Friday, December 23, 2011

2012 New Year’s Resolutions





-Eat at the dining room table
-Save Money and Pay off Debt
-Take Ryan to the Easter Egg Roll at the White House
-Complete 3 items on my Bucket List
-Paint a wall mural
-Work on Flower Garden
-Take a photo of the same place every month for year and then turn it into a calendar for the next year
-Finish baseball books

-Start My Etsy and Amazon Business
-Trace my Family Tree
-Try a new recipe every month for a year - Cook all the recipes in Great Grandma Holders Cookbook

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Decor-ganize Crafts: Contact Me

Decor-ganize Crafts: Contact Me: If you have any ideas, suggestions, or questions I'd love to hear from you! decorganizecrafts@gmail.com

Friday, December 2, 2011

December’s Challenge!




 I’m still working on my latch hook rug and cubism art piece. I should have both of those completed before the New Year. I also need to finish up Ryder’s 1st year scrapbook, and should have that done in the next couples of weeks!! Oh yeah and finsh my 31 day photo challenge!! ;)
My goal for this month is to clean out the upstairs room, which is pretty much completed. I would also like to clean out and update my favorites, and documents on both my work and home computers!!
Last is to enjoy CHRISTMAS!!!!

A Year in Review 2011

So here is what I did:
Clean screened-in porch (sew my foot stool cushion)
Clean yard and add some much needed plants      
Finish Ryan books ;)
Put out Halloween decorations and make Halloween cupcakes
Spend the day watching Twin Peaks    
Workout every day after work
Read A Stolen Life: A Memoir by  Jaycee Dugard

Go through photos and consolidate them to one account, clean out old photos

Go through filing system

Do at least 5 pictures for my 31 day photo challenge

Make some changes on my blog
Start “A Course in Miracles”

Work on scrap pages

Upload photo’s with my new flash drive…or at least find out if I need  USB cord
Start the Body for Life / Transformation challenge (Started today!! And hope I really stick with it! It’s a great work-out plan and I think just maybe I’ll follow through this time!)

      Try to get tickets to Saturday Night Live!

      Do one or two things on my 101 and things to do in 1001 days.

Work on a list of attractions/places in Virginia that I want to see… my 101 places to see in Virginia before I die

Work on my children’s book

Finish up some spring cleaning and really clean out my shed

Find my flash drive

Start writing, nothing fancy; just a little something for myself.

Work on a stuffed bunny for Mr. Ryder

Start the 31 day photo challenge today.

Finish the things I need for Ryan's Birthday

Work on Ryan’s birthday wishes for Sprout and send them a few videos of Ryan dancing with the Wiggles.

Start my Flower Garden

Update my book bucket list

Do one of the projects from "52 projects".

Work on the next chapter of "The Creative Artist

Bring to date my family’s personal files....such as Will, Living Will, Life Insurance, and Retirement (Savings). Make a file/ folder to have for the unexpected.

And here is what I would like to complete in 2012:
Make a scarecrow with Ryan and Ryder
get new curtains and rods for the dining room
get rocks for backyard, look into fencing around swing set.
Finish Ryder’s books
Start new book and time for me each morning
Make my bed every day for 2 weeks while on vacation
Wake up 30 minutes early every workday
Start the push-up and sit-up challenge again and complete it this time.

Finish The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Get tattoo removed

Hang that dang on chandelier already!
Start a journal work

Go the entire month without eating out at fast food restaurants

Take my lunch every day.

Get my sewing machine working and stitch some pages as well as start sorting pages by albums

Restart my Flower Garden

Get Ryan tickets to the Easter Egg Roll

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Ryder's Birthday Album Complete ;)

Ryder’s 1st Birthday Party album…So happy I got so much done this weekend with this album. I may do 1 or 2 more to try and finish up Ryder’s 1st year album, but for now I’m a bit burnt out!! Hope you enjoy the pages… they were lots of fun to put together!!




















