Cassandra's Favorite - Cherry Garden Cake

Cherry Garden Cake is heaven sent. With it's delicious maraschino cherries and the flavor and crunch of the walnuts, you can't go wrong...unless you have a nut allergy, and that would be sad. "I love Cherry Garden Cake. It was my favorite. In fact, it was my birthday cake of choice as far back as I can remember...not true, my mom may have been making Cherry Garden Cake for me eons before I recall, but the first one I do remember was when I was probably 11. My June birthday was the marker for summer to begin in earnest. School was out about one week prior and I think first-crop-hay was nearly cut. The American Falls canal and the People's canal were both full and people were irrigating. My summer birthday meant thongs (flip-flops), a fishing pole, sometimes an inflatable beach ball and usually an outfit. One outfit I remember and loved was orange shorts and a sleeveless white blouse with big orange polka dots. Another outfit I loved was one my mom made, a short sleeved colorful striped buttoned shirt with shorts to match. The striped skirt had slits up the sides to my hips, showing the shorts underneath. Very fashionable. Oh, the cake! We always had lard when we had hogs butchered. We rarely had Crisco. That cake, made with lard, was wonderfully heavy and delicious. Mom usually put walnuts in it as well. The frosting was also made with some of the juice from the drained and chopped cherries. (The cake was) round, double layered, and often with part melted candles from another birthday, probably Cory's. Vanilla ice cream only. Yum!" -Cassie Q The recipe will go here when I find it!!!!

Tart Cheese Cake

Tart Cheese Cake, Mari likes this

8 oz Cream Cheese
1/2 c sour cream
1 1/2 t vanilla
1/4 c sugar

cream these together then add:

juice of one lemon (add very slowly to prevent curdling)

fold in:

1/2 c cream (whip then fold in)

After you are done making this, call me and let me know you are on your way to share it!

Chicken Salad (Good on Croissants and Rolls)

2 1/2 c Cubed Chicken
1 c Diced Celery
1 c Grapes (halved if you like) and I like to add more grapes
1 c Almonds (I love slivered)

Sauce (mix all sauce ingredients together before adding to ingredients above)
3/4 t Grated Onions
1/4 t Garlic Powder
1/2 t salt
1 c Mayonaise
1/2 c Pre-whipped Cream (whip before adding)

Corn Puddin'

2 cans drained corn
2 cans creamed corn
2 pkgs jiffy corn bread
16 oz sour cream
1 c butter, melted
1/4 c sugar
4 eggs

Combine all ingredients. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour in 9 x 13 pan

Spicy Fruit Tacos from Susie T Avenues

Start browning:
1 1/2 lbs Hamburger
1/2 c onion
1 clove garlic, minced

Then add:
1/8 t clove
1/8 t chilli powder
1/8 t cinnamon
1/8 t cumin
2 c tomato sauce (or 15 oz can)
3 T green chilis (Mom uses whole can, Gunilla doesn't add any at all...because she usually doesn't have it)
1/4 c raisins (we usually do more)
1/2 sliced black olives
1 apple, shredded

Simmer 20-30 minutes

Serve with fried corn tortillas, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, jalapeno, etc

Banana Bars

10x15 " pan greased and floured

1/4 cup Crisco   

3/4 cup sugar 

2 eggs

1 cup bananas (2-3) *I usually add up to 1/4 cup more

1 teaspoon vanilla

 

dry:

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

cream well the wet ingredients then add the mixed dry ingredients

bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. They will be a light golden color.

* These will be a little more moist

 

Large cookie sheet (like the ones I bake rolls on) is a double recipe

 

Orange glaze is just.... powdered sugar, melted butter, thawed orange juice concentrate,

almond extract and a little milk

Sweet and Smokey Chicken

SWEET AND SMOKEY CHICKEN                                                   350 degrees

                                                                                                             9x13 inch baking pan

                                                                                                             Bake, covered 1 ½ hours

THIGHS 10-12 boneless, skinless

ONIONS 1 Large or 2 medium sliced, placed on chicken pieces

Mix and pour this sauce over the chicken:

CATSUP                   1 cup

LIQUID SMOKE      2-3 Tablespoons OR 3 teaspoons Hickory Salt  

PEPPER                    ½ teaspoon

VINEGAR                ½ cup (I usually use Red Wine Vinegar)

MAPLE SYRUP      1 Cup,     Add a little maple extract to the sauce if not homemade

MUSTARD              3 Tablespoons prepared  the original recipe calls for ¼ cup

Serve over rice