Microwave Pecan Bars

These are my absolute favorite Christmas 'cookie'. I would love it when my mom made them growing up. It is a tricky recipe as the microwave time varies depending upon the microwave using. It is hit or miss on the time. You just need to watch these closely and watch the middle so that they aren't too gooey. (You may need to leave the middle a little gooey so that the edges don't get to well done. )

Ingrediants:
1 stick of butter
1 lb of Brown Sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup bisquick (or jiffy mix)
2 cups chopped pecans (around 8 oz)
Powder Sugar

Directions:
Melt the butter in the microwave. Add the Brown Sugar - Stir. Add vanilla and eggs - Stir. Add bisquick - Stir. Add Pecans - Stir.

Cook on high 9 1/2 minutes (The old recipe book said if 650 watt microwave cook 10 1/2 minutes). You will need to watch and if the middle is too gooey, add more time.

Cool and Slice. Shake in a bag of Powder sugar until covered. Eat :)

Make sure that you don't wait too long to slice as they will harden up.

Fruit Cocktail Cake

Here is another classic Grandma Heath recipe. It was almost always a staple at any of the summer picnics. I love this cake!  Edited - I was told that the ingredients that I originally had written were for a smaller pan - I have updated to indicate what is needed for a 9 x 13 :)

Ingredients:
Cake
2 egg
2 cup fruit cocktail (one can undrained)
2 cup flour
2 cup sugar
2teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
brown sugar
nut meats
Butter Sauce - (The sauce is the best part :)  Make sure that to put plenty on each piece!
2 cup sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
2 stick real butter

Directions:
Beat 2 egg and add 2 cup fruit cocktail. Sift and add 2 cup flour, 2 cup sugar, 2 teaspoon soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt.Put in greased 9x13 dish and sprinkle with brown sugar and nut meats.Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Serve with Butter Sauce:
Bring sugar, evaporated milk and butter to boil and pour over each serving.

Little Reuben Appetizer

For Christmas this year I made a new appetizer. I got the idea from Chris' Aunt EJ. She made them for Thankgiving Eve one year. They turned out very good. I want to make them again!

Ingrediants:
1/2 c. Thousand Island dressing (I just guessed; I probably used more since I like a lot of dressing!)
24 slices party rye bread
1 1/2 c. well drained chopped sauerkraut
1/2 lb. thinly sliced corned beef - chopped in to small pieces
1/4 lb. sliced Swiss cheese

Directions
Mix the sauerkraut with the corn beef in a bowl. Spread 1/2 tsp. dressing on each slice of bread. Place a spoonful of the sauerkraut/corn beef mixture on each slice of bread. Cut cheese the size of bread and place over corned beef.

Arrange sandwiches on baking sheet; bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

Makes 2 dozen.

Sandra's No Bake Cookies

Ok, I'm going to post one more tonight before I go to bed. Here is Sandra's no bake cookie recipe. Remember when we were making Reindeer and we had all the oatmeal containers that we had to empty to make them. Laura and I were making reindeer with a little help from Mom and Carol and Sandra made us all no bake cookies! Yum.

Ingredients:
2 cups of sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 stick of margarine/butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 pinch of salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups of instant oatmeal
(You can leave out peanut butter if desired and add extra 1/4 cup of cocoa)
Also you can add 1/2 cup coconut (optional)

Directions:
Add all ingredients together EXCEPT oatmeal(coconut) in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook at full boil for two minutes while stirring. Also put the oatmeal in a bowl so when the mixture is done, you then pour the mixture into the bowl with the oatmeal and stir until mixed. Drop teaspoon sized scoops on wax paper and let cookies set up.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

This is an all time favorite of our family. It is a staple at most holiday and birthday parties!

Ingredients:
4 cans sliced water chestnuts
3 pounds bacon
3 cups catsup
1 cup Mayo
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce.

Directions:
Cut bacon strips in 1/3s (sometimes 1/2s – depends on the strips) Wrap around chestnut slice and secure with toothpick. Bake on broiler pan until bacon crisp – I usually use 3750 and it takes quite a while...
In a sauce pan, mix ~3 cups catsup, ~1 cup Mayo, ~1 cup brown sugar, and ~1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce. Heat and stir until mixed well. We put bacon it crock pot and pour sauce over. You can also put them in dish in oven and pulled out when ready to serve.

*We have wrapped and cooked the bacon-water chestnuts the day prior and it works just fine!
**It does take quite a long time to wrap the bacon around the water chestnuts!

Grandma's Mac and Cheese

Laura called me today. She needed Grandma's Mac and Cheese recipe. I think that we have all made this at some point or another. My favorite memory was making it for Ryan and Sandra's rehersal dinner. (I had an important job :) It is never the same as when grandma makes it, but it is always still good!

Grandma’s Mac and Cheese

Ingredients/Directions:

Cook 2 cups dried macaroni Noodles

¼ cup melted butter
Mix in ¼ cup flour.
Then mix 2 cups milk – make sure it is not TOO HOT.
Slowly mix in 10-12 slices of Kraft cheese (slowly so that they melt as you are mixing)

Mix everything together and bake at 350 until brown for about ½ hour. I think Grandma leave it uncovered while cooking.

Yum

** I have also used other type of cheese, and although it isn't the same as when I was growing up, I really like a mix of cheader and mozzarella. **

My First Blog

I have a great family. Ten years ago, my goal was to move away... far far away... why? To experience something new. I was silly. All that is important to me is around here. My family and friends! I'm glad that I realized it before it was too late. We get together at least once a week at someones house for dinner. It is usually the core group, but anyone who is around can come. Many times we make old family favorites, sometimes we order take out, and sometime we like to try something new. I'm going start documenting the recipes that we love.