Stage 3 of my attempt to create a cubism drawing

Wow…I’m coming along, and really pleased with my drawing!! I went to the craft store and bought a heavy drawing board...I think it’s 16 X 11. Instead of plain white paper, I decided to go with a cream to offset the design. I took both ideas I posted here and used them to create this drawing.
I used the draft drawing in stage 2 and then just added one “cube” at a time, distorting each one a little more. In the next stage I will start coloring and add the shading…Stage 4 should be the last stage of this project…but only time will tell.
Hope you are enjoying my progress through this exciting challenge!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Part 2 Cubism

I thought for me it would be best to quickly draw out the photo and then randomly draw lines through the drawing. In the next stage I plan to get a much larger drawing surface and add each "cube” to the paper until I'm completed... I will try to share each stage, until I finish...hope you enjoy ;) So far this is turning out better than I had expected!!
So here is where I’m at so far……………

Great Grandma Holders Cook Book

My plan for the next year (2012) is to do a different recipe each month, possibly 2, just for the fun of it. I'm not much of a cook but it’s not because I can't cook...I would just rather be crafting ;) Anyway here is her cookbook...I thought it would be fun to share.


(this is my Gandmother Smith with my Dad... I didn't have a photo of my Great Grandmother uploaded)

125 YEAR OLD BLACK WALNUT POUND CAKE
½ cup Crisco
½ lb butter
5 eggs
3 cups plain flour
3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon walnut flavoring
1 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1 cup chopped black walnuts
Cream butter and Crisco, add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, add eggs ONE AT A TIME, beating well. Add flavorings and beat well, mix ½ cup flour with nuts. Shift remaining flour with baking powder and add alternating with milk, starting and ending with flour. Fold in floured nuts. Do not beat. Bake in greased and floured tube pan for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until done at 325.
ICING
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup water
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup fine coconut
Boil cornstarch, water, butter and sugar until thickened and spreading consistency. Folk in pecans and coconut. Frost cake when cool.

ANGEL BISCITS
1 package dry yeast
3 tablespoons warm water
5 cups plain flour
5 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 ½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1 cup shortening
2 cups buttermilk
Dissolve yeast in the warm water. Mix flour, sugar, salt, soda and baking powder. Cut in shortening. Add yeast and buttermilk. Work up with hand and put on well floured board.
Roll out about 1 inch thick and cut with round cutter. Placed on greased baking pan. Bake in preheated oven at 400 for 20 minutes or until light brown.

APPLE POUND CAKE
2 cups sugar
1 ½ cups oil
3 eggs
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups plain flour
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup coconut
1 cup seedless raisins
3 cups chopped apples
1 cup chopped nuts
Bake at 350 for approximately 1 hour.

APPLE SAUCE CAKE
1 cup vegetable oil
1- 16 oz can apple sauce
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
1 cup raisins
Mix oil, apple sauce, and sugar in one bowl. Blend all other ingredients in another bowl. Mix together and pour into a tube of loaf pan. Bake at 325 for one hour, until cake tests done.

BANANA NUT BREAD
1 stick oleo
1 cup Crisco
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
3 large bananas
3 tablespoons milk
3 cups flour
¼ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
Bake on 325 for 1 and ¼ hours. Let stay in pan 10 minutes then turn over. Make 2 loaves

BUTTERSCOTCH BARS
1 stick butter, melted
1lb. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped black walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla
While butter is still hot, add brown sugar. Stir in 2 eggs, one at a time. Sift together dry ingredients and add to mixture. Fold in nuts and vanilla.
Bake at 325 for 25 minutes until light brown. Use a 9X13 pan.

