LIVER AND ONIONS

Liver and onions was one of my dad's favorite meals.  My mom, sister, and I hated it!  But mom dutifully made it from time to time.  Wouldn't you know it?  Yes, I married a man who liked it, too!  My husband ate his in restaurants.  I got this recipe from his favorite 'liver and onions restaurant'.

2 1/4 lbs beef liver, sliced thin (about 1/4-inch)
2 tbsp butter or margarine
1 large onion, cut into thin slices
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
2 extra-large eggs
3 cups fine, dry bread crumbs
2 tbsp vegetable oil

Soak the liver in cold salted water for 15 to 20 minutes.

In a 10-inch skillet, melt the butter or margarine over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned.  Sprinkle with the salt and keep warm.

In a shallow bowl whisk together the milk and eggs until well blended together.  Place the bread crumbs in another shallow bowl.

Rinse the liver under cool running water then pat dry with paper towels.  Dip slices into the milk mixture then into the crumb mixture, coating lightly and evenly.

In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the liver to the pan and cook until cooked through, approximately 3 minutes per side.

To serve, top the liver slices with the onion.

Yield: 6 servings

EASY HOMEMADE WAFFLES

I remember when my dad gave my mom a waffle iron.  Electricy only came through our county the year I was born, so there weren't many electrical appliances.  Dad loved buying new gadgets for mom so she was usually the first in the community to get the "new-fangled gadgets."  One of my favorites was the big old waffle iron.  She could take the plates out, turn them over and make grilled cheese sandwiches, etc.  See, folks, paninis aren't all that new!

2 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup melted shortening (canola oil, please!)

Preheat the waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.

In a mixing bowl, blend the egg yolks, milk, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.  Add the shortening but do not overmix.  Fold in the egg whites and mix well with a fork or lightly with a whisk.

Very lightly grease the waffle iron and pour in about a half cup of batter.  Close lid and cook according to your iron's instructions.  Repeat until you have used all the batter.

Serve with butter, your favorite syrup, fresh fruit, etc to suit your diet and taste.  We always had them with butter and the Log Cabin Syrup that came in a little log cabin shaped tin.  Yummy!

BUTTER FRIED POTATOES

We grew lots of potatoes when I was a kid and I think I loved them anyway they could be cooked.  But my all-time favorite is fried potatoes.  These butter and herb fried potatoes are especially good when fried in a cast-iron skillet!

3 tbsp butter
3 cups sliced potatoes, make slices about 1/8-inch thick
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp finely chopped bell pepper
1 tbsp parsley flakes
2 tbsp minced onion
salt and black pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a heavy skillet (see note above).  Add the potatoes, cover and cook for approximately 10 minutes.  Carefully turn the potatoes and cook, uncovered, for another 10 minutes.  Turn to brown all sides.

In the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking, sprinkle potatoes with the oregano, bell pepper, parsley, onion, salt, and pepper.  Stir gently to blend into the potatoes.

Yield: about 4 servings

Note: Have never thought to take a picture of my fried potatoes so this is a file photo.

BBQ RIBS START WITH A BOTTLED SAUCE

2 lbs spareribs, cut into strips
salt and pepper

Sauce:
1/2 cup your favorite bottled barbecue sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 tsp oregano

Sprinkle the ribs with salt and pepper.  Lace onto grill spit accordian-style.  Attach spit to grill and cook, rotating, for approximately 2 hours or until the meat is well done.  Brush with the sauce during the last half hour of cooking.

To make sauce: Combine all the sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl. 

for reference only, not a brand recommendation

BUTTERMILK ANGEL BISCUITS

2 pkg active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 cups warm buttermilk
5 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp salt
1 cup shortening
melted butter

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.  Let stand for 5 minutes.  Stir in the buttermilk and set aside.

Lightly grease a baking sheet; set aside.

In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Using a pastry blender, cut the shortening into the flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal.  Stir in the buttermilk/yeast mixture and mix well.  Turn out onto a floured surface and knead lightly 3 to 4 times.  Roll to a thickness of 1/2-inch.  Cut using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter.  Place cut biscuits on the prepared baking sheet.  Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours.  Bake at 450 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.  Lightly brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter.

Yield: Approximately 30 biscuits.

