Coffee Toffee Bars

Coffee Toffee bars are easy to make and taste so good.  They are like the chocolate chip bar cookies, but with the flavor of coffee and almonds.

Ingredients

1 c. butter or margarine
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. almond extract or vanilla
1 to 2 Tbs. instant coffee crystals
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 c. flour
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. nuts, chopped (Optional)

Frosting

1 Tbs. soft butter
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/8 tsp. almond extract or vanilla
1 to 2 Tbs. milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan. 

Cream butter and brown sugar together, until light and fluffy.

Blend in almond or vanilla extract and instant coffee crystals

Add the flour to the mixture.  You may need a bit more flour to make a stiff dough. 

Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.  

Press the mixture into the prepared pan.  

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  While the bars are baking, you can make the frosting. 

To make the frosting, mix butter and powdered sugar together.  Add the almond or vanilla extract and 1 Tablespoon milk.  

Slowly add the other tablespoon of milk until spreading consistency. Frost the bars while they are still warm. 

 Boiled Raisin Cake

This is an old-fashioned cake that my grandmother used to make quite often.  It was passed down through her family.  As it bakes, the spices fill the house. You know something good is going to come out of the oven. You can frost this cake with Brown Sugar Frosting, or eat it plain.  Either way, this cake is delicious.

Ingredients

2 c. raisins
3 c. water
1 c. sugar *You can use brown sugar
1/2 c. butter or shortening or half butter and half shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. walnuts, chopped (optional)

Brown Sugar Frosting

1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. butter
3 Tbs. milk
2 c. powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch cake pan.

In a medium saucepan, combine raisins and water together.  Bring to a boil and boil until raisins are tender. Remove the raisins and continue to boil the liquid until there is 1 cup liquid.  If you boil it down too much, add some extra water to make 1 cup. You can also use coffee. Set aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter until fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.  Stir in raisins and the reserved raisin water. 

Mix in cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, all spice, soda, and baking powder. Gradually add flour, stirring until combined.  Stir in nuts.

Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool. Prepare the frosting if desired.

In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter and milk.  Stirring constantly, cook until the sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat and pour into a mixing bowl. Set aside to cool completely.

Add the powdered sugar into the cooled brown sugar mixture.  Mix until the frosting becomes the right consistency for spreading over the cake. You can add more powdered sugar if you need it thicker, or if you want a thinner frosting, add a little milk, beating until you have the right consistency.  

Frost the cake. Serve and enjoy.  

Bacon Onion Buns

If you like bacon and onions, then these bread buns are sure to please. You can mix the bacon and onions in the dough and then make into buns. Or, you can roll the dough out, spread the bacon and onions over the dough and roll up into a jelly roll. Slice the dough into rolls and bake them that way.  You can also add 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese in the dough as well. 

Ingredients

3/4 lb. bacon
1 large onion, chopped about 2 cups
2 pkg. yeast
1/4 c. warm water
1 tsp granulated sugar
2 c. boiling water
1 c. oatmeal
3 Tbs. oil 
3 Tbs. molasses
1 egg
2/3 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. salt
5 to 6 c. flour

Directions

Lightly grease two 9 x 13-inch cake pans

Brown bacon in a heavy cast iron skillet until browned, but not too crisp. Remove bacon and crumple into small pieces.  Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease. Add the onion to the skillet. Cook until the onion is golden brown.  Cool.

In a large bowl, pour boiling water over oatmeal. Set aside to cool.

Dissolve yeast and granulated sugar in the 1/4 c. warm water.  Set aside for about 10 minutes, so the yeast can bloom. 

In the oatmeal bowl add the yeast mixture, bacon, onions, oil, molasses, egg, brown sugar, salt, and 3 to 4 cups flour.  Add another 1 to 2 cups flour. When the dough becomes too hard to stir, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. 

Place in a lightly greased bowl. We use the same bowl that the dough was mixed in to save on washing dishes. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and put in a warm location, so the dough can rise. When the dough is doubled, punch down.

Shape into buns and place in the prepared pans. 

Place the pans in a warm location and let the dough rise until doubled. 

Bake at 375° for 18 to 20 minutes.