CHERRY DELIGHT
Bottom:
1pkg. graham cracker (crumbled)
¼ cup sugar
1/3 cup butter (melted)
Mix together and press into bottom of dish
Middle:
1 large pkg. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoon milk
Mix together well; fold 1 pkg. of prepared dream whip. Spread over graham cracker crust. Top with one can of cherry pie filling. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHICKEN CASSEROLE
4 large chicken breasts
1 stick butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken broth
1 small bag stuffing mix
Boil chicken, cut up, mix soups and broth together. Melt butter and pour on stuffing mix. (first put stuffing mix in dish then chicken, then soup mixture over chicken, then repeat) Top with stuffing mix. Top with butter, if desired. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

CHOCOLATE PIE
4 oz. German sweet chocolate
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 can (13oz) evaporated milk
3 eggs, slightly beaten
½ cup sugar
Pie shell, unbaked
Melt chocolate and butter over low heat in a medium saucepan. Add milk, eggs and sugar and stir until blended. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes. Cool and serve warm. Store in refrigerator.

CHOW CHOW
2 Large cabbages
½ gallon green tomatoes
3 quarts Bell Flower
3 or 4 hot peppers
8 large onions
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Chop all, let drain overnight
Then boil:
5 cups vinegar
9 cups sugar
3 teaspoons celery seed
4 tablespoons turmeric, if wanted
Pour over cabbage mixture, Boil 10 minutes, and then serve

COCONCUT CAKE
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
3 teaspoons baking powder (scant)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup water
Cream butter and sugar; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Sift together dry ingredients and add alternately with buttermilk and water which have been mixed, Add vanilla and blend thoroughly.
Turn into 3 greased paper-lined cake pans. Bake in 375 oven about 20 minutes. Don’t overcook. Remove from oven, let stand in pans a few minutes, then turn out on rack to cool slightly before putting together with the following:
FILLING FOR COCONUT CAKE
Large fresh coconut, grated (keep milk form coconut)
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup coconut milk (add sweet milk to make 1 cup)
Set aside ¾ cup grated coconut, and then mix remaining coconut with other ingredients, place over medium heat and cook, stirring until thickened. Cool slightly. Spread between layers, sprinkling a bit of grated coconut on top of filling on each layer. Spread over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle grated coconut on top of cake.

COCONUT CAKE
2- 1/3 cup self-rising flour
2 eggs whole
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup Crisco
1 cup sweet milk
1- 1/2 cup sugar
Beat all together, Grease and flour pan, bake in oven at 300

FILLING:
2 teaspoons white syrup
2 eggs whites
1 ½ cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 pinch salt
Put into double boiler; beat till it stands in a peak
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons coconut juice on layer

COCONUT CUSTARD PIE
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 eggs
½ stick margarine, melted
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-6 oz package coconut
Mix all ingredients and blend well. Pour into a 9 inch unbaked pie shell. Bake 45 minutes in oven  at 350 or until crust is brown and custard is firm.

COCONUT PINAPPLE PIE
4 eggs
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
1 stick margarine
1 small can crushed pineapple, slightly drained
1 can angel flake coconut
Melt butter, add sugar and eggs. Add other ingredients. Cook about 30 minutes at 350. Make 1 large or 2 small pies.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
One 4 oz. cream cheese
¼ stick oleo
1 to 1 ½ cup powdered sugar

DON’T KNOW THE NAME DESERT (DUMP CAKE)
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 can cherry pie filling
¾ box yellow cake mix
1 stick of margarine
Pour crushed pineapple in bottom of dish. Add the can of cherry pie filling. Add the cake mix. Melt one stick of margarine and pour on top. Put in oven at 350 and bake until brown.

EGG CUSTARD
3 eggs
2 cups milk
¾ cup sugar
Butter (the size of an egg, melted)
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
Pastry for one pie
Line pan with pastry, bake until almost done. In the meantime beat eggs and butter etc., mix carefully. Pour in partially baked shell, return to oven baking at 325 to 350. Custard is done when knife comes out clean.
EGG CUSTARD (make your own crust)
Blend together:
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tall can milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Pour into 9” glass pie plate that has been greased and floured. Bake 30-40 minutes in oven at 325.

EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
2 medium eggplants, peeled, chopped and cooked in salt water
1 medium onion, chopped
3 tablespoon melted butter
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs lightly beaten
2 cups oyster crackers, crushed
1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup evaporated milk
Mix all ingredients together. Use 2 quarts buttered casserole. Place casserole in pan of water and cook in oven at 350 for about 45 minutes.
While still hot, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

FAMOUS PUMPKIN PIE
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 can (16oz) solid pack pumpkin
¾ cup sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1 can (12oz) evaporated milk
Preheat oven to 375
Combine filling ingredients in order given above. Crimp edge of deep dish crust only to stand ½ inch above rim. Place pie crust on preheated baking sheet.
Pour filling into pie crust. Bake near center of oven for 70 minutes (45 minutes for regular crusts)
 Or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Cooling time 2 hours. Garnish with whipped topping if desired.  

GERMAN SWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE
4oz German sweet chocolate
½ cup boiling water
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
4 eggs yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ¼ cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
4 eggs white, stiffly beaten
Melt chocolate in boiling water. Cool. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each.  Blend in vanilla and chocolate. Sift flour with soda and salt add alternately with buttermilk to chocolate mixture, beating after each addition until smooth. Fold in beaten whites. Pour into three 9 inch cake pans, lined on bottom with paper. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Cool. Frost tops only.

COCONUT PECAN FROSTING
Combine 1 cup evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar, 3 slightly beaten egg yolks, ½ cup butter or margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened, about 12 minutes. Add 1 ½ cups coconut flakes and 1 cup chopped pecans. Cool until enough to spread, beating occasionally.

JAPANESE FRUIT CAKE
4 tsp. baking powder
1 ½ cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 lb seeded raisins
3 ¾ cups flour
4 eggs
Cream sugar and butter, add 4 well beaten egg yolks, and add milk from fresh coconut. Add flour and fold in 4 beaten egg whites and flavor with 1 lb. raisins that have been run through food chopper.
Filling:
3 grated rinds and juice of lemons
3 cups sugar
2 slightly beaten egg yolks
1 lb. English walnuts
1 can crushed pineapple
1 fresh coconut
 A piece of butter about the size of an egg
Cook in double boiler until thick. Sprinkle in part of grated coconut and walnuts. Use rest on top of cake. 1 bottle of cherries to decorate cake.

KINGS POUND CAKE
Cream together 4 sticks of real butter with 4 cups of sugar, using a heavy-duty mixer. Add 10 whole eggs, one at a time and with the mixer running continuously at medium speed. Add 2 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla. Finally, add 4 cups sifted cake flour a little bit at a time. Grease and flour tube pan and pour the thoroughly mix batter into it. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 for  1 ½ hours, or until a straw test shows that it’s done. Remove to a rack to cool and then turn out onto rack.
A warm slice is a delight, like a cup of pudding… but pound cake needs to set up a day or two and if there is any left in a day or two try a slice toasted for breakfast.

LEMON CAKE
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
3 teaspoons baking powder (scant)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
½  buttermilk
½ cup water
 Cream butter and sugar; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition
Sift together dry ingredients and add alternately with buttermilk and water mixture. Add vanilla and blend thoroughly.
Turn in 3 greased paper-lined cake pans. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, let stand in pans a few minutes, then turn out on rack to cool slightly before putting together with the following:
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
Juice and rind (grated) of 2 large lemons
2 or 3 tablespoons of butter
Beat eggs until fluffy, add sugar and blend well. Add juice and rind of lemons and blend. Cook on top of double boiler over boiling water, stirring, until thickened and smooth-about 20 minutes. Add butter and stir until melted. Cool and spread between layers, on top and side of cake.

