Cookie Recipe's

Chocolate Lady Fingers


½ c flour
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Dash of salt
2 eggs, separated
4 Tbsp sugar

Preheat oven to 350.
Grease 2 cookie sheets and line with parchment paper, grease parchment.
In a small bowl, sift together flour, cocoa and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks and 1 Tbsp sugar with an electric mixer on high speed until light and pale colored.
In a large bowl, beat egg whites and remaining 3 Tbsp sugar with clean beaters on high speed until stiff, but not dry (2 -3 minutes).
Fold egg yolks into egg whites, then fold in reserved flour mixture.
Using a rubber spatula, transfer batter into a large pastry bag fitted with a large ½ inch round decorating tip, filling the bag half full at a time.
Pipe batter into 18 to 22 strips, each about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide, spaced 1 ½ inch apart onto prepared cookie sheets.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes.
Transfer to a rack and let cool.

Yield = 18 to 22

Recipe form Natalie Haughton

Mom’s Molasses Ginger Cookies

2 c flour
1 ¼ c white sugar, divided
2 tsp baking soda
½ c soft butter
½ tsp salt
¼ c shortening
½ tsp ginger
1 lg egg
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ c molasses
¼ tsp cloves

Preheat oven to 350.
Beat 1 cup sugar, butter and shortening together.
Add egg and molasses; beat until smooth.
Add the dry ingredients and mix well.
Refrigerate the dough at least 30 minutes.
Roll dough into 1” balls and roll in the remaining ¼ cup of sugar.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes.

Yield = about 4 dozen

Recipe from Lyle Koons, Andover, KS

Honey Drops

1 c sugar
1 c honey
1 c shortening
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp almond flavoring
½ c chopped walnuts
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 egg
¼ c chopped orange peel
~ 3 c flour

Preheat oven to 325.
Mix all ingredients, except the flour.
Add enough flour so that the mixture can be rolled into balls and place on a cookie sheet without running.
After placing rolled balls on cookie sheet, bake for 12 to 14 minutes.
Test bake 1 or 2 cookies to check for consistency.

Yield = about 12 dozen drops

Recipe from FDR, Jr. who raised Hereford cattle in the 50’s.

Saddle Snaps

1 c white sugar
¾ c butter, softened
1 lrg egg, beaten
4-6 Tbls molasses
2 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 ½ tsp ginger
2 Tbls Crown Royal
½ tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350.
Cream together sugar and butter.
Beat in egg, molasses & Crown Royal; mix well.
Thoroughly blend all dry ingredients.
Beat into creamed mixture.
Mold into walnut-sized balls.
Roll in granulated sugar, but DO NOT flatten.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Yield = 60 cookies.

My favorite for throwing in the saddle bags when checking cows and riding in the mountain range.

Original Snap Recipe from Eva Ping, Paris, IL.

Keeping Hamburger Interesting

The following are recipe's for ground beef. Ground beef can be used for a host of delicious dishes and appetizers.  Go beyond the burger and the helper. All of these recipe's are from people I have met through my travels across this great country and they are all (or were) directly involved in the cattle industry.  They are family farmers and ranchers just I am; people who know beef!


Mexican Casserole


1 ½ lb ground beef
1 medium onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 c evaporated milk
1 small can chopped green chilies
10 – 12 tortillas
1 ½ tsp salt
Dash of pepper
Dash of garlic salt
1 ½ c American cheese

Preheat oven at 400.
Brown meat with salt, pepper, garlic salt and chopped onion.
Drain fat from meat.
Mix soup with milk and chilies in saucepan.
Place tortillas on cookie sheet in warm oven, just long enough to warm, then dip in soup mixture.
Line 9 x 13 inch baking dish with tortillas.
Mix soup and meat mixtures.
Alternate meat mixture with the tortillas.
Top with meat mixture, then grated cheese.
Bake about 30 minutes.

Recipe from Frances Henard, New Mexico.

 Meat Pie


Pie Shell/Crust

1 lb ground beef
½ c bread crumbs
½ (8 oz) can tomato sauce
½ c onion, chopped
¼ c green pepper, chopped

Mix and pat into pie shell.

Filling

1 ½ c minute rice
1 c water
1 ½ cans tomato sauce
1 c grated cheddar cheese
½ tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all but ½ cup of the cheese.
Spoon the mixture into the shell.
Bake for 25 minutes covered with foil.
Remove foil and add ½ cup cheese.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes more.

Recipe from Sherry Colyer, Idaho

Lanea’s Favorite Skillet Dish

3 strips bacon
1 lb ground beef
1 c sliced onion
1 (1lb) can stewed tomatoes
½ c water
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 medium potatoes, diced
1 c green pepper strips
2 c coarsely chopped cabbage
1 c chopped celery

Fry bacon in a skillet until crisp.
Remove and drain on paper towels; crumble.
Saute beef and onion in 2 Tbsp bacon fat until meat is well browned.
Add tomatoes, water, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, potatoes, green pepper, cabbage, celery and bacon.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat.
Cover and simmer 20 minutes, until vegetable are tender.

