CHOCOLATE CHIP DATE CAKE

This recipe is from an old church cookbook.

1 cup chopped dates
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1 1/4 cups + 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place dates and 1 teaspoon baking soda in a mixing bowl. Pour boiling water over the dates. Set aside to cool. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar. Beat eggs into the creamy sugar mixture. Add date mixture to the sugar mixture and mix well. Sift together the flour, salt, and 1/3 teaspoon baking soda. Add to the other ingredients and mix well. Pour into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with the topping recipe below.

TOPPING:

1 pkg (6-oz) chocolate chips
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix all ingredients together and sprinkle over the cake before baking. Bake in 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes.
 

Note: File Photo

MS. NINA'S SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE CAKE

2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 1/4 tsps baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix sugar, sour cream,eggs, and vanilla together; mix well. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together and add to the sugar mixture. After both mixtures are well blended, pour in the boiling water. Stir together to mix well. Pour into a greased 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Frost as desired.

 Note: File Photo

BUTTER CARAMELS

This recipe for old-fashion butter caramels is from an old church cookbook.

1 quart heavy cream
1 lb butter
4 cups granulated sugar
3 1/2 cups white corn syrup
1 lb pecan halves, chopped, optional
vanilla

In a heavy saucepan, combine heavy cream, butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Bring to a gentle boil and boil without stirring until a firm ball forms in cold water (this will take an hour or so). Remove pan from the heat and add nuts and some vanilla to taste. Mix well. Pour into a cookie sheet that has sides. Let stand overnight. Cut into pieces and wrap in waxed paper.

Note: File Photo

BARBECUED PORK STEAKS

This recipe is from an old pamplet from the National Pork Producers Council.

4 pork blade steaks, cut 1 to 1 1/4-inches thick
1/2 cup bottled barbecue sauce (your choice)
1/3 cup honey
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp prepared mustard

Pound steaks with a meat mallet. For sauce, in a small bowl combine the barbecue sauce, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt and prepared mustard; mix together well.

Place steaks on grill about 4-inchs above slow coals.* Cook about 20 minutes on each side. Brush steaks with sauce and continue cooking 10 to 20 minutes more, turning occasionally and brushing with more sauce.

Yield: 4 servings

Note: In today's modern kitchen many cooks now have indoor grills. Adjust cooking instructions to your grill.

MACADAMIA NUT FUDGE

This recipe is from the "Christmas Recipes" section of an old Indiana newspaper. The photo is a file photo from the internet. I believe it is from shugarysweets.com

3 cups crushed macadamia nuts*, divided
4 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup sweet butter
1 can (12-13-oz)evaporated milk
12-oz German Sweet Chocolate Squares, chopped
1 pkg (12-oz) semisweet chocolate chips
1 jar (7-oz) marshmallow creme
1 tsp salt (omit if using salted nuts)
2 tsp vanilla extract

*To crush macadamia nuts, place in a plastic zip top bag and pound with a mallet or rolling pin.

Grease two 9-inch square pans or line them with waxed paper. Combine sugar, butter, and milk in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and add the remaining ingredients except for 1 cup of the nuts. Beat to mix well. Pour fudge into prepared pans; sprinkle the remaining nuts over the top of the fudge. Using the back of a large spoon, press nuts lighly into fudge. Chill until firm. Cut into squares.

Note: Toasted pecans are a good substitute for Macadamia nuts, if you prefer pecans.

Yield: Approximately 5 pounds

PINEAPPLE PIE (FROM FAVORITE RECIPES FROM MAMA CASH'S KITCHEN)

Supposedly this recipe was a favorite of Johnny Cash's mother.

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup crushed pineapple
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 unbaked pie shell

Beat together all ingredients.
Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake 50 minutes in 350-degree oven or until it sets and is brown.

Note: File Photo of this recipe.

DATE PECAN BALL COOKIES

This recipe was cut from some type of old box. I would imagine it was a box of dates,however, I can't say for sure.

