Years ago, Shoney’s restaurant chain had a delicious pie on their menu that never failed to get rave reviews. It consisted of a buttery, slightly sweet crust, filled with large, whole, fresh strawberries swimming in a thick, strawberry flavored glaze.

Home bakers wanted to create it in their own kitchens, so manufacturers soon came up with a glaze that was sold in the produce section of grocery stores right alongside the cartons of fresh berries.

Then, a recipe came out that used strawberry gelatin as a base, and that was immediately my favorite!

INGREDIENTS

1 nine inch pie crust (baked)
4 cups fresh strawberries
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch
1 pkg (3 oz. size) strawberry gelatin

Place strawberries in crust. (whole or cut into desired shapes/pieces.) I prefer whole or just halved. Smaller pieces will cook slightly and change the flavor of the pie.

Combine water, sugar, and cornstarch in saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is clear and thickened. Remove from heat and add gelatin. Stir until well dissolved.

Pour hot mixture over berries in crust. Refrigerate until cold and set. Top with whipped topping.

Fund raiser strawberries are due in soon!!

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About five years ago I bought a fancy schmancy Kitchen Aid dishwasher that had all the bells and whistles on it that anyone could ever want. We had sold some timber, so I felt it was practically free at the time, and went all out!

For the past two years I have been washing dishes by hand because that glittery object was just an attractive nuisance!

Something malfunctioned …. of course…. just after the warranty expired!

I finally broke down and bought a new one. Very simple. And it works!!!! Beautifully!!

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This cake is one I have been making since back around 1970. It is rich and moist, and really satisfies a chocolate craving! I like to keep it refrigerated for additional density and fudginess.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate (I use cocoa, following the instructions on the cocoa can for substitution)
• 1/2 cup sugar (for blending with chocolate mixture)
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (For blending with chocolate mixture)
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1/1/2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk

INSTRUCTIONS

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CHOCOLATE BUTTER CREAM FROSTING

1 cup butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 lbs. confectioners sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 teaspoons vanilla

Combine all ingredients and beat until light and fluffy.

Frost between layers, sides and top of cake.

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I have quite an extensive collection of cookbooks and recipes. some of them dating back to the 50s, but there is always room for one more.

A good Twitter friend and I were discussing recipes and he mentioned a book he had recently purchased at Cracker Barrell. I looked it up on Amazon and found a used one at a fraction of the cost of a new one. It is in perfect condition and I am very pleased with it. I can’t wait to try some of the down-to-earth, yummy sounding recipes.

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No recipe needed here. You will find one on the bag of butterscotch chips.

Grab yourself a bag, along with a box of quick oats, and head for the kitchen. That’s where you’ll find me.

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I think most everyone has at least one skillet in their kitchen that they rely on when they need a non-stick surface.
Over the years,numerous types have been on the market, with all of them failing after a few uses. Nothing seems to work well for long.

Until now!!!!!

(Fair warning: plug for a brand coming up)

Pioneer Woman cast aluminum cookware:

This is the review from a popular shopping source.

“Get cooking delicious homemade meals with The Pioneer Woman Prairie Signature 12-Piece Cast Aluminum Cookware Set. It has all the pots and pans needed for everyday cooking including 10-inch fry pan, two-quart saucepan with lid, five-quart Dutch oven with lid, four-quart Everyday Pan with lid, three felt protectors, nylon spoon, and slotted turner. The aluminum cookware pieces charcoal speckle design which brings a vintage, farmhouse feel to your kitchen. The nonstick interior offers easy food release and the wooden handles have a soft and comfortable grip Enjoy creating mouthwatering food with the gorgeous The Pioneer Woman Prairie Signature 12-Piece Cast Aluminum Cookware Set.

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I have several pieces and have been using them for almost a year now with NO change whatsoever! A fried egg still slides right out and even that canned corned beef hash (which usually leaves about 3/4 of the content sticking to the pan when you try to brown it) comes right out in it’s entirety!

I heartily recommend this product!!

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This is a simple, easy to make dessert recipe that gets lots of use in the Vero household. Fresh strawberries, peaches, black raspberries, blackberries, etc. sooner or later make their way into the pan.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 stick butter or margarine
3 to 4 cups raw fruit sweetened to taste

Instructions

Melt butter/margarine in a 9×13 pan.
Mix all ingredients except fruit, together, and pour half into the pan.
Add fruit and top with rest of batter.
Bake at 350* for 45 minutes.
Serve hot or cold with topping of your choice. (I like a scoop of a good vanilla ice cream)

Cooks note: Try substituting canned fruit for the raw fruit.

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Ingredients
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1 stick butter melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pie filling mix)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of ground nutmeg
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1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions
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Melt butter. Cool, and add sugar. Beat well.
Add egg, pumpkin and vanilla, again beating well.
Add dry ingredients and mix just until well blended.

Drop heaping tablespoons of dough into sugar/spice mixture and
roll into round balls coating thoroughly.
Place on parchment lined cookie sheet, and flatten to about 1/2 inch thick.

Bake at 375* for 10 to 12 minutes.

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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.

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.

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