Chewy Cranberry Cookies

Cookie:½ cup butter, softened1 cup sugar¾ cup brown sugar, packed¼ cup milk2 tablespoons orange juice1 egg3 cups flour1 teaspoon baking powder½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon baking soda2 ½ cups chopped cranberries, either fresh or frozen1 cup chopped pecans Glaze:1/3 cup butter2 cups confectioners’ sugar1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract2-4 tablespoons hot water Heat oven to 375°. Grease… Continue reading Chewy Cranberry Cookies

Banana Nut Muffins

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour1 cup chopped walnuts½ cup toasted wheat germ½ cup brown sugar1 tablespoon baking powder1 teaspoon ground cinnamon½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg2 ripe bananas, mashed¾ cup milk5 tablespoons butter, melted1 eggcinnamon sugar, optional 1. Heat oven to 400°. Spray muffin cups with cooking spray. Line with paper liners.2. Mix flour, walnuts,… Continue reading Banana Nut Muffins

Fudgy Chocolate Layer Cake

¾ cup butter2 ounces unsweetened chocolate2 ¼ cups flour2 cups sugar¼ cup cocoa2 teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon salt1 ¾ cups buttermilk2 eggs at room temperature¾ cup whipping cream1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour two round 9 inch baking pans. In saucepan, melt butter and unsweetened chocolate,… Continue reading Fudgy Chocolate Layer Cake

Holiday Cheesecake Presents

1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs1/3 cup butter, melted3 tablespoons sugar3 packages cream cheese, 8 ounces each, softened¾ cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla3 eggs Preheat oven to 350°.For the crust, mix the crumbs, butter, and 3 tablespoons sugar; press into the bottom of 13" x 9" baking pan. Mix cream cheese, ¾ cup sugar, and vanilla… Continue reading Holiday Cheesecake Presents

Orange Frosting

3 tablespoons butter, softened2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted1 teaspoon orange extract1/8 teaspoon salt3 tablespoons milk Beat together 1 cup sugar, the butter and the salt, beating thoroughly until light and fluffy. With mixer at medium, add remaining cup of sugar, about one third of the sugar alternating with one of the tablespoons of milk. Beat… Continue reading Orange Frosting

Hazelnut Nutballs

(For all you nutball fans out there, a link to another recipe: “Cocoa Nutballs”, which are made with walnuts and obviously, cocoa.) 1 cup butter (2 sticks)½ cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla2 ½ cups flour1 cup chopped hazelnuts Heat oven to 350°. Cream together butter and sugar. Stir in the other ingredients. Chill batter in the… Continue reading Hazelnut Nutballs

Cinnamon Petal Biscuits

2 cups sifted flour3 tablespoons sugar4 teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon cream of tartar½ teaspoon salt½ cup shortening2/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened3 tablespoons sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon Preheat oven to 425°. Grease a cookie sheet. Sift together the dry ingredients. Using two butter knives, cut the shortening into the flour… Continue reading Cinnamon Petal Biscuits

Saucepan Brownies (Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Cookbook)

This is the first recipe I ever made. Having lived my entire life previous to this with box brownie mixes, it was a revelation as to how good home-made brownies are. I got it out of the Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Cookbook. It was always available in my mom’s kitchen, but as I’ve written elsewhere, she… Continue reading Saucepan Brownies (Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Cookbook)

Pecan Pie (The Frugal Gourmet)

½ stick butter1 cup light brown sugar3 eggs1/8 teaspoon salt1 cup light corn syrup1 tablespoon flour½ teaspoon vanilla½ teaspoon cinnamon1 cup pecansunbaked pie shell Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Beat the eggs together with the salt, and add to the butter and sugar. Add 1 cup light corn syrup, the flour, vanilla, and… Continue reading Pecan Pie (The Frugal Gourmet)