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups sifted flour
2 cups ground pecans
1 cup whole date, cut up

Cream butter and sugar together. Add vanilla to sugar mixture and stir to mix in. Add the flour and mix well. Fold the pecans and dates into the mixture. Using a teaspoon, take dough into your hands and roll into balls. Refrigerate balls for 1 to 2 hours. Bake balls in a preheated 350 degree oven on a greased cookie sheet for approximately 20 minutes. Remove cookies from pan and roll into powdered sugar. After cookies have cooled, sprinkle more powdered sugar over them.

Note: File Photo

BLUE RIBBON HAM CASSEROLE

I believe, but cannot say for sure, that this recipe was cut from the back of an old Parkay Margarine package.

1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp Parkey margarine
1/2 lb Velveeta pasteurized process cheese spread, cubed
1/4 cup milk
3 cups chopped cooked potatoes
3/4 cup chopped ham
1/4 tsp salt

Saute green pepper and onion in margarine. Add process cheese spread and milk; stir until completely melted. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Heat, stirring constantly, until bubbly and heated through. 4 to 6 servings

Note: Photo Courtesy of Pillsbury.

TURKEY AND DRESSING SKILLET DINNER

This recipe is on an old, yellowed, torn newspaper clipping titled 'The Cook's Corner'.

1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 pkg. (8-oz) cornbread stuffing mix
2 cups chopped or shredded turkey
1 can (10 1/2-oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup water
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1 1/2 tsps parsley flakes

In a large skillet, melt butter or margarine over medium-low heat. Add carrots and onion; saute until carrots are tender. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the stuffing mix and the turkey. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the soup, water, and poutry seasoning; mix with a fork or wire whisk to blend. Add the soup mixture to the skillet and stir to mix well. Heat through, uncovered, for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until done. Reduce heat to lowest setting to keep warm for serving as this dish is best served warm.

Note: One package of herb seasoned stuffing mix can be substituted for the cornbread stuffing mix. Omit the poultry seasoning.

Note: This file photo is for reference only. It is not a picture of this recipe.

MARY ESTHER'S CHICKEN CASSEROLE

6 to 8 pieces chicken, white or dark
1 pkg (8-oz) egg noodles
1/4 cup butter
2 medium onions, chopped
3 tbsp flour
2 cup milk
2 tbsp parsley flakes
1 3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup cottage cheese (small curd)
1 pkg (10-oz) frozen peas
1 1/2 cups sliced carrots, cooked
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 tbsp Miracle Whip

Cook chicken and remove from bone. Cook the noodles. Set to one side while preparing the sauce. To make sauce: Melt the butter and add onions, saute just until onions are slightly cooked. Stir in flour and cook for about 1 minute. Add milk, parsley and the seasonings. Cook until smooth. Combine chicken, noodles, vegetables, and the Worcestershire sauce, cottage cheese and the Miracle Whip. Bake in a large casserole covered for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove cover and sprinkle with the cheddar cheese and continue baking five more minutes or until cheese is melted.

Note: File Photo

MAKE WAY AHEAD FROZEN SALAD

This salad recipe is from an old rural farm newsletter. It is a perfect "make ahead" salad for holidays and other busy times as it requires freezing and can be kept for weeks in the freezer. That makes it a great dish to keep in the freezer to pull out when a dish is needed unexpectedly.

2 (8 oz. each) pkgs cream cheese
1 cup sugar
Mix together well.

In another bowl, mix together the following ingredients:
1 cup drained crushed pineapple
1 cup maraschino cherries
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup drained fruit cocktail
1 cup miniature marshmallows
Mix well. Add to the first mixture. Fold in one large container frozen whipped topping, thawed. Pour into a large freezer-safe dish, cover tightly and freeze. Set out of freezer a few minutes before serving. Keeps a long time in the freezer.

Yield: 12-14 servings

 Note: File photo