Chewy Brownie Cookies

Sister Penny Brown generously shared the recipe for these super yummy cookies- Thanks Penny!

Chewy Brownie Cookies

2/3 cup Crisco shortening
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 oz.)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place sheets of wax paper on counter top for cooling cookies. Combine Crisco, brown sugar, water and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat eggs into creamed mixture. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes, or until cookies are set. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Cookies will appear soft and moist. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to wax paper to cool completely. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Recipes From the Web

You can find GREAT recipes on the web. Here is a link to wonderful recipes from Utah "chefs".

This picture is from one of the websites they recommend called the Changeable Table.

Using Whole Wheat Flour

Here is a delicious recipe from my mom that uses some whole wheat flour and no one will ever notice.

Soft Gingersnaps

3/4 c. margarine
1 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1/4 c. black strap molasses
1 1/4 c. white flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cloves
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger

Cream margarine and sugar. Add egg and molasses and mix well. mix in dry ingredients. Cover dough and chill for one hour. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Bake between 350-375 for 8-10 minutes. Don't over bake. These should be soft, chewy and very yummy!

Penny's 100% whole wheat bread

Penny Brown has discovered and tried out the following 100% Whole Wheat bread recipe. She says it is delicious. She especially likes that it is so versatile- click here to get the recipe.

My paste button won't work- that's why there is the extra step of downloading the file- SORRY. This would be a great recipe to keep and use with your food storage.

Use Powdered Milk to make a Wendy's Frosty (copy)

At the Mormon Mommy they have posted a recipe for a chocolate milkshake that they say tastes just like a Wendy' frosty. I haven't tried it yet- but several people commented that it really did meet and pass their family taste test- here is what she said:

If you follow these directions, I kid you not, you will end up with a chocolate milkshake so much like a Wendy’s frosty you will be amazed. I beleive the original credit for the recipe goes to the Prairie Homemaker website, but I’m not 100% on that one.

1 1/2 - 2 cups ICE water- really, really cold.
1 1/2 cups non-fat dry milk powder
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2-3 cups ice cubes
2 Tbsp vegetable oil (yes, really- it’s an emulsifier)

Place ALL the ingredients in the blender, including the oil. Use less water for a thicker milkshake or more for a shake that’s easier on your blender motor. With lid on, process for two minutes. Makes about 4 shakes.

Homemade Cleaner

An LDS mom shares her recipes for cleaning products here.

Apple Butter Recipe

I found this yummy looking recipe on the DomesticCents blog (unrelated, but she also has directions for making cinnamon scented pinecones).

Crock Pot Apple Butter
adapted from All Recipes

5-1/2 pounds apples – peeled, cored and chopped/shredded
4 cups white sugar (use less sugar if you are using a sweet apple)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of salt
Directions – Here’s the thing. I didn’t exactly follow the recipe. I used more than 5 pounds of apples but I’m not sure how many. I just filled my crock pot (it reduces by almost half). I also played with the spices a little to make it how I wanted.

1.Put the apples in your crock pot. Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl them dump them in with the apples and mix it all up. You can add more sugar or spices part way through if you need to. I like mine extra spicy but if you don’t then you might want to lessen the spices.
2.Set it on High for 1 hour then reduce it down to Low for 12+ hours (overnight). You are trying to get it to cook down past the point of applesauce. I read somewhere a great tip on how to tell when it’s done. Scoop out a teaspoonful of it and set it on the counter. If in 5 minutes it hasn’t leaked a ring of water then it’s done. Mine took a VERY long time to get to that point but I’m glad I waited for it. Cook the last two hours with the lid off of the crock pot.
3.When it got to the end I used my hand mixer right in the crock pot to make it even smoother. My mom put hers in the blender which yielded and even smoother butter. It just depends on what you like

Using Your Food Storage Recipes

Sister Brooke Snow from Midland 2nd ward shared the following recipes. They look wonderful!

SPLIT PEA SOUP

1 pound (2 1/4 cups) dried split peas
2 quarts boiling water
2 tsp. garlic salt
2 chicken bouillon cubes (optional, I don't often use this)
2 carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 ham hock or 1/2 - 1 cup cooked, sliced ham (optional, but I use this every time)

Mix all ingredients in large pot, bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour or until peas are tender.


LENTIL SOUP

1 pound (2 1/4 cups) dried lentils
2 quarts water
1/4 cup dried onion
1 tbsp. garlic salt
2 smoked sausages, sliced

Mix all ingredients in large pot, bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour or until peas are tender.


PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1 yellow cake mix
1 spice cake mix
1 (29 oz.) can pumpkin
1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips

Mix together all ingredients, bake in 350° preheated oven for 8 - 10 minutes.