LEMON MERINGUE PIE
1 ½ cup sugar
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ tsp. salt
½ cup cold water
½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 egg yolk, well beaten
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 ½ cups boiling water
Grated peel of ½ lemon
2 to 3 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
9 inch baked pie crust
In saucepan, thoroughly combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually blend in cold water and lemon juice. Stir in egg yolks. Add butter and boiling water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in lemon peel and food coloring. Pour into baked pie crust. Top with three eggs meringue, sealing well at edges. Bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool for 2 hours before serving
Three Egg Meringue as follows:
In bowl, with electric mixer, beat 3 egg whites with ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add 6 tablespoons sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

MACARONI & CHEESE
1 box macaroni
1- 16oz extra sharp cheddar cheese
1 egg in a cup of sweet milk
Cook macaroni until soft. Grate cheese. Put one layer of macaroni on bottom of bowl then one lawyer of cheese, another layer of macaroni, another layer of cheese. Mix one egg in a cup of milk, stir up. Pour on macaroni and cheese. Put in oven until cheese is melted and brown on top

OVEN MACARONI AND CHEESE
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoon flour
½ teaspoon salt-pepper to taste
2 cups milk
8oz sharp cheese
Cook over medium heat until thick, stir often to keep from sticking. Add cheese and stir until melted. While sauce is cooking, cook 1 ½ cups macaroni in salted water until tender, drain and mix with sauce. Pour in baking dish and cook 30-45 minutes at 350 until browned.

MILLION DOLLAR PIE
1 can condense milk
1 can crushed pineapple (15oz)
¼ cup lemon juice
1 large cup cool whip (9oz)
1 cup chopped nuts
Mix all together and put into baked Graham cracker pie crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Top with toasted coconut, service chilled.

PECAN CRUM APPLE PIE
2/3 cup sugar
¼ cup flour
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples
1 pie crust
CRUMB TOPPING:
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup flour
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup pecans
In large bowl, toss together sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and apples. Spoon into frozen unbaked pie crust.
For crumb topping, combine brown sugar and flour; cut in butter. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over apples.
Bake in preheated oven at 400 on preheated baking sheet 40-50 minutes.

PECAN PIE
3 eggs
1 cup dark brown sugar
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup pecan halves
1 baked pie shell
In medium bowl, beat together eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, vanilla and salt. Arrange pecans on bottom of pie shell. Carefully pour egg mixture over pecans.
Bake on bottom rack of preheated oven at  400 oven until knife inserted near center come out clean, about 30-35 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

PINEAPPLE CAKE
1 ¼ cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1- 20oz can crushed pineapple and juice
Mix and add ½ cup water. Grease and flour 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

POTATO SALAD
Cut your potatoes in pieces and cook until soft.
Boil 3-4 eggs and cut into potatoes.
Chop one onion, add to potatoes,
Salt and pepper to taste.
Put 2 tsp Dukes sandwich relish into potatoes
Add mayonnaise and mix together.

POUND CAKE
1 ¼ cups margarine
2 ¾ cups sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups sifted plain flour
½ tsp. baking powder
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
Allow the margarine and eggs to come to room temperature.
Grease and flour a tube cake pan. (DO NOT PEHEAT OVEN) Cream sugar and margarine. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately and beat well. Fold in vanilla and almond extracts. Pour into cake pan and bake at 325 for about 1 ½ hours.

RICE PUDDING
1/3 cup uncooked rice
1 ½ cups water
1/3 cup sugar
 1 teaspoon cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups milk
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs yolks, beaten
Cinnamon or raisins optional
Combine rice and water in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes, or until rice is very tender and most of the water is absorbed.
Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add milk and sugar mixture to rice. Heat to a boiling, boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Slowly stir about 1 cup of the hot rice mixture into beaten egg yolks in a bowl. Blend with remaining mixture in the saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, just until mixture starts to bubble.
Serve warm or chilled, plain or with cinnamon and or raisins.

STRAWBERRY CAKE
1 package white cake mix
4 eggs
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 package strawberry gelatin
½ cup cooking oil
Combine cake mix and gelatin, add eggs and oil. Fold in strawberries. Bake in three 9” cake pans at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
FROSTING
1 stick margarine
Milk
2 cups frozen strawberries
1 box powdered sugar
Mix powdered sugar, margarine and enough milk to spread evenly. Put strawberries and powdered sugar mixture between each layer. Frost side and top of cake with sugar mixture.

