One of my favorite cookies!

Coating

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp cinnamon

Cookies

• 1 cup shortening
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2-2/3 cups flour
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, mix the coating ingredients together and set aside.
3. In a second medium bowl, combine shortening, sugar, and eggs, mixing together well.
4. In a third bowl, mix together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
5. Add the shortening mixture to the flour mixture, combining well.
6. Roll dough into balls (size of your choosing), and then roll into the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
7. Place the balls of dough on an ungreased cookie sheet.
8. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Note that the larger the cookie, the longer it may take to bake fully.

Here’s another great recipe I grew up eating. The sage in this recipe is the key!

• Pie crusts (we use store-bought ones like the ones from Pillsbury)
• Shredded, cooked chicken (roughly 2 to 3 cups); we typically get a rotisserie chicken and use part of that
• 1 package (1 pound) frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 stick butter (can use less if desired; 1/2 stick might be ideal)
• 1 chopped onion
• One can cream of chicken soup
• 1-1/2 tsp sage
• 1-1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

Cook the package of frozen vegetables in salted water. While that is cooking, prepare the bottom pie crust in a pie dish. Next, melt the stick of butter in a skillet, and saute the chopped onion in it. In a large bowl, mix the onion, shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, and the cooked vegetables. Add the sage and poultry seasoning, mixing gently so as to not tear up the vegetables.

Put this mixture in the bottom pie crust and cover with the top crust. Cut small slits in the pie crust for steam to escape. Bake at 375 until the crusts are done (30 minutes or so).

I have a fairly old bread machine (late 90s / early 2000s model) that I use all the time. A few years ago, my dad found a great recipe for bread machine cinnamon rolls that he shared with me. After a minor tweak or two from the original, we’ve hit upon one of the best cinnamon roll recipes I’ve ever tried.

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 eggs
• 6 Tbsp butter

Dry Ingredients

• 1 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 Tbsp yeast

Put all ingredients in the machine in the typical order (most machines call for wet first, then dry). Use the 2-pound dough setting, and let the machine do its thing. Once the machine is done, dump the dough out onto a flat surface (lightly floured if you like to avoid sticking). Roll the dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.

Filling

• 2 Tbsp softened butter for spreading
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 Tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional; golden raisins are particularly good)

Spread the butter on the rolled out rectangle, and then sprinkle the sugar/cinnamon mixture on top of the butter. Also add the raisins (if using them). Roll the rectangle into a tight log (starting with long edge) and keep the seam side down to keep it sealed. Cut the log into the desired pieces (I typically get about 15 or so of these at about 1/2″ or so thick), and place them in greased pans. Let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Bake at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Icing

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• Enough milk to make it thick (this is the tricky part)

I typically use about 1 Tbsp of milk, but it’s an art form to guess-timate the right amount. You don’t want the icing too thick, and you don’t want it too runny. I always double the icing recipe above because I love icing (if I can see the bread of the cinnamon roll, I don’t have enough icing on it). Enjoy!

I grew up eating this soup, which also goes by the name chicken soup with herbs. My family, however, called it “green chicken soup” because the soup has a greenish hue to it. This is a favorite!

• 2-3 cups diced, cooked chicken
• 1 cup raw rice
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups milk (*)
• 2 cups cream (*)
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 4 tsp. chives
• 4 tsp. marjoram
• 2 tsp. dill weed
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Green onions (optional)

(*) Can substitute 1 quart of half-and-half for these two ingredients

Start by cooking rice separately. We do this by combining 1 cup of rice, 2 cups water, and 1/2 Tbsp. salt in a Pyrex cooking dish, covered, microwaving for 18 minutes on 50% power.

While rice is cooking, and in a large saucepan, dutch oven, or boiling pot, melt butter and blend in the flour. Cook this roux for one minute. Add the milk and cream and, stirring constantly, cook until the mixture thickens. Add the chicken stock, cooked rice, chicken, chives, marjoram, dill, nutmeg, and turmeric. Green onions may also be added, if desired. Stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Can be garnished with chopped parsley and/or toasted sesame seeds. Pairs well with hearty breads.