OLD FASHION BROWN SUGAR CANDY

Whenever I think about brown sugar candy I think about one of my favorite uncles.  He has been gone for years and I seldom saw him the last 20 or 30 years of his life.  He loved brown sugar fudge so anytime I make brown sugar candy I am reminded of him.  Sometimes I wonder what is better, the candy or the memories.

3/4 cup butter
3 cups packed light brown sugar
1 can (5-oz) evaporated milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lb powdered sugar
1/2 cup chopped black walnuts*

Butter a 9-inch square pan or dish; set aside.

In a heavy saucepan bring the butter, brown sugar, and milk to a boil.  Cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring often.  Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and walnuts.  Beat the mixture just until it begins to thicken.  Pour candy into the prepared pan or dish.  Let stand until cool; this candy sets-up quickly.  Cut into 36 squares and place on plate, in a candy dish or may be kept in an airtight container.

*If you do not have black walnuts or just don't like them, substitute English walnuts.

SPICED TOMATO JUICE

Growing up in Southern Indiana farm country, we always had lots of tomatoes.  In the summer, we would go out to the garden and pick tomatoes fresh for our meals.  When we had more tomatoes than we could eat, which was every year during the best part of the growing season, my mom and my grandmother would can them and also can homemade tomato juice.  Oh, man, that stuff was sooo good!  We weren't allowed to "drink it all up," as we used it all winter in soups and sauces.  But I loved getting a quart of tomato juice out and spicing it up for a delicious juice.  Ah, the memories!

3 quarts tomato juice
3 tablespoons sugar (Splenda for me now as an old gal diabetic!)
1/2 tsp salt (This old gal now goes with only 1/4 tsp!)
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp garlic salt (This old gal now uses garlic powder!)
1/2 tsp onion salt (This old gal now uses onion powder!)

In a large sauce pan, combine the tomato juice with the sugar, stirring to mix well.  Stir in the salts.  Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to low.  Simmer juice until it reaches the consistency you desire.

Approximately 12 servings. 

PS This juice is also good to use in chili, vegetable soup, spaghetti sauce, etc.

LUSCIOUS STRAWBERRY PIE

This is my favorite strawberry pie recipe.  I have been making these pies since I was a teenager.  They are also favorites with all my children and grandchildren.  Every where I have ever taken these pies, they have received rave reviews.

2 9-inch baked pie shells
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 tbsp cornstarch
2 small (4-serving size) pkg strawberry jello
2 1/2 cups boiling water
2 pints fresh strawberries, washed, stemmed, halved if very large
whipped cream for garnish

In a heavy-duty saucepan cook the sugar, cornstarch, water, and jello over medium-high heat until bubbly and thick.  When filling is cooked enough it will turn from a thick look to a clear look.  Allow to cool partially.  While filling cools, arrange the berries evenly in the two baked pie shells.  Slowly pour the filling over the strawberries.  Allow to cool completely or refrigerate for about an hour.

Serve with whipped cream.

RAISED DOUGHNUTS

1 cup scalded milk
2/3 cup sugar
3 tbsp shortening
1 tsp salt
1 pkg dry yeast
2 tbsp lukewarm water
approx 5 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs, well beaten
1 tsp nutmeg
powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl mix the sugar, milk, shortening, and salt and cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water and stir into the milk mixture. Add two cups of the flour and mix well. Set in a warm place to rise until light.

Add the eggs, nutmeg, and enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk. Knead until elastic. Lightly flour a board for rolling out and roll out dough to 1/2-inch thick. Cut with a doughnut cutter. Cover and let set until doubled in bulk.

Heat fat in a deep fryer or deep pan and cook until puffy and brown. Turn and brown on the other side. Remove from the fat and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with the powdered sugar while still warm.

Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen doughnuts.

Note: File Photo

CORN FLAKES HAM LOAF

1 lb smoked ham, ground
1 lb lean fresh pork, ground
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups corn flake cereal, do not crush
1/2 cup milk
1 1/4 tsp mustard
1 tbsp sugar

Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp ketchup
3 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp horseradish
1 tbsp mustard

Combine the ham, pork, eggs, cereal, milk, mustard, and sugar together and pack into a loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Make the topping and after the first 30 minutes of baking, baste every 15 minutes with the topping.

To make the topping, combine all the ingredients in a bowl stirring until the brown sugar is dissolved and the mixture is well blended.  Use to baste the ham loaf according to the instructions above.