Unturtle Bars

I don't get the name, but they sure are yummy!

Ingredients:
Bottom:
2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup of pecan halves (I use whatever kind of nut though, crushed walnut, sliced almonds...)

Top:
2/3 cup margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350*.
Bottom:
Beat together (on low to medium speed) flour sugar and margarine. Press firmly into an un-greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle nuts over top.
Top: Combine margarine and brown sugar in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly for one minute. Pour over nuts. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 3 minutes and then sprinkle chocolate chips over.

Ginger Snaps

Ingredients:
3/4 cup margarine
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp backing soda
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:
Cream together margarine and sugar, add eggs and beat. Stir in molasses. Add dry ingredients.
Roll dough into balls and lightly coat them in white sugar. Place them on a cookie sheet and press if you want "snappy" cookies, of leaves as balls if you want "chewy" cookies.
Bake @ 350* for 5-10 min depending on your oven.

Blueberry Bran Muffins.

They are actually supposed to be called "Low Fat" Blueberry Bran Muffins, but that just makes them sound far too healthy, low fat and bran, that is a little too much. The recipe calls for nonfat milk, but I used homogenized. They turned out really well and they are tasty too.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup nonfat milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup white flour
1/2 cup brown flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup blueberries

Directions:
Mix bran and milk together, let sit for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 375*F. In a large bowl mix together applesauce, egg, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in bran mixture. In a separate bowl sift together white flour, brown flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir into bran mixture just until blended. Fold in blueberries. Scoop into muffin cups. Bake for 15-20 minuets, or until toothpick comes out clean.
Makes approximately 12 muffins.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ian looked on the good old internet for suggestions on spicing, oven temp settings and time needed in the oven for roasting. This is what we put together and it turned out great, they are really tasty pumpkin seeds!

1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 garlic powder

Directions: mix all ingredients together in a bowel, spread evenly on a cookie sheet (we put foil over the cookie sheet) and roast in the oven for approximately 1 hour at 250*

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

I got this recipe from my mom.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
3 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups grated carrots

Directions: Beat sugar and oil. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Mix in the next 5 ingredients, and mix together. Stir in grated carrots. Bake at 350* in a 9x13 pan for 35-45 minutes. Allow to cool before icing.

Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups icing sugar

Directions: Beat cram cheese, butter (or margarine), and vanilla well. Add icing sugar gradually, beating until fluffy. Spread on to cake.

Blackberry Pie

This is Ian's favorite kind of pie.

Pastry:
1/2 cup margarine
1/3 cup shortening
2 scant cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup cold water

Directions: Blend shortening, margarine, flour and salt. Once it is well blended add water, mix until it forms a ball, using your hands for this part works best. (Depending on the size of your pie this amount will make 2 or 4 pies.) Cut into equal parts and roll out.

Pie Filling:
4 (generous) cups of fresh blackberries
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Directions: Preheat oven to 400*. Wash blackberries and allow water to drain. In a large bowl mix berries and lemon juice. In a small bowl mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour sugar mixture over berries and stir all together coating berries. Pour berries into pie shell and cover with remaining rolled out pastry. Cut some sort of holes in top of shell for heat to escape. Bake until pastry is golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Apple Cinnamon Waffles

3 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup melted margarine
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 apple pealed and grated

Beat milk, melted margarine and vanilla. Then add eggs and beat. Add flour, half cup at a time, beating in each half cup. I usually add the cinnamon, sugar, baking powder and salt in with the last half cup of flour, but you can add it when ever. Stir in apple. Cook in waffle iron, makes approx 8 waffles.

Brownies

1 cup butter (or margarine)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
3/4 cup cocoa
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips

Icing:
1/2 cup butter (or margarine)
1 cup icing sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp hot coffee ( we don't drink coffee at home so I use really strong French vanilla, the instant kind)

Directions:
Soften butter (or margarine) and then cream together with both white and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix them in. Then add flour, cocoa and baking powder and mix. Put into 9 x 13 baking dish and bake for 30 minuets at 350*

Icing Directions:
Melt butter (or margarine) and then mix in vanilla, milk and coffee. Add icing sugar and cocoa and stir till smooth. Spread on brownies once they have cooled.

Bran Muffins

I got this recipe from All Recipes.com

Bran muffins with raisins are my favorite kind of muffin, how plain-jane and geeky eh!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup wheat bran
1 cup butter milk (I never have buttermilk in the house so I just use 1 cup reg milk with 1 tbsp of lemon juice or 1 tbsp or vinegar trick)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375* Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
2) Mix together wheat bran and butter milk, let stand for 10 minutes.
3) Neat together oil, egg, brown sugar and vanilla. Add to buttermilk/bran mixture.
4) Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into buttermilk mixture, until just blended. Add raisins and spoon into muffing tins
5) Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Apple Almond Muffins

I usually double this recipe and make approximately 16 muffins.

1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp backing soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup crushed almonds
2 small apples, peeled and graded

1/2 cup raisins (optional)

For the topping:
1/8 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cream margarine and sugar, add egg and mix. Add apples and vanilla mix together. Then add all the dry ingredients. In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon for the topping. Place batter into muffin tins and sprinkle with topping. Bake for 25 min at 350 F.

