Pumpkin Pie

This is for a nine inch pie.

Crust:
1 cup flour
1/3 cup lard or shortening
dash of salt

Mix these together really well.  It needs to be all crumbled and in small pieces.

Add 1/4 cup very cold water.

Try not to mix very much after you add the water.  It ruins the crust to mix it too much.  When it all holds together well, roll into a circle and put in the pie crust.

Pumpkin filling:

In a blender put 2 eggs and turn it on for about 30 seconds.

Add:

1 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice or what I usually use is 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ginger and 1/8 tsp cloves.
2 cups pumpkin
1 cup cream or evaporated milk.

Blend well for a minute making sure that it is well blended.  Pour it into the pie shell.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and bake it at that temperature for 10 minutes.  This helps to set the custard.  Then reduce the heat to 350 and cook for 40 to 50 minutes, but test it with a knife or toothpick before you pull it out to make sure that it is set.  If the knife comes out "clean" (with no pumpkin clinging to it) then the pie is done.

Danish Red Cabbage

This recipe was a traditional Christmas dish when I was growing up and we went to Grandma Petersen's house for Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Day Dinner.   I know it is not something that everyone likes, but I have always liked it.  This is the recipe that my sister, Karen, used.

1 small head of red cabbage

Finely chopped.  You don't want the pieces too big.
Simmer in a pan with a small amount of water until tender.

Add:
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 small jar of red current jelly
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs butter

Simmer for 1/2 hour with the lid on.  Remove the lid and continue to simmer until most of the moisture is cooked off.  It's better if it is left to sit in its juices over night.

Bottled Apple Pie Filling

6 quarts cored, pealed and sliced apples
2 cups water

Bring apples to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

While the apples are boiling, mix together in a bowl:
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup Clear Gel
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt

When the apples are done simmering, add 1/2 of a 12 oz can of frozen apple juice.  Stir in.  Then add the sugar mixture and stir very well.

Put it into canning jars, seal and process for 30 minutes.

When you make a pie, just make your crust, add one jar of pie filling, top with crust, lattice or streusel topping.


1/3 cup butter
1 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Mix together really well and sprinkle over the top of the pie and bake for 20 to 30 minutes.

Grandma Cox's Sugar Cookies

Grandma  Cox's Sugar Cookies

11/2 cups butter
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla or almond
Beat them together.

Stir together:
6 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda

Alternate mixing this flour mixture into the butter/egg/sugar mixture with 1 cup milk.

Roll dough on a floured board and cut with cookie cutters.  Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 for 8-10 minutes, until very light brown.  DON'T OVER COOK!  Frost as desired.

Mom's Meatloaf

1 lb ground beef
1-2 eggs
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
small chopped onion (if you want)

1.  Put all ingredients into a bowl.
2.  Mix well.  I use my hands on this one.  I know it seems gross to some, but it is the best way to get it mixed well.
3.  Pat it into an 8 x 8 pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes.

Pear Honey

Pear Honey

9 cups of sliced pears (this can be an approximate amount so if you have more, it still works)
1 can pineapple chunks
1/4 cup lemon juice
3-5 cups sugar

1.  Peel and core the pears.
2.  Slice before measuring.
3.  Put in a blender or food processor with the lemon juice and pineapple.
4.  Blend until partly smooth, but also partly chunky.  I like the chunks in it, but not too big - pea size or smaller is great.
5.  In a large 6 quart pan, pour the blended mixture in and add the sugar.  I start adding the smaller amount and then only add more if I want it  sweeter.
6.  Cook on low heat for 20 minutes.  Be sure to keep stirring the mixture at regular intervals to avoid scorching, it can scorch pretty easy.
7.  Pour the mixture in the jars and process for 10 minutes.

Goes great on pancakes and waffles!

Fruit Pizza

SUGAR COOKIE CRUST

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1-2 Tablespoons cream or milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• assorted sliced fresh fruit

With a mixer, blend the butter for one minute until smooth.  Add the sugar and cream the butter and sugar.  Add the egg and the vanilla and mix until smooth.  Add the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cornstarch and mix until smooth.  

The original recipe says to chill it for at least one hour at this point or it may rise too much and spill over the pan when you bake it.  I didn't have time and I didn't have a problem with it.  Spread the dough in a 12 inch pizza pan.  (I doubled the recipe and put it on the large sheet cake pan.  Spread it as evenly as possible.  If the dough is sticking to your hands, sprinkle a little flour over the dough and it will help with that.

Bake for 18-20 minutes in a 375 degree oven.  Remove and let it cool.

Frosting

Mix the butter, and cream cheese together.  Add the confectioner's sugar along with 1-2 tablespoons of milk.  I started with one tablespoon and it was enough, so start with the smaller amount and add more if you need it.  Spread over the cooled cookie dough crust evenly.  Top with fruit.

Fruit ideas:

bananas

pineapple (fresh or canned, just make sure that you drain the canned pineapple well)

kiwi fruit

mandarin oranges (if it is canned, drain it will)

berries:  strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.

grapes, cut in half