BLACK BEANS AND RICE

2 (15 oz) cans black beans (or use the equivalent of already prepared dried black beans, I make my own beans and then freeze them in baggies)
3 smoked sausages, sliced (or you can use crumbled sausage of your favorite flavor)
garlic powder and onion salt to taste

Serve over steamed white rice. (This is a traditional Brazilian dish from my Mom's mission)


WHOLE WHEAT BATTER BREAD (I've never made this, but it sounds easy and good)

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. yeast
1/2 cup warm water
5 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp. salt
12 or more cups whole wheat flour


Mix brown sugar, yeast, and warm water in a small bowl. Set aside. Put hot water, oil, sugar, salt, and 7 cups of flour in a large mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed. Add the yeast mixture and blend. increase speed and add 5 or more cups of flour gradually until batter begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Pour into four greased 9 x 5-inch bread pans. Let rise one hour or until doubled in volume. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans and allow to cool before slicing.

Taco Meat With Wheat

Vera Howell graciously shared this YUMMY recipe. Using wheat makes the dish healthier and you save money on meat so it's budget friendly too.

Taco Meat With Wheat
Bring to a boil 1 cup of wheat in 3 cups water, then simmer for approximately 40 min.- until wheat is tender and the water has been absorbed.

Brown 1 1/2 lbs. of hamburger
with chopped onion,
chopped bell pepper,
and 1 diced potato (optional).

Drain fat and add 1 cup of the cooked wheat and 1 pkg. taco seasoning mix with about 1 cup of water. Stir until mixed well and water is absorbed.

Serve as taco filling. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.
Or serve as a "Nacho grande"- put meat filling on top of tortilla chips and top with meat filling,refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, avocados, (what ever your favorite topping is), etc.

Yummy Grape Salad

My sister-in-law gave me this recipe. It's great! Sometimes I use all red grapes, but it's prettier with a combination.

2 lbs. green grapes
2 lbs. red grapes
1 8 oz. cream cheese
1 8 oz. sour cream
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Stem, wash and dry grapes. Place in a large bowl. In separate bowl mix the other ingredients. Then add this mixture to the grapes, stir, and serve chilled.

Penny's Sugar Cookies

(picture from the web, not my baking)

Here is a recipe from Penny Brown in Midland 2nd Ward- Thanks for sharing!!

Sugar Cookies
(We mostly use this one. It makes crisp, delicate cookies)
1 cup butter (not margarine), softened
1 cup sugar, divided
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating well. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture, beating at low till blended.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place on greased baking sheet. Dip a smooth-bottomed glass into remaining 1/4 cup sugar and flatten balls into 1/4-inch thickenness. Sprinkle sugar over cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned; transfer to wire rack to cool.

Yummy Salsa

My daughter offered to share her favorite salsa recipe:

Arizona Mild Salsa

3 yellow chili peppers
5 long green chili peppers
1-5 jalapeno peppers( for mild salsa use 3).
2 cloves of garlic peeled
2 bunches green onions
1 bunch fresh cilantro
2 Tbs olive oil
1 gal canned whole tomatoes

Wash and deseed all peppers. Clean green onions and leaves 2-3 inches of stalk on them. Take any larger or course stems from cilantro.

Put in blender a few tomatoes and add while pulsing all ingredients. Put in large gallon container add remaining tomato juice.

Add to taste:
1-2 tsp ground cumin
1/2-1 tsp red chili powder
1/4 cup lime juice
A little ground pepper

Recipe lasts 3-4 weeks.

The Best Cinnamon Roll Recipe

I LOVE this recipe for Cinnamon Rolls. It makes tender, sweet rolls. I like them frosted with cream cheese frosting. I hope you like them.

1/2 c. warm water
2 pkgs. yeast
2 T. sugar
1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding,
mixed with two cups milk
1/2 c. Margarine, melted
2 eggs
1 1/2 t. salt
6 c. flour, plus two later

filling (can double this if you like a lot of filling):
1 c. butter
2 c. brown sugar
4-6 t. cinnamon

Dissolve sugar and yeast in water; set aside. In large bowl mix pudding as directed. Add melted margarine,eggs, and salt. Mix well. Blend in yeast mix. Gradually add flour. Knead dough while adding another 1 to 1 1/2 c. more flour. Knead until smooth. Cover and let rise in well greased bowl. Let rise until double, punch down and roll out on floured surface approximately 34x21 inches. Spread with butter. Top with brown sugar and cinnamon. Add nuts and raisins if wanted. Roll tightly and cut with string (or dental floss) into
3/4" slices.place in greased pan 2 inches apart. Let rise until double. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min.

(this picture is off of the internet- not a picture of my baking)