STRAWBERRY NUT BREAD
2- 10oz pkg. frozen strawberries
4 eggs
1 cup cooking oil
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ¼ cups chopped nuts
Defrost strawberries. Beat eggs in a bowl until fluffy; add cooking oil, sugar and defrosted strawberries. Sift together flour, cinnamon, soda and salt into mixing bowl; add strawberry mixture and mix until well blended. Stir in nuts. Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until done. Cool pans for 10 minutes then turn them out of pans and cool on racks

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
3 cups sweet potatoes (cooked)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup milk
½ cup melted butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix together above ingredients. Put in buttered dish. Cover with topping.
 Topping
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
1/3 cup flour-self rising
½ cup chopped nuts
Mix above ingredients thoroughly, put on top of potatoes. Bake 30 minutes at 350.


THE WISH COOKIE: an Old Swedish custom.
Place a Swedish Pepparkakor in the palm of your hand. Then, make a wish. Using the index of your free hand, tap the cookie in the middle. Swedish tradition states that if the Pepparkakor breaks into three pieces your wish will come true. If the Pepparkakor does not break into three pieces, you’ll just have to savor the cookie in smaller pieces.
Eating the Pepparkakor can make you a nicer person.
As early as the 19th century, it was already common knowledge in Sweden that eating Pepparkakor makes you a nicer person. Exactly why this is so is not known. Gastronomes (lovers of fine food) surmise that it has to do with the natural spices and fiber in the cookie, which aid in the digestive process by reducing acid in stomach. Others, less scientific but perhaps equally as credible, suggest that keeping a person’s mouth occupied by savoring the taste of Pepparkakor leaves little room for idle conversation and adds to the peace and quiet Swedes are known to cherish. This certainly would seem to make some people nicer to be around
It’s anybody’s guess. However, regardless of the reason you’ll feel better. And people who feel better are nicer people.
PEPPARKAKOR
2/3 cup light brown sugar
2/3 cup light molasses
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoons ground cloves
12 tablespoons butter, cut up
2 eggs
5 ½ cups all-purpose flour (approx.)
½ teaspoon baking soda
Combine brown sugar, molasses and spices in 1 ½ quart saucepan. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute, and then remove from heat.


PEPPARKAKOR… (Continued)
Place butter in large mixing bowl, add hot sugar mixture and stir until butter melts. Blend in eggs.
Stir 2 cups flour and baking soda together. Gradually mix into butter mixture. Mix in enough additional flour to make dough stiff. Shape dough into ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
Cut dough into quarters. Shape one quarter at a time into balls (refrigerate other dough). Use rounded teaspoonful of dough for each ball. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 350 until light brown 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Store in airtight container.

TURKEY GRAVEY
2 tablespoons turkey pan drippings
2 cups turkey broth
2 tablespoons corn starch
¼ cup cold water
Salt and pepper to taste
Giblets from turkey, cooked and diced (optional)
In pan in which turkey was roasted, measure drippings. Stir in broth. Cook over medium heat, stirring to loosen browned particles. Remove from heat. Mix corn starch and water. Stir in pan. Add salt and pepper. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat, boil 2 minutes. Add giblets if desired and cook until giblets are heated.

WATERGATE SALAD
1 large can undrained pineapple
1 box of instant pistachio pudding
1- 8oz cool whip
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup of pecans
Mix pudding and pineapple real good, then mix remaining ingredients and place in a long dish, and refrigerate.

WHITE BREAD
3 to 3 ¼ cups bread flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon margarine or butter, softened
1 package yeast
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons very warm water
Mix 1 cup of the flour, sugar, salt, margarine and yeast in medium bowl. Stir in very warm water until blended. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead about 8 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place into greased bowl, turn greased side up.
Cover, let rise in warm place 40-60 minutes or until double in size, Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
Grease loaf pan. Punch down dough. Roll up tightly, press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge to firmly seal. Brush load with butter. Cover and let rise until double.
Bake 25-30 minutes at 425 until lightly brown. Cool on wire rack.