#2561 - Applesauce Walnut Bread

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup white sugar
1 cup plain applesauce
1/4 cup canola oil
3 egg whites
3 TBSP milk
2 cups sifted flour (measure before sifting)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a bowl add white sugar, applesauce, canola oil, egg whites and milk--stir until mixed. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg--stir until mixed. Add chopped walnuts--stir to mix. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 5 x 3 bread loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness.

#2560 - Easy Stroganoff

(by Shirley McNevich)

3/4 lb. thinly sliced sirloin steak
1 TBSP canola oil
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1 envelope beef gravy mix
1 - 14oz. can cut green beans (drained)
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream

Prepare gravy mix according to envelope directions (or make your own). In a skillet over medium heat add canola oil and sirloin slices--cook/stir until meat is browned. Add sliced mushrooms--cook/stir until mushrooms and meat are tender. Add gravy--cook/stir for 5 minutes or until thickened. Add drained green beans--cook/stir until green beans are hot. Add sour cream--stir. Serve over cooked egg noodles.

#2559 - Cheese Sauce

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 10.75oz. can Campbell's cheddar cheese soup (do not add water)
1/4 cup milk

In a saucepan over low heat add cheese soup and milk--cook/stir until hot and thickened. Serve over baked potatoes or broccoli.

#2558 - Easy Ham Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups baked ham pieces (bite sized pieces)
1/2 cup mayo
1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
2 hard boiled eggs (peeled and chopped)
1 tsp. spicy brown mustard (more if you wish)
fresh ground black pepper (to your taste)

In a bowl add ham pieces, mayo, pickle relish, chopped eggs and mustard--stir until mixed. Grind a little black pepper over the top--stir. Taste--add more black pepper and more mayo if you wish. Note: if you don't like sweet pickle relish, substitute for it with another 1/4 cup of mayo and also add 1/4 cup chopped celery.

#2557 - Spice Pumpkin Muffins

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup Libby's pumpkin
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
2 cups Bisquick
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger

In a bowl add Bisquick, white sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger--stir to mix. In a separate bowl add pumpkin, milk and egg--stir with a fork until mixed. Pour the Bisquick mixture into the pumpkin mixture--stir just until mixed. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners. Fill each liner 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

#2556 - Grilled Bacon Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 large baking potatoes (washed--do not peel)
5 slices cooked bacon (crumbled)
1 large onion (peeled and diced)
8oz. sharp shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup butter
salt and pepper to taste

Use a fork to poke holes all over the potatoes. Place them in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Use a fork to hold the hot potatoes one at a time on a cutting board, then use a sharp knife to slice the potatoes. Place a large piece of foil on the counter and spray it with Pam--spread the potatoes on the foil and salt/pepper potatoes to taste. Spread crumbled bacon over the top of the potatoes. Spread the diced onions over the potatoes. Slice the 1/2 cup butter into small pieces and spread the butter pieces over the top of the potatoes. Bring the edges of the foil together to make a packet but don't close the top--leave some space open in the foil for venting. Place the packet on a hot grill--bake on the grill until mixture is hot. Careully open the foil, spread the shredded cheese over the top and return to grill until cheese is melted. If you don't want to use the grill, place foil packet on a baking sheet instead and bake in the oven at 350 degrees.

#2555 - Apple Dapple Cake

(by Sue Sheaffer - friend)

2 cups white sugar
1 cup canola oil
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
4 cups chopped baking apples (peel before chopping)
Topping: 1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed); 1/4 cup milk; 1 stick butter

In a mixer add white sugar, canola oil and eggs--beat. Add vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon and salt--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add chopped apples--stir. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. While cake is baking, in a saucepan over medium heat add milk, butter and brown sugar--stir/bring to a boil, then cook/stir for 4 minutes. Pour the mixture over the top of the hot cake. Turn oven to broil setting, place cake on the top oven rack and broil for 5 minutes or until topping is bubbling. Cool completely.

#2554 - Quick Chicken and Waffles

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/2 cups whole milk (gravy will be thinner if you use 2% milk)
a pinch of salt (more if you wish)
a pinch of black pepper (more if you wish)
4 TBSP flour
4 TBSP butter (no substitutes)
1 cup cooked chicken pieces (more if you wish)
toasted waffles

In a saucepan over low heat add butter--melt and stir. Add flour, salt and pepper--cook/stir until mixture starts to bubble while working out any lumps. Slowly add milk while stirring, then add cooked chicken pieces--cook/stir until boiling. Once gravy starts to boil, cook/stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat and taste--add more salt and pepper if desired, then stir until mixed. Place toasted waffles on plates and pour gravy mixture over the waffles.

#2553 - Raspberry Chiffon Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 10oz. bag frozen red raspberries (thawed and drained but save the juice)
1 - 3oz. box raspberry Jell-O
3/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup whipping cream (whipped)
1/4 tsp. salt
2 egg whites
1/4 cup white sugar
1 ready-made graham cracker crust

Thaw and drain the raspberries--pour the juice from the raspberries into a measuring cup and add enough water to the juice to make 2/3 cup of liquid. In a bowl add Jell-O and boiling water--stir well until dissolved. Add the 2/3 cup raspberry juice/water mixture to Jell-O mixture--stir to mix. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until it starts to gel. Whip the whipping cream. Remove Jell-O from refrigerator and put it in a mixer--beat the Jell-O mixture until foamy. Remove from mixer--add raspberries and whipped cream--stir to mix. In a mixer add egg whites and salt--beat until soft peaks form. Add white sugar slowly--beat until stiff peaks form. Add egg white mixture to Jell-O mixture--stir until mixed. Pour entire mixture into the graham cracker crust. Refrigerate overnight.

