Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie

1 can pumpkin

5 eggs

2 c sugar

2 T cornstarch

3 c milk

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

2 T butter (melted)

½ tsp vanilla

½ tsp lemon flavoring

This is enough for 2 pies. Mix together in order given and place into two unbaked pie shells. Bake in hot oven, 450° for 10 minutes, then in moderate oven, 325°, about 45 minutes or until mixture doesn’t adhere to knife.

This pie is so creamy and delicious without being overpowered by a pumpkin taste

Pecan Pie

I think that my cousins like pecan pie better than pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Each year my grandmother makes 2 of each kind of pie. We devour the pies...and whatever is left is dinner for Thanksgiving night!

This pie is easy to make and delicious to eat. I love to put it in the fridge and eat it cold.

Pecan Pie

3 eggs, beaten

1/8 tsp salt

1 c. sugar, white or brown

½ stick butter

1 c. Karo syrup

1 tsp vanilla

1 c pecans

Mix ingredients and pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake in hot oven (400°) for 15 minutes and then reduce heat to 325° and bake about 30 minutes longer.

Beef Vegetable Soup

It's a rainy weekend here in Austin. We need the rain badly so no one is complaining. My little bitty was sick last week so I thought that some Beef Soup would be great for us all. This is one of those recipes that does not have a recipe. My grandmother just "makes it.". Each time you make this soup it can be just a little bit different. I think that's what is part of it's appeal. I've made it with leftovers, cleaned out the fridge or punted when I didn't have some ingredients that normally go into it. Once I used rice instead of noodles. It's a great go-to dish for a rainy weekend when you really don't want to go to the store.

Beef Vegetable Soup

2-3 pieces of Beef soup bone

Worcestershire sauce

chili powder or Emeril's Essence

celery

onion

garlic

carrots

potatoes

mixed veggie (canned or frozen)

noodles

Salt and pepper the beef. Place in the hot soup pan and sear. Remove meat, add celery, onion, and garlic to sweat. Return meat to the pot and add 4 quarts of water with the Worcestershire sauce and chili powder. Chop carrots and potatoes and add to the pot. Bring to a rapid boil. Add the mixed vegetables. Reduce heat and let cook for about 30 minutes. Add a bag of very thin egg noodles. Cook until noodles are tender.

Serve soup with bread sticks or hot rolls and a salad.

Cowboy Cookies

It's a rainy weekend around here. These are easy cookies to whip up with the kids. My grandmother always makes these cookies. When I was in college I would get care packages around the time of finals with a coffee tin full of Cowboy Cookies.

Cowboy Cookies

2 c. sifted flour

1 tsp. soda

½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1 c. shortening (Mimmie uses oleo)

1 c. granulated sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

2 c. rolled oats

1 tsp. vanilla

1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ c. chopped pecans

Sift together and set aside flower, soda, baking powder and salt. Blend together shortening and sugar. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture and mix well. Then add oats, vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts. Mix all together and make in moderate oven, heated to 350°, 12 to 15 minutes. This makes around 4 dozen cookies.

Little Mama's Gingerbread aka Pfefferkuchen

My great grandmother made this cake each fall. At Oktoberfest in Germany vendors sell decorated gingerbread hearts to give to your sweetheart, leaving the festival without getting a heart for your honey was a no-no. This cake was my great-grandma's way of saying "ich liebe dich" to us all.

Gingerbread:

1/2 c. sugar

½ c. shortening

1 egg

1 c. molasses

2 ½ c. sifted flour

1 ½ tsp. soda

1 tsp. ginger

½ tsp. salt

1 c. hot water

Cream sugar, shortening, add beaten egg, molasses, then dry ingredients sifted together. Mix well. Add hot water last, beat until smooth. Batter is soft but makes a fine cake. Bake at 325° to 350°. Ice cake with 7 Minute Frosting.

**a time to bake was not included with this recipe. I timed my last cake out to 30 minutes at 350° in a standard 9 x 13”cake pan.

7 Minute Frosting

1 ½ c. sugar

½ c. water

2 egg whites

2 tsp Karo syrup, light

1 tsp. vanilla

In a double boiler combine sugar, cold water, egg whites, corn syrup and a dash of salt. Beat 3 seconds at low speed. Place over boiling water. Cook 7 minutes while beating at high speed with mixer or until soft peaks form. Remove from heat, add vanilla and whip with a spoon. Goes great on gingerbread and angel food cake.

Outdoor checker board

How cool is this...create a HUGE outdoor checker board.

The Yankee and I have been discussing what all we want to do in the back yard (and we're dreaming big folks!) Wouldn't this be fun to put in a garden. I think Frick and Frack would love it.

You can check out the instructions on do it yourself.

good cookin this weekend!

Sunday is my grandmother's 82nd birthday. To celebrate I will be making her Chicken and Dumplins. (and yes, that's how I spell it!) MMMMMM.....more info to come!