Stew Hot Dish

Stew Hot Dish is a simple one dish meal that includes meat and an array of different vegetables.  You can add or remove the vegetables to suit your taste. Sometimes I add a beef bouillon cube for more flavor.  Serve with homemade bread or biscuits

Ingredients

1 lb. hamburger
1 onion, chopped
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 c. diced potatoes
1 pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 c. sliced carrots
1 c. water
1 can tomato soup
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
2 bay leaves

Directions

In a Dutch oven, we have a heavy cast iron one with a lid, brown the hamburger, onion and garlic until the hamburger is no longer pink and the onion is tender.  Drain off excess grease.

Add the potatoes, frozen mixed vegetables, sliced carrots, water, tomato soup, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Mix well.  Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to low.  Simmer for 45 to 60 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Stir occasionally and add more water as needed. 

Scalloped Potatoes, Sausage and Cabbage

Comfort food. Growing up, we had potatoes with almost every meal. This recipe uses cabbage, but you can leave it out if you prefer. The Kielbasa sausage can be substituted for another kind of meat.  This recipe is very versatile, allowing you to use what you have on hand. this dish can even be made ahead of time and baked later on. 

Ingredients

4 medium potatoes, sliced very thin
1 onion
8 oz. Kielbasa sausage
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 c. water
2 c. shredded cabbage
1/2 cheddar cheese, shredded 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 3-quart casserole dish.  You can also use a 13 x 9 baking dish if you don't have a casserole dish.  

Slice potatoes, onions and sausage thinly.  Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter or margarine.  Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth.  Gradually add milk and water, stirring constantly over medium heat until thickened.

Layer one third of the potatoes, half of the onions, half the cabbage, half of the sausage and one third of the sauce.  Repeat layers and top with the remaining potatoes and sauce.

Cover and bake for 35 minutes.  Uncover and bake 45-50 minutes more or until potatoes are tender. 

Pan Tacos

This is a different twist to the usual hand held taco and it is less messy.  This recipe combines ground beef, onions, peppers, taco seasoning and peppers in single pan.  You can also add some left over rice to the dish for a great tasting meal.

Ingredients

1 box taco shells
2 lbs. hamburger
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet pepper, chopped
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 can mushroom soup
1 can celery soup
1 (12 oz.)  can tomato paste
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix ** see below
2 c. shredded cheese
sour cream
lettuce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Crush taco shells. Place them in an ungreased 9 x 13-inch pan.

In a heavy cast iron skillet, brown the hamburger, onion, sweet pepper, and jalapeno peppers until meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.  Drain off excess grease.

Add mushroom soup, celery soup, tomato paste, taco seasoning mix.  Mix well.

Pour the hamburger mixture over the broken taco shells. 

Top with shredded cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes.  Serve with shredded lettuce and sour cream. 

Taco Seasoning Mix

If you don't have a package of taco seasoning, you can easily make some at home with spices you probably already have in your kitchen.  

Ingredients

1/2 c. chili powder
2 Tbs. cumin
2 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 1/2 Tbs. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. oregano

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and place them in an airtight container.  Use 2 tablespoonful of taco seasoning to equal one store bought packet of taco seasoning.  

Cavantini

Cavantini is a great recipe to make if you don't have a lot of time. It is economical and easy on the pocketbook. If you are rally short on time, you can skip making the meat sauce and use a large jar of spaghetti sauce with meat. 

Ingredients

2 1/2 c. rigatoni or other noodles, cooked and drained
1 lb. ground beef
1 sweet pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 can mushrooms
3/4 c. water
1 bay leaf
8 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
pepperoni (optional)

Directions

Fill a large pot with water. Bring to a boil. Cook rigatoni or other noodles according to package directions.  Drain.

In a heavy cast iron skillet, brown the ground beef, pepper and onion together until the hamburger is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.  Drain off excess grease.

Mix in the oregano, pepper, garlic powder, salt, tomato paste, tomato sauce, mushrooms, water and bay leaf.  Bring to a boil.  Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.  Remove the bay leaf. 

In a 9 x 13-inch pan, put the meat sauce on the bottom.  Then add the noodles for the next layer. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and add the pepperoni over the top.

Bake at 375° for 30 to 40 minutes.