#2552 - Bologna and Rice

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/3 cups cooked rice
1/2 lb. ring bologna (skinned and cut into bite sized pieces)
1/2 cup Heinz spicy ketchup
2/3 cup hot water
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TBSP butter

In a skillet add butter--melt. Add bologna pieces, chopped onions, and chopped green bell peppers--cook/stir over medium heat until meat is browned and onions are caramelized. Add cooked rice, hot water, spicy ketchup and salt--cook/stir until hot. Turn heat to simmer, cover with a lid and simmer for 5 more minutes or until mixture is thickened.

#2551 - Quick White Gravy

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/2 cups whole milk (gravy will be thinner if you use 2% milk)
a pinch of salt (more if you wish)
a pinch of black pepper (more if you wish)
4 TBSP flour
4 TBSP butter (no substitutes)

In a saucepan over low heat add butter--melt and stir. Add flour, salt and pepper--cook/stir until mixture starts to bubble while working out any lumps. Slowly add milk while stirring--cook/stir until boiling. Once gravy starts to boil, cook/stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat and taste--add more salt and pepper if desired, then stir until mixed.

#2550 - Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cups Quaker quick oats
1/2 cup Reese's peanut butter chips
1/2 cup Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup white sugar
1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar
1/2 cup Carnation evaporated milk (NOT condensed)

In a bowl add quick oats, peanut butter chips, and chocolate chips--stir to mix and set aside. In a saucepan over medium heat add evaporated milk, white sugar and brown sugar--cook/stir until boiling, then cook/stir for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and add vanilla--stir quickly. Pour the sugar mixture over the oat mixture--stir to combine. Butter your hands and form the mixture into small walnut sized balls. Place them on wax paper to cool.

#2549 - Sour Cream Walnut Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup Crisco shortening
2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
5 cups flour
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
3 TBSP white sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

In a mixer add Crisco and 2 cups white sugar--beat. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. Add sour cream--beat. Add salt, baking powder and baking soda--beat. Slowly add flour--beat (continue by hand with a wooden spoon if it gets too thick for the mixer). Add chopped walnuts--stir until mixed. In a small bowl add 3 TBSP white sugar and the cinnamon--stir until mixed. Drop spoonfuls of the cookie dough on to greased cookie sheets. Grease the bottom of a drinking glass and use it to flatten each cookie, then sprinkle some of the cinnamon mixture over each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes.

#2548 - Maraschino Cherry Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup Crisco shortening
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (measure before sifting)
1 1/3 cups white sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
16 maraschino cherries (dry cherries on paper towels, then cut them into small pieces)
1/2 cup milk
4 egg whites
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a mixer add Crisco and white sugar--beat. Add egg whites--beat. Add cherry juice, chopped cherries, chopped walnuts and milk--beat. Add baking powder, salt and sifted cake flour--beat until mixed, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool completely. Frost or glaze if desired.

#2547 - Cake Flour Busy Day Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/3 cup Crisco shortening
1 3/4 cups sifted cake flour (measure before sifting)
3/4 cup white sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla

In a mixer add Crisco and white sugar--beat. Add egg--beat. Add baking powder, salt, milk and vanilla--beat. Slowly add sifted cake flour--beat until mixed, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into a 9" square cake pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool completely. Frost as desired.

#2546 - Scratch Golden Pound Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (measure before sifting)
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup Crisco shortening
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 TBSP vanilla
2/3 cup milk
3 eggs
Domino's powdered sugar (for sprinkling)

Into a bowl sift the cake flour, salt and baking powder. In a mixer add Crisco and white sugar--beat. Add eggs--beat. Add vanilla and milk--beat. Slowly add cake flour mixture--beat for 2 minutes. Pour batter into a greased bread loaf pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 85 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes, then loosen cake from pan and place it on a cake plate. Dust with powdered sugar.

#2545 - Creamed Green Beans

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 10oz. bag frozen green beans
1 - 3oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
1 TBSP milk
3/4 tsp. celery seed
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Cook green beans according to bag directions--drain them. In a bowl add cream cheese and milk--stir until mixed. Add celery seed, salt and pepper--stir. Pour cream cheese mixture over hot green beans. If not hot enough, microwave on high for 1-2 minutes in a microwave safe bowl.

#2544 - Hot Dog Bean Soup

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 1lb. cans pork 'n beans
1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix
1/3 cup Heinz ketchup
1/4 cup water
2 TBSP Domino's dark brown sugar
1 TBSP French's yellow mustard
10 good quality hot dogs (thawed and cut into coin shaped pieces)

In a bowl add onion soup mix, ketchup, water, brown sugar and mustard--stir to mix. In a greased Dutch oven add both cans pork 'n beans, onion soup mixture--stir to mix. Add hot dog pieces--stir to mix. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until heated through.

#2543 - Sour Cream Nut Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 cups Domino's dark brown sugar
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
2 eggs
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla
2 3/4 cups flour
1 cup chopped nuts

In a mixer add brown sugar and Crisco--beat. Add eggs--beat. Add salt, baking soda and vanilla--beat. Add sour cream--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add chopped nuts--stir. Drop by spoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-12 minutes.

#2542 - Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 18oz. roll refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg

Press half of the cookie dough into the bottom of a greased 9 x 9 square cake pan. In a mixer add cream cheese, white sugar and egg--beat until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture over the cookie dough. Break the other half of the cookie dough into small pieces and spread them over the top of the cream cheese mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool completely. Cut into bars or squares.