Recipe from Lanea Gunderson, Montana.

Meat-Potato Quiche

3 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 c coarsely shredded raw potatoes
1 c grated Swiss or Cheddar cheese
¾ to 1 ½ c browned hamburger
¼ c chopped onion
1 c evaporated milk
2 eggs
½ tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp parsley flakes

Preheat oven to 425.
In 9 inch pie pan, stir together vegetable oil and potatoes.
Press evenly into pie crust shape.
Bake for 15 minutes, just until brown.
Remove from oven.

Layer on cheese, hamburger and onion.
In bowl, beat milk, salt, eggs and pepper.
Pour over other ingredients.
Sprinkle with parsley flakes.
Return to oven and bake about 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
Inserted knife blade, 1 inch from edge, should come out clean.
Allow to cool 5 minutes before cutting into wedges.

Recipe from Lanea Gunderson, Montana.

Zesty Cocktail Meatballs

Meatballs

1 lb ground beef
1 egg, beaten
1 c soft bread crumbs (about 2 slices)
¼ c milk
3 Tbsp finely chopped onion
½ tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375.
In large mixing bowl, combine beaten egg, bread crumbs, milk, chopped onion and salt.
Add meat and mix well.
Shape into 8 dozen 1 inch balls.
Place the meatballs in a 15 ½ x 10 ½ x 2 ¼ inch baking pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Sauce

1 (10 oz) jar grape jelly
1 (12 oz) bottle chili sauce

Melt grape jelly and chili sauce in a saucepan.
Add meatballs and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until meatballs are heated through (if you stored for later.)
• Only simmer for 5 – 10 minutes if meatballs were prepared at the same time.

Recipe from Jerry Nicholson, Washington



Hot Hamburger Dip

1 lb hamburger
½ c chopped onion
1/3 tsp garlic powder
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
¼ c catsup
¾ tsp oregano
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
1/3 c Parmesan cheese

Brown the ground beef, onion and garlic powder.
Drain off the extra fat.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
Serve with choice of dipping agents.
Yields approximately 24 servings.

Recipe from Buell Jackson, Iowa.

Bread Recipe's

Banana Nut Bread


1 c shortening
2 c sugar
4 eggs
2 ½ c flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
5 medium bananas, mashed
3 tsp buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 c chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 325.
Mix shortening and sugar until creamy.
Add eggs, 2 at a time, mixing well.
Sift flour, salt and baking soda together.
Combine creamed mixture, dry ingredients, bananas and buttermilk, using 1/3 at a time.
Add vanilla and nuts; mix well.
Bake in 2 greased 9 x 5 loaf pans for approximately 1 to 1 ¼ hours.

Recipe from Carlitta Harvey, New Mexico.

Cake & Pie Recipes

Having traveled the country as a National Director for the American Junior Hereford Association and also through opportunities in Farm Bureau, I have had the pleasure of sampling a multitude of food.  I felt it was time to take a break from the regular blog posts and share some of my favorite recipes for a variety of foods.  Since it is closing in on Christmas, I always find myself in the kitchen periodically dabbling with desserts, so as I whip up my favorites, I'll try to share them with y'all to enjoy as well. Feel free to let me know how you like them.

WARNING: These should NOT be utilized in any weight loss program!

CAKES


Chocolate Ice Water Cake


¾ c butter
2 ¼ c sugar
1 ½ tsp vanilla
3 eggs
3 (1 oz) sq unsweetened chocolate, melted
3 c sifted cake flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
¾ tsp salt
1 ½ c ice water

Preheat oven to 350.
Cream thoroughly butter, sugar and vanilla.
Add eggs; mix well.
Add melted chocolate.
Sift flour, baking soda and salt.
Add dry ingredients alternately with ice water.
Bake in three 8 inch round baking pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
Cool 10 to 15 minutes before removing from pans.
Frost with Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

2 sq unsweetened chocolate
1 (3 oz) pkg softened cream cheese
2 Tbsp milk
2 c powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1 ½ tsp vanilla
2 ½ to 2 ¾ c powdered sugar

Melt chocolate; cool.
Beat together cream cheese and 2 Tbsp milk.
Add powdered sugar; mix well.
Beat in melted chocolate, another 2 Tbsp milk and vanilla.
Add enough additional powdered sugar (2 ½ to 2 ¾ cups total) to make spread consistent.
Will frost center and sides of two cake layers.

Recipe from Lois Schlickau, Kansas

This recipe won the Hershey Chocolate Award and Sweepstakes at the Kansas State Fair in the open division years ago.

Applesauce Cake


1 c butter
2 c sugar
2 c applesauce
1 c pecans, broken
1 c raisins
3 c flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
1 ¾ tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp salt
½ sm jar apricot jelly
2 Tblsp vinegar

Preheat oven to 325.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add applesauce, raisins and pecans which have been dredged in ¼ cup measured flour.
Sift all dry ingredients together; add to mixture.
Pour into a loaf pan and bake for 2 hours.

