Lazy Doughnuts

1 and 1/2 cups flour

1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 egg

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup shortening

Cream sugar and shortening; add beaten egg, milk, and dry ingredients. Put in greased mini muffin pan. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. Pour following mixture over doughnuts while still in pan:

1/2 cup melted butter or margarine

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Oatmeal - Apple Muffins

1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup apples, chopped fine
1/2 cup oil
1 cup flour
1 cup quick oatmeal
1/3 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon

Beat egg. Stir in remaining ingredients, mixing just to moisten. Pour into 12 greased or paper lined muffin cups. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes.

I feel good about giving these to Isabella for a snack, since they are pretty healthy. I make them into mini muffins for her, and decrease the baking time a little.

Asian Chicken and Noodles

*1 lb. diced chicken

*2 packages (3 oz. each) oriental flavored ramen noodles

*2 cups frozen vegetable mixture

*1/4 tsp. ground ginger

*2 Tblsp. thinly sliced green onion (I left this out)

1. In a large skillet, cook chicken over medium heat until no longer pink. Remove with slotted spoon; pour off drippings. Season chicken with one seasoning packet from noodles; set aside.

2. In same skillet, combine 2 cups water, noodles (broken into several pieces), vegetables, ginger, and remaining seasoning packet. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 4 minutes or until noodles are tender.

3. Return chicken to skillet, heat through. Stir in green onion before serving.

Tonight was the first time I made this, it was very good. The only thing I will change for next time would be to add more vegetables.

Banana Bread

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups flour
4 tblsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 to 3 bananas, mashed
1 cup chocolate chips

Cream shortening, sugars, and eggs. Mix in vanilla, milk, and bananas. Add dry ingredients, then chocolate chips.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

This is a recipe from my grandma, who was an excellent cook. She didn't have very many recipes written down, so I treasure the few that I have from her.

My Yummy Fruit Salad

1 small box (3.4 oz) instant white chocolate pudding
1 cup milk
2 Tablespoons sour cream or plain yogurt
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
1 lb strawberries, sliced
grapes, washed and stems removed

Directions: Prepare fruit. Mix pudding, milk, and sour cream or yogurt together until thickened. Mix in fruit. Chill before serving.

Options:
You can use vanilla or french vanilla pudding but I find that the white chocolate pudding tastes the best! I like to use a mixture of grapes, green and red. You can use whatever fruit you like best.

Meat Loaf

2 slices of bread, broken up

1 cup milk

1/4 cup grated onion

salt and pepper to taste

2 beaten eggs

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. sage

1 and 1/2 pounds ground beef

Mix together and spread in glass pan.

Top with the following:

1 Tblsp. mustard

1/4 cup to 1/2 cup ketchup (depends on how much sauce you like)

1 tsp. vinegar

3 Tblsp. brown sugar

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

This is our favorite meal, we have it a lot. It is even Isabella's favorite meal. It goes great with baked potatoes and a green vegetable. I always liked my mom's meatloaf when I was growing up, but then I met Monte and tried his mom's meatloaf (this recipe). Wow! We've even had a couple of friends who don't like meatloaf, but loved this meatloaf.

Coca Cola Cake

They recently featured this cake at Cracker Barrel and I fell in LOVE with it! My sister had the recipe from a magazine and shared it with me. I even used Dr. Pepper one day when I didn't have any Coke. It's light and fluffy and great with vanilla bean ice cream!

Ingredients for the Cake:
2 c. plain flour
2 c. sugar
2 sticks butter
3 tbsp. cocoa
1 c. Coca-Cola
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs, whole, beaten
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. mini marshmallows

Combine sugar and flour in a mixing bowl. Heat butter, coca cola and cocoa to boiling and pour over flour and sugar mixture, mixing thoroughly. Add buttermilk, eggs, soda, vanilla and marshmallows; mix well. This will be a thin batter with marshmallows floating on top. Bake in a greased and floured flat pan at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Ice while hot.

Icing Ingredients:
1 stick butter
3 tbsp. cocoa
6 tbsp. Coca-Cola
1 box powdered sugar
1 c. pecans (optional, I don't like them so I never use them!)
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine butter, Coca-Cola and heat to boiling. Pour over sugar. After beating, add pecans and vanilla. Spread over hot cake.