SUMMER SQUASH CASSEROLE

I got this recipe from a lady I worked with years ago. It is good anytime of the year!

2 lbs. squash, sliced
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded carrots
1 pkg (8-oz) herb stuffing mix
1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a saucepan, cook the squash and onion in boiling salted water for 5 minutes; drain. Combine cream of chicken soup with the sour cream. Stir in the carrots. Fold in squash and onion mixture. Combine stuffing mix and butter. Spray a 9 x 12-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread half the stuffing mixture in bottom of dish. Spoon vegetable mixture over the stuffing. Top with the remaining stuffing. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

 Note: File Photo

Favorite Peanut Brittle

This recipe is from an old Camp Fire Girls cookbook.

2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
1 lb raw peanuts
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp butter
2 tsp baking soda

In a saucepan, place sugar, corn syrup,and water. Bring mixture to a boil and boil until mixture spins a thread. Stir in the peanuts and cook until mixture is golden brown. Add the salt, vanilla, and butter, mixing well; remove from heat. Mix in the soda quickly. Spread mixture out on a buttered surface. Break into pieces when cooled.

 File Photo

CABBAGE ROLLS

This recipe is from an old cookbook my mother had.

1 small head cabbage
1 lb ground beef
3/4 cup instant rice
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cups tomato juice
salt and pepper to taste

Parboil cabbage a few minutes until the leaves separate; drain. Combine the ground beef, rice, onion, salt, pepper, and enough of the tomato juice to make the mixture moist. Divide meat mixture into 6 to 8 balls and shape into thick logs. Wrap each meat log in a cabbage leaf; fasten together with a toothpick. Place cabbage rolls in a baking dish and pour the remaining juice over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Note: I like to add a little garlic to the tomato juice for added flavor.

 Note: File Photo

BRAUNSCHWEIGER BALL

This is an old Southern Indiana recipe.
1 lb braunschweiger
1 pkg (8-oz) cream cheese
milk, as needed
1/2 tbsp chili sauce
1 onion, minced
dash of garlic salt
Chopped pecans, optional
Sliced or chopped olives, optional

Mix together the braunschweiger, chili sauce, onion, and garlic salt; being sure it is mixed well. Form mixture into a ball and chill. Add enough milk to the cream cheese to make a consistency similar to frosting. Spread the cream cheese over the braunschweiger ball. Roll the ball in crushed pecans or sliced or chopped olives.

 Note: File Photo

AMISH WHITE CHRISTMAS PIE

This is a true Amish recipe from Anna Yoder who shared it with Wanda E. Brunstetter for her book of the same name. I grew up in Indiana where there are several Amish communities. Believe me, the Amish are very good cooks!

1 tablespoon Knox gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1 cup sugar, divided
4 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped until stiff
3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup flaked coconut
2 (9 inch) baked pie shells

In small bowl, soak gelatin in cold water; set aside. In saucepan, mix 1/2 cup sugar, flour, salt, and milk. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture comes to a boil. Boil for 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in softened gelatin. Cool. When partially set, beat until smooth. Blend in vanilla, almond extract, and whipped cream. In separate bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff. Add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Fold into gelatin mixture; then fold in flaked coconut. Divide equally into baked pie shells. If desired, sprinkle with additional flaked coconut. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

 Photo from above mentioned book.

FLORENCE'S EASY GOULASH

This recipe is from a lady who was like a second mother to me. She was the head cook at a country school back in the days when the ladies showed up at the school early and cooked a home-made lunch for the students and staff. This is one of the recipes she used. She is gone now but even into her 80s when I would go back to visit my home state she would have me over for dinner/supper and make this favorite dish for me.
I so loved this special lady.

2 lbs ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1/2 bell pepper, diced
3/4 tsp garlic powder
salt to taste
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
1 No. 2 can tomatoes, chopped slightly
1 lb Colby cheese, grated

Crumble ground beef and fry with onion, bell pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Cook macaroni until tender, drain. Drain excess fat from ground beef mixture. Add the macaroni and tomatoes. Stir well. Place in a baking dish and cover with the grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese melts and is light brown (about 20 minutes).

 I don't have a picture of the dish but I do have a favorite picture of Florence. I miss her!

MAY YOU HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!

SHIRLEY'S ASPARAGUS CASSEROLE

This is from an old church community cookbook.

2 cans asparagus
2 tbsps milk
3/4 box cheese crackers or saltines
3 hard boiled eggs
1 or 2 pieces pimento, chopped
2 small cans English peas
2 cans mushroom soup
1/2 stick butter or margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Heat mushroom soup and milk together in a medium saucepan. Crumble crackers into melted butter and mix well. Using half of each layer asparagus, sliced eggs, peas, soup mixture, sprinkle with pimento. Repeat with remaining items. Top with crackers. Bake at 325 degrees until browned and bubbly.

AMISH BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

I got this recipe many years ago from an Amish lady where I grew up in Indiana.

8 slices of bread, cubed
1 lb bulk pork sausage, fried, crumbled, and drained
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp dried mustard
1 lb of grated cheese
1/2 tsp salt

Put bread in the bottom of a casserole dish. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and add milk, onion, salt and mustard. Sprinkle sausage and cheese over the bread. Slice butter over the cheese and pour the egg mixture over all. Bake in a medium heat oven (325 degrees) for about 45 minutes.

 Note: File Photo

HONEY BAKED BEANS

This recipe is from an old newspaper clipping.

4 slices bacon, diced
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 1/2 cups cooked navy beans
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tbsp prepared mustard
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Saute bacon and onion until onion is tender. In a two-quart baking dish combine all ingredients. Cover with the lid or aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 45 minutes longer.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Note: File Photo