For icing, empty ½ small jar of apricot jelly into a saucepan.
Add vinegar.
Heat until just hot.
After poking holes in the top of the cake, pour the hot apricot jelly over the cake.

Recipe from Donna Huizenga, Henderson, IL.



Choco-Scotch Marble Cake

1 pkg yellow cake mix
1 pkg instant butterscotch pudding
4 eggs
1 c sour cream
1/3 c vegetable oil
½ c butterscotch chips
1 (1 oz) sq unsweetened chocolate, melted

FROSTING

1 ½ c butterscotch chips, melted
1 sq unsweetened chocolate, melted
5-6 Tblsp half & half
2 Tblsp finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine cake mix, pudding, eggs, sour cream and oil; beat on low speed for 2 minutes.
Divide batter in half.
Stir butterscotch chips into half and chocolate into other half.
Spoon half of butterscotch batter into greased 10 inch fluted tube pan and top with half of chocolate batter.
Repeat layers.
Cut through batter with knife to swirl.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Frosting
Combine butterscotch chips and chocolate.
Beat in enough cream until smooth.
Spread over top of cake.
Sprinkle over top with pecans.

Recipe from Sara Watson Pfeiffer, Peoria, AZ.

Rum Cake


1 c butter
2 c sugar
4 eggs
1 c milk
3 ½ c sugar
3 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp rum flavoring or 2 Tbsp dark rum
1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 325.
Mix butter, sugar and 4 eggs thoroughly.
Add flour (that has been sifted with salt and baking powder) alternately with milk.
Mix well.
Add rum.
Pour into a greased and floured Bundt pan.
Bake for 1 hour.

Icing

1 c brown sugar
1 c white sugar
½ c water
Pinch of salt
2 Tbsp dark rum or 1 tsp rum flavoring

Mix brown and white sugar with water and salt; boil well.
Add rum and pour ½ of the icing over the hot cake in the pan.
Let cake cool and remove from the pan.
Turn cake upside down on a plate and pour the other ½ of the icing over the cake.

Recipe from Carlitta Harvey, New Mexico.

Misunderstandings By #profood Part 2

Let me start by appologizing for not getting this posted sooner.  Fall is a crazy time on the ranch and the calendar is filled with meetings.  The livestock and previous commitments come before blogging. Sorry

This part pertains to an area that I feel is not realized or truly understood by many in the #profood community. It involves the relationship between geographic location and the ability to produce commodities. I shall preface this part by saying I fully support those that are growing organic and natural products, it will take a variety of production methods to meet the growing consumption needs of the world.


First, the ability to grow crops and livestock is dependant upon geographic location. Most crops are limited in the areas that they will grow. Elevation, length of growing season, soil type and availability of water are just some of the limiting factors. For example: peanuts grow very well in Georgia, but are not found in Montana; Pears grow extremely well in portions of Oregon, but do not do well Arizona. Similarly, there are certain breeds of livestock that perform better in particular areas of the country; Brahman thrive in Texas, but not in North Dakota; Angus perform well in Michigan, but not in Florida.

Second, geographic region also is a major factor in determining the success of raising organic crops. Recently, a report has been tweeted that makes the statement that organic crops are equal to conventional and in some cases, greater in terms of yield. Some in the #profood community would have you believe that this report pertains to “all” types of crops being grown. It should be pointed out, however, that the study this report cites was on corn and soybeans. It should also be noted that the author also made the following points: 1) equal to and/or greater yields were not realized until after year 4 or 5 and 2) he noted that other crops (ie row crops) probably would not share the same results due to the higher susceptibility to insects and fungus. It should also be noted that this study was done in a specific region and should not be applied across the country. There are definitely areas of the country that favor organic production for some specific varieties. However, to assume that all crops can be grown organically, in all locations, at a level that will meet demand is in error.

Finally, the recent promotion of eating local, and the concept of eating food within a 100 mile radius is noble, but in the case of metropolitan areas, unreasonable. Variety of food is limited by geography, as is the ability to produce an organic crop. In addition, the amount of acres necessary to produce enough “local” food, for city of 100,000 for 12 months is simply unreasonable. Further, it must be taken into consideration that at least half of the United States has a growing season of 120-150 days or less. Production in these areas would need to be doubled at a minimum in order to have enough produce to preserve for the rest of the year.

In conclusion, it is wonderful for people to support local producers of fruits, vegetables, milk and meat. The more direct sales that occur, increase the profitability for the farmer, and certainly provide a “farm fresh” product for the consumer. Consumers have a wonderful opportunity to actually see the face that grows their food, and it is not the person at the check out counter, as well as learn how their food was grown. However, the ability of our country to supply our own people with enough locally grown, organic food is impractical at best, let alone be able to profitably produce organically in all regions of the country. The environment simply places too many restrictions upon production naturally, and this does not take into account the economic factors, but that is the next part to be addressed.