Gingerbread cookies

Another fabulous recipe from the kitchen of Lori Guerrero (Megan's MIL) who is queen bee of cookie recipes in Houston. This is a great gingerbread dough that can be shaped whatever way you want for houses or people. Enjoy!!

• 1 c. Shortening
• 1 c. Sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 c. Molasses
• 2 Tbsp vinegar
• 4 1/2 c. flour
• 1 1/2 tsp soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp cloves

Cream Shortening and sugar; add egg, molasses, and vinegar. Sift together dry ingredients and spices, then add to creamed mixture. Chill 2-3 hours (or throw it in the freezer for a bit)


Roll out and bake at 375* for 5-6 minutes or longer if you are doing large house pieces...

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Yummy after school snack for the fall!

o 1 ½ c. flour

o ½ c. nonfat dry milk

o 1/3 c. sugar

o 2 t. baking powder

o ½ tsp. cinnamon

o ½ tsp. salt

o 1 egg

o ½ c. water

o 1 c. finely chopped apple

o ¼ c. melted butter

o 1/3 c. chopped nuts

o ¼ c. Brown sugar

o ½ tsp. cinnamon

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Beat egg w/ water. Stir in apple and butter. Add all at once to flour mixture and stir until just moistened—leave a few lumps. Batter will be very stiff. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Combine nuts, brown sugar, and ½ tsp. cinnamon, and sprinkle over each muffin. Bake at 375* 15-20 minutes. Serve warm.

Grandma Pat Wiley's AMAZING lasagna

A classic sunday favorite for all of us Wiley kids and adults alike...This Lasagna is to die for, and it was a great bday present to her grandaughter :) here it is straight from Grandma herself:

Noodles:

• Spray pan with Pam for easy cleanup
• I choose to use big shells but you can layer wide noodles if you prefer.

Cook the noodles--cool to handle

Sauce:

• 1 lb ground beef with salt and pepper for seasoning
• 1 lg. can diced tomatoes
• 2 cans tomato paste and 3 cans water
• Dried basil and garlic powder to taste (I use just a bit of both)

Brown meat, combine other ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Cheese Filling:

• 1 16oz container cottage cheese
• 3/4 c. grated parmesan Cheese
• 1/4 c. dried parsley flakes
• 4 eggs beaten
• salt and pepper

Mix together.

Layer into pan; Bake about 1 hour at 350*

- stuff shells or layers noodes and filling

- Cover with sliced or shredded mozzerella Cheese

- Cover with Meat sauce; serve any extra sauce at table.

AmAzing Caramel Sauce

This quick easy sauce is great on top of vanilla ice cream or for any recipe calling for caramel--it makes about enough for one cake...or 8 oz.

·       1 cup light-brown sugar

·       1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

·       1/4 cup evaporated milk

·       1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

·       Pinch of salt

1.      Combine ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until thickened to desired consistency.

* i like to double the batch and keep it in a jar in the fridge...it will last for up to 3 weeks!

Aunt Amy's Spaghetti Sauce

This is it! the real deal from the woman herself...

o   1 lb. ground beef

o   5 or 6 sweet Italian sausages (opt.)

o   1 lg. onion, chopped

o   1 gr. Peppers, chopped

o   1 qt. whole tomatoes

o   1 lg can tomato paste

o   1 small can tomato paste

o   1 small can mushrooms

o   1 Tbsp. Basil

o   1 Tbsp. Oregano

o   1 Tbsp. Italian Seasonings

o   Dash of Worcestershire sauce

o   1-2 tsp. chili powder

o   2 bay leaves

o   1 garlic clove or garlic powder

o   Salt and pepper

o   Water or tomato juice to thin

 

Brown meat thoroughly and add seasonings and tomato paste. Combine rest of ingredients and simmer for ½ hour. Serve on any pasta! 

*If you prefer it to be thicker, throw the whole tomatoes into a blender minus half of the juice.

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

These delicious treats are healthy and tasty! Great for an after school snack with a glass of milk...

• o   1 c. butter or margarine
  
• o   1 c. sugar
  
• o   1 egg
  
• o   1 c. ripe mashed banana
  
• o   1 ½ c. flour
  
• o   ½. tsp.  salt
  
• o   1 tsp. cinnamon
  
• o   ½ t. soda
  
• o   1 ¾  c. rolled oats
  
• o   ½ c. Nuts if desired

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and bananas. Mix well. Add sifted dry ingredients, oats, and nuts. Place teaspoonful on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 12 minutes or till done. Makes 4 dozen.

Kids favorite--- Big Soft Ginger Cookies

•    2 ¼ c. all purpose flour
  

o   2 tsp. gr. Ginger

o   1 tsp. baking soda

o   ¾ tsp. cinnamon

o   ½ tsp. gr. Cloves

o   ¼ tsp. salt (opt.)

o   ¾ c. butter or margarine

o   1 c. sugar plus 2 Tbsp. for rolling

o   1 egg

o   ¼ c. molasses

Combine dry ingredients. Beat butter and sugar; beat in eggs and molasses. Stir in dry ingredients. Roll into dough balls 1 ½ in thick and roll in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes until light brown.

Mrs. Field's Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2 c. br. sugar
  
• 2 c. sugar
  
• 2 c. butter, softened
  
• 4 eggs
  
• 2 t. baking powder
  
• 1 t. salt
  
• 1 t. baking soda
  
• 2 t.  vanilla
  
• 4 c. flour
  
• 3 c. oatmeal
  
• 2 lg. bags chocolate chips
  

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and spices; beat well. Stir in flour and oatmeal, then chips and nuts (opt.). Chill to set. Mold into golf ball size and place 2 in. apart on ungreased pans. Bake 6-8 minutes at 375*.