat till light and fluffy. Stir in milk. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; blend into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Chill 1 hour. On lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8 inch thick. Cut desired shapes with cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges will be slightly golden. Cool slightly, then remove from pan. Cool on rack and frost.


McLean Vanilla Frosting
this frosting is perfect for cookies, cakes or graham cracker sandwiches


2 sticks softened butter
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
Up to 4 tablespoons of milk

Beat the butter, add 3 cups of powdered sugar and salt. Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons milk. Add more powdered sugar or milk till you reach desired consistency.


Hot Fudge Sauce

This is Grandma's recipe for fudge sauce. So yummy over ice cream pie or just with a spoon. No judgement here.

Williams Fudge Sauce

1 cup evaporated milk
6 oz chocolate chips
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup marshmallows
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt chocolate chips with milk and salt. Take off heat and stir in vanilla and marshmallows. Stir until smooth.

Orange Rolls


This is a McLean family Easter tradition. They are tart, sweet, slightly caramelized and just plain delicious. No need for icing, the sugar mixture covers each rolls when baked in a muffin tin.


Orange Rolls
Makes 48 rolls

Rolls
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup boiling water
7 1/2 cups flour
2 pkg yeast, dissolved into 1/2 cup warm water
1 cup cold water
4 beaten eggs

Sugar mixture
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups sugar
grated rinds from 2 oranges

Grease muffin tins with butter. Add butter, sugar, and salt to a bowl. Pour boiling water over top and mix with pastry blender. Add yeast dissolved into 1/2 cup water. Add cold water. Add the eggs, and stir in flour. Use cooking oil to grease top of dough. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Take out 3 hours ahead so that it can come to room temperature (this is perfect if you have early morning church!).
Divide dough into 4 parts. Roll out to 1/2 inch-thick rectangle. Spread sugar mixture over the dough. Roll into log. Slice 1/2 inch thick rolls. Put one roll sideways (spiral sliced side up) into each butter greased muffin tin. Raise until doubled. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes until golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes in the muffin tin so that the caramelized sugar has chance to soak into the rolls. Enjoy!