THURSDAY IS CHILI DAY

Chili and also chilly!!
38 brisk degrees this morning in the West Virginia hills! Sounds like a great day to cook up a big pot of chili!
I have made chili pretty much the same way for the past 50+ years and was quite happy with it. Tomato juice, ground beef, kidney beans (canned) and spices, cooked for a couple of hours on a low heat. Quite tasty, but also quite time consuming.
Recently, I have discovered a new method/recipe that works out much better for today’s busy lifestyle.
Using McCormick’s chili seasoning mix and tomato sauce, along with the beef and beans eliminates practically all the cooking time. A quick browning of the meat, add beans, sauce and seasoning mix, simmer for a few, and VOILA!!! Chili!!


TEXAS SHEET CAKE

This is a recipe that was given to me way back when I was a Junior Women’s clubber, and it is my very favorite way to enjoy chocolate cake. It is a moist, fudgie dessert, that is more like a brownie than cake.

INGREDIENTS for CAKE

2 sticks butter or margarine
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine margarine/butter, cocoa and water in saucepan., and bring to a boil over low heat. Remove from heat, and add flour, sugar and salt. Mix well and add eggs, sour cream, soda and vanilla. Again, mix thoroughly.

Pour into a greased 9×13 pan, and bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes.

Remove from oven and leave in pan. Frost immediately.

FROSTING

1 stick butter or margarine
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 pound confectioners sugar
6 tablespoons milk
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine margarine/butter, cocoa and milk in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add sugar, nuts and vanilla. Mix well and immediately pour over cake.

Let cool, and enjoy!!!😋😋

RE-STEW

Many years ago when I was a young mother with a new baby, a kind neighbor brought me a bowl of stew for dinner. It was so good, that I immediately ran over and begged her for the recipe. It has been a favorite in my family ever since.

If you try it, be sure to use all the different spices exactly as they are in the recipe to get the full benefit of it’s unique flavor.

Vero’s English Brown Stew

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons fat (any type)
2 pounds beef chuck, cut in large cubes
1 large onion, sliced
1 clove garlic
4 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 bay leaves
Pinch of allspice
Carrots and Potatoes (No definite amounts given. Put in as many or few as you like) I just throw some in until it looks like enough to feed the family.
A little corn starch and water (Adjust this to your liking)

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat fat in a large heavy saucepan. (I use a six quart dutch oven)
Brown meat on all sides. Add water and spices.
Simmer 2 hours.
Add vegetables, and cook until they are tender.
Add corn starch to a small amount of water and stir into the stew to thicken the juices.



ALL THINGS PUMPKIN

It’s that time of year again (short summer wasn’t it) (winks)!
Time for “All things pumpkin”.

The last thing I would have ever expected to see was fudge made from pumpkin, and I was very surprised when a friend (in the real world) shared this recipe with me.

I was equally surprised when it turned out to be delicious!!!

LOADED OATMEAL COOKIES

Heck let’s just do it the easy way and turn it into a jpeg file.

When I am waking up with a morning cup of coffee, I like to have something solid to go with it. Something flavorful, but not too sweet.
These cookies fill that requirement nicely! I jokingly call them my “Trail Mix”cookies. (Picture will be updated later, since it is obviously not Christmas season right now)
Recipe as I get the time to type it in.