Apple Danish Bars

Pastry:
1 cup margarine
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
1 large egg
milk (to equal 3/4 cup when combined with egg yolk)

Filling:
2 tbsp cornstarch
4-5 apples
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

Glaze:
3/4 cup icing sugar
2 tbsp milk

Directions: Pastry- Blend together margarine, flour and salt. Separate the egg yolk and the egg white, (putting the yolk in a measuring cup and the white in bowl setting it aside for later) pour milk into measuring cup with the egg yolk to equal 3/4 of a cup. Mix together and then add to flour mixture. Form dough into a ball and cut in half. Roll out on a very well floured surface one half of dough 1/2cm thick and place on a large cookie sheet. Then evenly sprinkle the cornstarch over it. Roll out the other half of the dough and set aside until the filling has been put on the bottom half.
Filling- Peel, core apples and slice apples and then arrange them evenly onto the bottom layer of the pastry. In a small bowl mix together the white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and then evenly sprinkle over the apples.
Place the top layer of pastry over and fold and press together the edges.
With a electric mixer whip the egg white until it is thick and peaks will form, then spread the thickened egg white over the top layer of pastry and bake in a 375 F oven for 35 minuets.
Glaze- Once the pastry has cooled mix together in a small bowl the icing sugar and milk, and then drizzle over top.

Polynesian Pork

A recipe for the Crockpot.
Serve over rice or on it's own which ever you want.

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
14 oz can of crushed pineapple, with juice
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
3 lbs pork cut into cubes (or you could do ribs as well)

Measure the first 8 ingredients into a saucepan. Heat and stir until boiling and thickened.
Pour 1/3 of sauce into Crockpot. Next put in half the meat, then the second 1/3 of the sauce, then the rest to the meat and finally the last 1/3 of the sauce.
Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours of high for 5 to 6 hours. Serves 6.

Apple Bread

This is the recipe that I used for Marin's 1st birthday cake with cream cheese icing.
It is very versatile you can make it as a loaf, or mini loaves or muffins or mini muffins, or double the recipe for a bunt cake.

1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup of sugar
3 tsp vanilla
1 large egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp milk
2 large apples, peeled and graded

Options:
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped finely or coarsely depending on how you prefer them

Cream oil, sugar and vanilla together. Add egg and beat well. Mix together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking powder in a separate bowl.
Add milk, raisins, and apples (nuts and raisins) and dry ingredients to the creamed sugar, oil and vanilla. Stir only until flour is well dampened.

Bake in a well greased 9x5x4 loaf pan or whatever best suits what you have chosen (I make 2 small loaves 5x2 1/2x 2 1/2). Bake for 50-60 minutes (30-40 for mini loaves), or until a tooth pick comes out clean, everyones oven is different. Cool and remove from pan.

Welsh Cakes

This is a family tradition recipe, we got it from Ian's Granny Phillips.
Ian makes them and I help, he mixes and rolls them out and I cook them.
He takes them to poker nights and comes home with none left, that is why I always keep a few at home.
I ate two while I was posting this recipe. :)

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup margarine
2 eggs
1 cups currents

Mix together the flour, baking powder and sugar. Cut in the margarine making sure that it is mixed evenly. Add eggs one at a time, start by mixing with the wooden spoon and then move to using your hands, once you have an even mixture add the currents. Divide the dough into two even parts. On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough about 1/4 inch think. Cut into rounds (we use a upside down cup that is 3 inches across). Cook on un-greased frying pan (we use a griddle) until golden brown. If using a regular frying pan cook at medium heat, (we cook at 350 F on the griddle) adjusting as necessary.

Mock Short Ribs

Got this recipe from my Mom

2 lbs stew meat
5 1/2 oz tomato paste
1 cup water
1 medium sized onion
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp beef bouillon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp pepper

Quarter the onion, and arrange meat and onion in a small roaster. Mix together all other ingredients in a bowl and then pour over meat and onions. Cover with lid and place in 325 F oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

The meat is so tender and tasty and the extra sauce is great over mashed potatoes. :)

Banana Walnut Bread

Modified from "From Better Homes & Gardens: The Complete Guide To Bread Machine Baking"
(I change it just a bit)

1/2 cup milk
2/3 cup mashed banana
1 egg
2 tbsp olive oil (calls for 2 tbsp of margarine)
4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (calls for 1/4 tsp)
1 1/4 tsp yeast

(1 cup chopped walnuts)
I don't add these because Marin likes this bread and the nuts are not suitable for a 1 year old.

Makes a 2 lbs loaf. I usually only put it through on the dough cycle and then bake it in the oven in 3 mini loaf pans (2 1/2 by 5 inch). It has the texture of bagels but not quite as dense though. It is very yummy with cream cheese on it.

Salmon Loaf

Recipe from Ian's Granny Phillips

2 (184g) cans of salmon, drained and flaked
1 1/2 cups softened bread crumbs
2 tbsp chopped onion
1 tbsp margarine, melted
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup milk
1 egg, beaten

In a bowl combine salmon, bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl combine milk and egg, add to salmon mixture and mix thoroughly.
Press into greased baling dish. Bake at 350'F for 35-40 minuets. Serve with tarter sauce.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Super Tasty!
A recipe for a slow cooker
Taken from allrecipes.com and modified

4 cloves of garlic minced
1 (10 oz) package of frozen chopped spinach
1 (14 oz) can of artichoke hearts drained and chopped
1 (10 oz) container of Alfredo style pasta sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 (8 oz) package of cream cheese

Stir all ingredients together in slow cooker pot, let cook for 2 hours.Serve with crackers, chips, or whatever you would like.Serves 8-12 people.