Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup shortening 

1/4 cup margarine/butter 

2 eggs 

1c sugar 

2tsp vanilla 

3 cup flour 

1 tsp salt 

1tsp baking powder 

 - Cream shortening, margarine and sugar together.

 - Add eggs and vanilla 

-  Fold in dry ingredients 

- Roll into dough 

-  Refrigerate for 3-4 hours (or overnight) 

- To roll, use 1/2c flour and 1/4 sugar. 

- Break into 3 parts. Roll to 1/8" thick.

 - Cut into shapes. Bake @350F for 7-10 minutes. Ice as desired. *If coloring batter, add color when you add vanilla.

Best Blondies

I found this recipe on a friend's blog, and just had to try them. I made mine with 1/2 cup white chocolate chunks and 1/4 cup toffee pieces.

Basic Blondies
6-7 TBS butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt1 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder (optional, creates lighter Blondie texture)

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Line an 8x8 pan with foil and lightly spray with PAM.
3. In a large microwave safe mixing bowl melt the butter.
4. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
5. Mix the brown sugar with the melted butter and beat until smooth.
6. Beat in egg and then vanilla.
7. Add salt, stir in flour and baking powder (if using).
8. Mix in any additions (some ideas below).
9. Pour into prepared pan and use a greased spatula to evenly spread mixture in pan and level the top.
10. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set in the middle. (I baked for 22 minutes) Cool on rack before cutting.

Add in ideas:
1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate or butterscotch chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds
1/2 cup M&M candies
1/2 chopped Reese's PB cups
1/4 cup toffee pieces
1/2 tsp mint extract in addition to, or in the place of vanilla extract

Yorkshire Pudding

This is the Dowling Family secret Yorkshire recipe....Enjoy.

4 eggs

1 cup of milk

3/4 cup of flour

1/2 teaspoon of salt

Now combine well-beaten egg and milk; beat till light. Gradually beat in sifted flour and salt; beat till extra smooth.

The most important thing in making your Yorkshire is to make sure that the batter is cold. So make the batter in the morning and leave it in the fridge. Or for the lazy folk, throw er in the freezer for a 1/2 hour, before baking time.

Temp: Pre-Heat 450º F Time: 30 Minutes

1) Grease pans with cooking oil (leave 5-10ml of oil in each Yorkshire cup) , and put only the "pan" with oil in oven until the pan is hot. - 5min.

2) Take hot pan out of oven and pour an even amount of batter into each Yorkshire cup in the hot pan.

3) Put pan back into oven with batter.

4) Reduce oven temp to 350 and slowly decrease oven temp through the duration of the cooking time. 350-300-275-250 and stop at 200. - Every 6 Minutes.

5) Pull the Yorkshire from the oven when they look crispy. Do not open the oven door to check, this will result in flat ugly looking Yorkshire. Always use the oven window.

Grandma's Yorkshire Recipe makes 12 individual Yorkshires.

Cheesy Chicken Wings

16 wings
2 tbsp butter or margarine
3/4 cup crumbled crackers or fine bread crumbs
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/2 tsp garlic powder

1. wash chicken wings, pat dry.


2. In a bowl, combine the crumbs, herbs and Parmesan cheese.


3. Add seasonings and mix well to blend


4. melt butter, and place in shallow dish or bowl.


5. Dip chicken wings in butter, then crumb coating.


6. Arrange chicken wings in lightly oiled ovenproof baking dish.


7. Bake at 375 F for about 30 minutes or until lightly brown and done. chicken wings should be tender.

Twice Baked Potatoes

for 4 serving, you will need:

• 4 baking potatoes
  
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  
• 2 Tbsp butter or Margarine
  
• 1/2 c milk, hot
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• dash pepper
  
• dash nutmeg
  
• dash paprika
  
• 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  
• 2 Tbs grated Parmesan
  
• 2 Tbsp grated cheese

1. wash potatoes, pat dry and prick with fork.
2. Bake wrapped in tinfoil for 1 hr at 400 F or until done.
3. cut thin slices off tops of potatoes, and scoop out the pulp. make sure to leave enough potato next to the skin for stability.
4. mash the potato insides with the milk, spices, green onions, and bacon.
5. spoon potato mixture into the potato shells.
6. sprinkle cheeses on top of potatoes. - bake at 375 F for 15. cheese should be melted and potatoes piping hot. serve immediately.

Tangy Pear Cheesecake

This recipe works great with any fruit. I have done strawberries and mixed berries..fresh and frozen. It is a very versatile recipe.

For 9" cheesecake

Crust:
20 chocolate or other sandwich cookies
2 tbsp melted butter or margarine
1 can pear halves, or enough of any fruit to lay on top of crust.

Filling:
3 pkg cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 tbsp flour
2tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp lemon rind
1/2 cup milk
Sour cream - optional
Grape halves - optional

1. Crush cookies. Stir in butter. Press mixture onto bottom and 1" up sides of a 9" spring form pan.
2. drain pear halves and place in crust, cut side down.
3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs, flour, lemon juice, and rind. Gradually add milk.
4. Pour mixture over pears in crust.
5. Bake at 350 F for about 60 minutes or until center is set.
6. Cool completely. Chill several hours or overnight.
7. To serve, remove collar from pan. Spread or pipe cream cheese on top, if desired. Garish with halved grapes and a mint leaf.

Rich Chocolate Pudding

For 4 servings:

2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Whipping cream - optional
Cocoa powder - optional
Cherries/berries - optional

1. Coarsely chop the chocolate. Set aside.
2. Stir sugar and cornstarch together in small saucepan until thoroughly blended.
3. Gradually stir in milk until blended. Add chopped chocolate.
4. Cook, stirring over medium heat until chocolate is melted and mixture begins to boil. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 5 minutes.
5. Stir in vanilla and salt. Pour into 4 custard cups.
6. Cool at room temperature before serving.
7. Whip cream, if using, and put a spoonful on top of each pudding. Dust with cocoa powder or garnish with cherries.

Bread Machine Buns

1 2/3 cups water
2 Tbsp powdered milk
2 tbsp shortening
2 Tbsp sugar/honey
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp yeast

Glaze:
1 egg, beaten
t tbsp water

1. Measure ingredients in the order listed into the baking pan.
2. Insert baking pan into oven chamber, and secure. Close lid.
3. Select dough setting.
4. When cycle is complete, remove dough from machine to a lightly floured surface. If necessary, knead in enough flour to make dough easy to handle. Divide dough into 12-18 pieces.
5. shape pieces into small balls. Place balls, almost touching, in two greased 8" square cake pans. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes or until double in volume.
6. Brush with glaze. Bake at 350 F (177 C) for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pans and let cool on wire racks.