SPECIAL K BARS

1 c. sugar
1 c. white Karo syrup

Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add:

1 1/3 c. peanut butter
1 t. vanilla
4 c. Kellog's Special K cereal

Mix. Press into a greased 9" x 13" pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top while it is still warm. When the chocolate is melted, spread with a butter knife. Cut into squares. These are very sweet, so cut small squares. They do get soft on a hot day, so they aren't the best bar cookies to take on a summer picnic. Very quick and east to make!

DESSERT from Momma

CRUST: Mix together. Will be slightly crumbly.
1 c. flour
1/2 c. butter
2 T. sugar
1/1 c. chopped nuts, pecans or toasted almonds
Press into a 9 x 13 pan. Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool.

NEXT LAYER: Beat together and spread over the crust:
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
2/3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 carton (9 oz) cool whip

NEXT LAYER: Mix together and spread over the cream cheese layer.
2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding (Chocolate is yummy, too)
2 1/2 c. milk
1 t. almond flavoring

TOP LAYER:
Spread the remaining cool whip over the top. Refrigerate and serve when chilled and set.

MELTING MOMENTS COOKIES

1 c. butter or margarine
2 c. powdered sugar
1 1/4 c. flour
3/4 c. cornstarch
3 T. orange juice

In large mixing bowl, cream butter and 1/2 c. sugar. Beat in flour and corn starch. Wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Roll into 1 inch calls. Bake 10 minutes at 325 degrees.

Frost with glaze made with 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar and the orange juice. Put a sheet of waxed paper under the wire rack as you glaze the cookies. A lot will drip off.

PHYLISS SHORTCAKE

2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
4 t. baking powder
3 T. sugar
1/3 c. shortening

Cut shortening into dry ingredients.
Add:
1 egg stirred into
1/2 c. milk

Stir wet with dry. Spoon a drop of the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

Serve with fresh, mashed strawberries in a bowl. My family liked milk poured over the biscuits with the fruit. Dot likes whipped cream or cool whip. We never knew why they have the name "Phyliss"

POTATO CASSEROLE

Peel, boil, and mash 5-8 pounds of Russet potatoes.

In a large microwave bowl mix, heat, and melt:

1 8 ounce carton sour cream
1 cube butter
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Pour over the mashed potatoes. Stir well. Pour into a buttered casserole dish. Serve immediately. The potatoes can be refrigerated and heated when ready to serve. The casserole may also be frozen. To serve, thaw and heat either in the microwave or oven. If using a large corning ware casserole dish, the potatoes may take an hour to heat at 350 degrees.

This recipe is great for making ahead and serving with ham. If you are expecting a huge crowd, add more potatoes and use a larger carton of sour cream and more cheese.

CROCK POT STEW

2 to 3 pounds stew meat, I cut it into smaller pieces and trim the fat
1 package onion soup mix
1 can Cream of Chicken soup

Put the ingredients in a Crock Pot on High heat. Let it cook for at least 6 hours. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes. The meat will be very tender. If you like gravy, add another can of soup. It's nice to make a large recipe so there will be leftovers.

My mom's version has this mixture in a pot in the oven at 350 degrees for 3 hours. While it's in the oven, do not lift the lid to peek.

We are still using the crock pot we got for our wedding over 30 years ago from Wally's grandmother!

LEMON BREAD

1 c. sugar
6 T. shortening, about 1/3 cup +
2 eggs
1 T. lemon extract
1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 t. lemon peel or peel of 1 lemon

GLAZE
3 T. lemon juice
1/2 c. sugar

Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs, extract, and milk. Mix until smooth. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and lemon peel. Fold in gently. Pour into greased and floured pans. Bake 30-40 minutes until browned. Remove loaves from pans and place on a cookie sheet. Mix glaze in a small bowl and spoon mixture over the tops and sides. Bake 5-8 minutes more. This recipe makes 2 small loaf pans that are nice for gifts at Christmas time. The loaves freeze well.

BANANA BREAD

1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 well beaten eggs
2 c. flour
1 t. soda
1/4 t. salt

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in dry ingredients. Mix.

Mash 2 large bananas with a fork. Gently fold into dough.

Bake in a greased bread pan at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Makes 1 loaf of banana bread.

This recipe comes from my Grandma Amen. My dad and I never liked nuts in this, so I don't add any. You might like to add walnuts or pecans.

GINGER CREAM COOKIES

1 c. butter
1 c. powdered sugar, sifted
1 T. cream
1 T. lemon juice

Mix together. Then add dry ingredients:

2 1/4 c. flour
3/4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 t. ginger

Stir together to mix well. Chill dough. Roll into balls. Put onto parchment paper and bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees until bottoms are lightly browned. May be frosted with icing.

Icing:
Melt 1/2 cube butter.
Add 3-4 cups of powdered sugar. I don't really measure, I just dump it into the bowl [same size my mom always used :)].
1 T. Karo syrup
1 teas. vanilla
Milk or cream to make the icing the consistency desired, to either spread or drizzle over the cookies. The Karo syrup keeps the frosting from sticking when the cookies are in a jar, tin, or baggie.

EASY SWEET BREAD

1 cup flour
1 package dry yeast
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
1 egg
Mix all the ingredients with an electric mixer until the mixture is blended smoothly.

Stir in 2 cups flour. Mix well. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours or until double in size. Stir down. On a floured surface roll the dough into a rectangle. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the top. Roll into a "log" and slice off sections about an inch wide. Place on a greased pan and let rise. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes or until brown. Frost with icing flavored with almond extract instead of vanilla. Icing is made with sifted powdered sugar (maybe 3 cups?), about 3-4 tablespoons melted butter, milk or cream added to spreading consistency and 1 teaspoon almond extract. Drizzle over the rolls while they are still warm.

The rectangle can also be placed in a pan and covered with Wilderness pie filling. This then gets covered with a crumb mixture of 1 cube butter, 1 cup flour, and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix together until crumbly and cover the pie filling. Bake about 30 minutes or until brown. This make the old-fashioned German style coffee cake.

CABBAGE SALAD

1 bag of cabbage, or 1 medium head of cabbage, chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 chicken breast, cooked and chopped
6 T. sunflower seeds
1 cup slivered almonds, toasted
2 packages chicken flavor Ramen noodles, crushed
1 T. or LESS pepper
3 T. sugar
4 T. vinegar
1/2 cup or less, oil; add water to make 1 cup of liquid

Mix flavor packets from the noodles with pepper, sugar, vinegar, oil and water. Stir or shake well.

Toss all together. Best if mixed right before serving.

EASY SOUR CREAM BISQUITS

2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 oz. sour cream

Mix all ingredients together, then form into a soft ball. Place on floured board and roll out to about 1/2" thickness. Cut out biscuits using a 2" round cutter. Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees for about 12 minutes or until browned.

From Eggs in Purgatory, by Laura Childs