Grandma Oram's "Meltaway" Cookies

Do not make these cookies. They will MELT the moment they touch your tongue...

1.) Mix together until well-blended:

• 8 oz. melted butter
• 3/4 cup sifted corn starch
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup flour

2.) Roll dough into small, 1-inch balls (this will be a sticky situation). Bake at 170° C for 10-12 minutes. Whatever you do, don't allow the cookies to brown; the idea is to leave them nice and melty.

3.) Blend well to make icing:

• 3 oz. cream cheese
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Allow cookies to cool, then top each with icing. I like to refrigerate the cookies when they're all done, for optimal melt-in-your-mouth results.

Makes about 4 or 5 dozen bite-sized morsels of delight!

(Photo nicked from thepioneerwoman.com, and featuring different frosting.)

Aunt Karen's Rice and Chicken Casserole

First, cook enough rice to go on the bottom of a 9X13 pan.  (I do 1 1/2 cups dry rice cooked according to directions, which makes abt. 3 cups rice, but some may like less rice.)

2 C. Chicken or turkey, cooked and diced

1 C. Celery, diced

1 small can mushrooms, or abt. 1/3 cup fresh mushrooms, diced

1 Tblspn. Onion, minced

1 Tblspn. Lemon juice

1/2 tsp. salt

1 C. Mayonnaise

1 small can sliced water chestnuts (opt.)

Combine and put over rice.

Top with:  1/3 to 1/2 cups bread crumbs or cornflake crumbs, 1/2 C. sliced or slivered almonds, and either 1 Cup grated cheese or 1/4 to 1/3 C. melted margerine.

Bake at 350 dgrees for about 30 minutes.

Homemade Oreos

These cookies have always been a hit when I make them at home, or when I bring them somewhere, so I thought I would share the recipe with anyone who actually reads this :D

Cookies:
1 package of devils food cake mix
2/3 cup of shortening
2 eggs

Frosting:
8oz package of cream cheese
1 cube of butter (or 1/2 cup margin)
1lb powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla

Mix together the ingredients for cookies. Roll into quarter sized balls and bake at 350 on a greased cookie cookie sheet for 5-10 minutes (depending on the size) until the cookies have flattened out most of the way. Allow cookies to cool, then frost.

Grandma Ila Reid's Buttermilk Dressing

Grandma Reid’s Buttermilk Dressing (lower salt version)
2 Cups Mayonnaise
2 Cups Buttermilk (or for lower fat and less fuss, you can use 2 cups milk, minus 4 Tablespoons with 4 Tablespoons lemon juice added to the milk. Let milk sit about 5 minutes to curdle.)

Of the following spices, I have one be a salt, and the other one a powder…Grandma often had both spices be salts so it was VERY salty!

1 teaspoon garlic powder or salt
1 teaspoon onion powder or salt
½ to 1 teaspoon black pepper
About ½ Tablespoon dried parsley

Combine all ingredients and whip with a wire beater or use a blender—whatever. Mix until smooth. It will thicken overnight.

Healthy Smoothie Recipe

Dr. Ed Fila’s Scientifically Designed Health Smoothie
The following smoothie has been based on scientific research for the prevention of stroke, heart attacks, cancer. The research relied on came from the following sources: (1) The largest study in the world on prevention of cancer sponsored by the World Health Organization; (2) the largest study in the world on the prevention of stroke and heart attacks; (3) other scientific research.
1 Cup Soy, Rice or Non-fat Milk
6 Ice cubes
2 Tblspns. Welch’s 100% unsweetened grape juice concentrate (must have American Heart Assoc. label to verify there is no corn syrup)
2 Tblspns. Mixed nuts (equal amounts of almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin, and flax seeds)
2 Tblspns. Soy protein
1 Tblspn. Udo’s Choice oil blend (buy at health food stores)
½ Tblspn. Psyllium Husks
3 Tblspns. 9 Grain Cereal (buy at Honeyville Grain, Inc.(435) 279-8197, or check local health stores or grocers). It contains red and white wheat, rye, barley, corn, millet, oats flax, and buckwheat. (Whole grains are better)
1 Cup Fresh or Frozen Blueberries
5 Fresh or Frozen Strawberries
¼ of a Fresh Banana
2 Tblspns. Groats or Rolled Oats (Groats are the oat grain before being rolled)

Place all ingredients in blender and blend well. ENJOY!