This soup is very thick (more like a stew), so when reheating it, you may need to thin with milk or water (it thickens as it sits in the refrigerator).

This delicious recipe was sent to us by my wife’s grandmother. It’s incredibly tasty!

• 1 and 1/2 tsp oil
• 1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
• 6 oz onion; chopped
• 7 oz carrots; slivered (a bag of shredded carrots also works)
• 7 oz celery; diced
• 24 oz tomatoes; canned, diced
• 1 can red kidney beans
• 1 can white kidney beans or cannellini beans
• 44 oz beef stock
• 1 and 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 and 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 and 1/2 tsp fresh chopped parsley
• 3/4 tsp Tabasco sauce
• 24 oz spaghetti sauce
• 4 oz dry pasta ditalini (or any other small pasta)

Saute beef in oil in large 10 qt pot until beef starts to brown. Add onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse beans and add to the pot. Next, add beef stock, oregano, pepper, Tabasco, spaghetti sauce, and pasta. Add chopped parsley. Simmer until celery and carrots are tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Makes 4.5 quarts of soup.

My wife was sent a recipe by a family member down in Florida that’s really good. This recipe comes from the Junior League of Tampa, and I’m transcribing it here just in case their electronic copy ever disappears.

• 1 (3-lb) pork tenderloin or Boston butt roast
• 1 cup water
• 1 (18 oz) bottle prepared BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Combine the pork and water in a slow cooker. Cook on high for 7 hours. Drain, reserving 1 cup liquid. Shred the roast in the slow cooker with a fork. Add the remaining ingredients. Add the reserved cooking liquid if necessary. Cook on low for 1 hour. Serve on rolls for sandwiches if desired.

I’ve been meaning to transcribe this recipe for some time:

• 3 beaten eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Ground cinnamon (optional)

In a shallow bowl beat together eggs, milk, sugar, and salt. Dip bread in egg mixture, coating both sides. Sprinkle cinnamon over the surface of each slice as you cook them.

This recipe comes from Quaker Oats (from the lid on their oatmeal containers, specifically). I’ve transcribed it here so I can remember it without having to keep an oatmeal lid lying around somewhere. Note that the cookie recipe on their website is slightly different from this one. These are incredibly delicious cookies!

• 1/2 pound of margarine or butter, softened
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 3 cups oats, uncooked
• 1 cup raisins

Beat together the margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Stir in oats, and raisins; mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack. Makes about 4 dozen.

• 1 can (15-oz) kidney beans
• 1 can (15-oz) pinto beans
• 1 can (15-oz) black beans
• 1 large carrot
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 medium onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 green chili peppers (optional)
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp vegetable seasoning
• 1/4 tsp kelp
• 1/8 tsp thyme
• Dash of cayenne pepper
• 1 can (5-oz) tomato juice

Place all three cans of beans into a colander; rinse and drain thoroughly. Pour the beans into a large skillet and mash them. Place the carrot, celery, onion, garlic, chili peppers, and tomato juice in a blender, and blend well. Pour the blended ingredients into the beans, mixing them together. Add the rest of the ingredients, again mixing well. Simmer over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the mixture is warmed to your liking, stirring occasionally.

This meat sauce recipe makes for an excellent spaghetti sauce, sloppy joe filling, or “meat pie” filling.

• 1 pound ground turkey or beef
• 1 small onion
• 1 small bell pepper (optional)
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 or 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Pepper
• Ketchup
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Mince both the onion and bell pepper. In a skillet, combine the olive oil, minced onion, bell pepper, and meat, and brown over medium-high heat. Once the meat is fully browned, reduce the heat to simmer. Add the can of tomato soup and, using the same can, 1/2 a can of water (don’t add the water if you want a thicker sauce). Add the Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and a good squeeze (or dollop) of ketchup. Mix the ingredients together well. Now add the spices: basil, oregano, dried parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, about 1/2 tsp salt, and ground pepper. Shake Parmesan cheese over the top of the sauce, and mix everything together well. Taste the sauce; more salt and pepper may be desired.