Lemon Drifts

The other day, I looked through my cookbooks for a new recipe, and I found this one. It is a lemon bar recipe. I have another recipe for lemon bars, but I like this one much better. They turned out a lot tastier. This recipe is from my "Where's Mom Now That I Need Her" book. This book is great, because not only does it have recipes, but it has tips on cleaning, first aid, and hygiene.

Lemon Drifts

1 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cups lemon juice
5 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter, powdered sugar and two cups flour together until smooth. Spread into greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Beat together eggs, granulated sugar, lemon juice, five tablespoons flour and baking powder until well blended. The mixture will be thin. Pour over top of baked crust. Continue baking for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cool and cut into bars.

Homemade Pizza

So, the other day, I made homemade pizza. I had a little mishap, because the recipe I usually use for crust calls for cornmeal. Well, surprise for me, I'm out of cornmeal! So, since I had already started soaking the yeast, I decided to improvise. I used a different recipe for Italian Breadsticks instead, for the crust. It turned out really good, except for one thing. I forgot to add in the sugar before I mixed everything up, so some parts were a little sweet, but it still tasted pretty good. Anyway, here is the recipe. I also modified it a bit, so that it would be better for crust. If I had done the last half of it, it would have been a bit overpowering, I think. This recipe is from my Pillsbury cookbook.

Italian Breadsticks

1 package active dry yeast
2/3 cup warm water
2 to 2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 cup shortening
1 tablespoon water
1 egg white
Sesame or poppy seed

In large bowl, dissolve yeast in 2/3 cup warm water. Add 1 cup flour, sugar, garlic salt, and shortening; blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed. By hand, stir in an additional 1 to 1 1/4 cups flour to form a soft dough. Place dough in greased bowl, cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place until light and doubled in size, 30-40 minutes. Grease 15x10x1 inch baking pan. On lightly floured surface, knead dough about 10 times or until no longer sticky. 15x10 inch rectangle; place in greased pan.

If you want pizza crust, skip the rest of this paragraph, but if you want breadsticks, cut dough into 12 strips starting with 10 inch side. Then cut strips in half crosswise, forming 24 sticks. In small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon water and egg white; beat slightly. Brush over sticks. Sprinkle with sesame seed. Cover; let rise in warm place, 15-20 minutes.

To make pizza, for sauce, I spoon canned tomato sauce mixed with pizza or Italian seasoning to taste onto dough. Then I sprinkle desired amount of cheese (I usually use cheddar, but mozzarella is standard for pizza), then put on desired toppings. Add toppings before cooking.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Uncover dough. Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan; cool on wire rack for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Busy-Day Cake with Broiled Coconut Topping

I came across this recipe when Lance told me to do something with the leftover coconut flakes from his coconut marshmallows. I looked through my recipe books, and I found this. It is from my Better Homes and Gardens 75th Anniversary edition cookbook.

Busy-Day Cake with Broiled Coconut Topping

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 recipe Broiled Coconut Topping

Grease an 8x1 1/2 inch round cake pan, set aside. In a mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, and baking powder. Add milk, butter, egg, and vanilla. Beat on low speed until combined. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Spread Broiled Coconut Topping over warm cake. Broil about 4 inches from heat for 3-4 minutes or until golden. Cool slightly in pan on a wire rack. Serve warm.

Broiled Coconut Topping:

Beat 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 2 tablespoons softened butter or margarine until combined. Stir in 1 tablespoon milk. Stir in 1/2 cup flaked coconut and, if desired, 1/4 cup chopped nuts.

Lemon Cookies

These cookies are super easy, and really yummy. They are a favorite in the Welling household. They're delightfully different than the usual cookie. I got this recipe from my "Old Fashioned Bake Sale" cook book.



Lemon Cookies

1 lemon flavored cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup chopped nuts or flaked coconut (optional)
Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease baking sheets. Combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and lemon juice in large bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until well blended. Add nuts. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 6-7 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on baking sheets. Remove to cooling racks. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Brownies

Okay, seriously, is there any combination more heavenly than peanut butter and chocolate? I think not. I LOVE this recipe!!! It is so moist and soft, you'll feel like you're on a heavenly peanut butter and chocolate cloud! Okay, I'm getting a little carried away. Well, if you love peanut butter and chocolate even half as much as I do, you'll love this recipe, too. It came from a cookbook that my sister made for me when I got married. Thanks Sis!

Peanut Butter Brownies

2 eggs
3/4 cup peanut butter
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring
1 cup butter

Mix until smooth, then add:

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
*2 cups water

Beat until smooth and pour into cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
*I usually put a little less water in, because it makes them very runny, so you have to bake them longer.



They are so delightful, but very rich, so be careful, and share them with friends!

Mexican Wedding Cakes

Okay, these aren't cakes like you may be thinking. They are cookies. But they're not your usual cookie. They don't spread out when they bake, because there is no baking powder or baking soda in them. They should look like little snowballs when you're finished with them. Don't make the same mistake I did the first time I made them, and overcook them because they weren't spread out. (I was a little naive then.) They should look very similar to when you put them in the oven. I usually squeeze one with my fingers to make sure it's hard. Also, if you look on the bottom, it should just barely be starting to brown, but not quite. So, there are my tips for the day, here is the recipe. It is from my trusty Pillsbury cookbook.

Mexican Wedding Cakes

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup finely chopped or ground almonds or pecans *optional (I have never used nuts, but if you're a nut about nuts, go for it!)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. In large bowl, combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla; beat until light and fluffy. Add flour, almonds and salt; mix until dough forms. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake at 325 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Cool slightly; roll in 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Cool 15 minutes or until completely cooled. Re-roll in powdered sugar.



Enjoy!

Popcorn Candy

I got this recipe from a cook book that my sister made for me when I got married. This was the first time I made this, and it was actually super easy, and tasty. I made it for New Year's Eve. It would be great for any get together, family night, or just for fun. It makes a lot, so make sure you have room on your counter to store it, or have lots of people over.

Popcorn Candy

4 quarts popped corn
1/2 cup light Karo syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine

Bring all ingredients except popped corn to a boil in microwave. Boil 4 minutes stirring 4 times. Pour over the popped corn and toss until it is completely coated.





See! Super easy!!! Now, when you can't think of a yummy treat, you'll have this recipe that takes hardly any time at all!