Welch’s 100% grape juice has been shown to outperform aspirin in reducing platelet clumping and keeping the blood vessel walls flexible. Do not use the Welch’s grape juice which has corn syrup added.
The Udo’s Oil Blend is a superior source of omega-3 oils which have been shown to prevent strokes and heart attacks. Note: Udo’s Oil is plant based. Some people do not absorb plant based oils very well. Those people should supplement with omega-3 oil from fish.
A handful of nuts daily have been shown to reduce the occurrence of stroke and heart attacks by about 20%. They are also a good source of plant based protein (and tryptophan).
Fruits and vegetables have clearly been shown to reduce both cancer and heart disease. New guidelines recommend eating 9-10 servings of uncooked fruits and vegetables per day. Blueberries and strawberries are very nutrient dense. You can also add other fruits.
Grains have also been shown to reduce heart attacks by 20%, as well as cancer. Uncooked and minimally processed grains are very healthy because they do not significantly increase insulin activity in the body.


Copyrighted Feb. 23, 2005

I do a modified form of this. I leave out the nuts, grains, and oil since I just eat those throughout the day(I take ground flax seed). I don't put in psyillium either, but it's great for those who need to keep their bowels moving. And I sometimes put in soy. This really is an excellent smoothie. Two people from the classes have told me about the health benefits they have noticed from doing this. One talked about her weight loss, and a man told about how it regulated his thyroid function when he went back to the doctor about 4 months after doing the smoothie, and that's all he had done differently.

Ultimate Spicy Beef Nachos

This recipe is from The Cook's Country Cookbook, by the same people that did the other cookbook Steph and I love. Seriously, everyone needs at least one cookbook from America's Test Kitchen.

REFRIED BEANS
1/2 cup canned refried beans
3 tablespoons shredded pepper jack cheese
1 tablespoon chopped canned pickled jalapenos

SPICY BEEF
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound 90-percent lean ground beef
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 medium canned chipotle chile, chopped, plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

ASSEMBLY
1 (9 1/2 ounce) bac tortilla chips
4 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
2 jalapeno chiles, sliced into thin rings

1. Adjust an oven rach to the middle position and heat the oven to 400 degrees.
   
   
2. FOR THE BEANS: Pulse all of the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
   
   
3. FOR THE BEEF: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until simmering. Cook the onion until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beef and cook, breaking the meat into small bits with a wooden spoon and scraping the pan bottom to prevent scorching, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste, sugar, chile, and adobo sauce and cook until the paste begins to darken, about 1 minute. Add the water, bring to a simmer, and cook over medium-low heat until the mixture is nearly dry, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the lime juice and transfer the mixture to a plate lined with sever layers of paper towels. Use more paper towels to blot up excess greace.
   
   
4. TO ASSEMBLE: Spread half of the chips on a large serving platter or a 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Dollop half of the bean mixture over the chips, then spread evenly. Scatter half of the beef mixture over the beans, top with 2 cups of the cheese and half of the jalapenos. Repeat with the remaining chips, beans, beef, 2 cups of cheese, and jalapenos. Bake until the cheese is melted and just beginning to brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Serve with salsa and other desired garnishes.
   

This was a really good meal, but warning, it's SPICY! Since I'm on a kick to cut red meat out of our diets, I used ground turky breast instead of ground beef. It still tasted really good.

Greek Pasta With Tomatoes and White Beans

I was looking for some new recipes and I found this one this site. It turned out really well.

2 (14.5 oz) cans of Italian-style diced tomatoes
1 (19oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
10oz fresh spinach, washed and chopped
8oz penne pasta
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
2. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes and beans in a large, non-stick skillet. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
3. Add spinach to the sauce; cook for 2 minutes, or until spinach wilts, stirring constantly.
4. serve sauce over pasta, and sprinkle with feta.