Lost Recipes

I'm still sorting through old cookbooks and recipes and came across these, which I made so many years ago and am not sure how they fell off the radar, as both are very scrumptious.

The following recipe is for a very moist, dense coffee cake.  Made with graham crackers, it has a very unique and delicate flavor.  Great for morning coffee break!

GRAHAM CRACKER COFFEE CAKE

1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. backing powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1-1/2 cups craham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cupt light brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanille
1 cup butter milk
1 cup chopped walnuts

Sift together flour, baking powder, soda and salt; mix with graham cracker crumbs; set aside.  Cream together putter and sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time and then add vanilla, beating until fluffy.  Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating just to blend. Stir in walnuts and spread into greasted 9-inch square baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until top springs back.  Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm with butter.


And here's a recipe shared by a coworker many years back for a treat called Ice Cream Candy Bars.

BOTTOM CRUST:  about 25 crushed oreo cookies and 1 stick melted butter ... press into bottom of 13x9 pan.

Layer #2:  1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream.  Let soften then slice and spread into pan

Layer #3:  1 can spanish peanuts

Layer #4:  Melt 1 stick butter, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 can evaporated milk (more or less), and 3 cups powdered sugar.  Bring to boil until it thickens (similar to a white sauce consistency).  Let cool completely and spread over other layers.  FREEZE until firm.  To serve, let stand for about 1/2 hour for ease in slicing.

Snap This!

My son took this STUNNING photo from their Colorado back yard ... LOVE the weathered wood in the background and the bloom is absolutely lovely!



Nobody Doesn't Like Sara Lee

Years ago, my mother-in-law, Kay, made some really delicious and EASY treats during the holiday season.  She always called them "Lady Fingers".  You start with a Sara Lee Pound Cake ... and while it is still FROZEN, you cut the slices into one inch "fingers".  Then make a simple frosting from a box of powdered sugar and some milk.  To that add about 2 Tablespoons of creamy peanut butter (unless you're feeling like a daredevil, then go ahead and use chunky peanut butter).  Mix and then spread the frosting on each lady finger and then roll into shredded coconut.  Place on wire rack and allow the frosting to "harden" to the frozen cake.  You will be AMAZED at how delicious these little coconut bars are and I'm sure they will be come a family favorite!

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On the road again ... just can't wait to get on the road again ...

Tomorrow I'm heading to Des Moines to celebrate the birthday of a dear friend of mine ... she's gonna be doing the driving (have I ever mentioned that there are a few drawbacks with LEASING a vehicle ... one being that when you near your alloted miles, you are limited in where you can go and how far you can travel and still have enough miles to get you to the end of your lease).  We're heading out mid morning for the TWO HOUR drive to Des Moines, and then we'll be stopping at a few scrapbook stores.  Here's one of the places we'll be stopping at: 

http://www.heirloomsbydesign.com/

After a leisurely morning of shopping, we'll head to Iowa Machine Shed for lunch ... my favorites? Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Creamed Chicken and Biscuits, Shepherd’s Pie, or their thick center-cut roasted bone-in chop, stuffed with a warm apple raisin dressing and glazed with an apple whiskey sauce. Indescribably delicious!!  Am I making you hungry yet?  Of course, they also tease you with homemade bread rolls, AMAZING awardwinning soups, and by all means save room for a piece of their many pie selections.  You can visit their website here: http://www.machineshed.com/des-moines/des-moines-menus



We'll probably also make a few more stops after lunch before we head out of town and back home ... there's a place that makes homemade granola that's pretty delicious, and a place that makes some amazing sour dough bread as well.  

Add to this great adventure a great friend and companion that makes me laugh ... ALL THE TIME ... and it'll be one full day of mental therapy that I can embrace and enjoy!