Grandma Ruth’s Peanut Butter Cookies

When mixing the dough, follow a basic method for cookie making :

1/2 cup shortening (I like butter)
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 oz. white sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup peanut butter
1+ 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt

Roll dough into walnut-sized balls (unshelled walnuts), place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper leaving about an inch or two [...]

Tuna Noodle Casserole

2 Tbsp olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2  pound wide egg noodles
1 cup finely chopped fresh broccoli (more if desired)
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 cups milk
2 -3  6 oz. tins of tuna, drained
5 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly oil an 8-inch [...]

Grandma’s Stuffed Peppers

This is one of those evolving family recipes that has no written recipe — it is one that we just watch and learn, and then “do”, each with our own twist. My grandmother, who was of Hungarian/German descent made them, so my mother made them, and now I make them.  Of course, I don’t use [...]

Coleslaw Dressing (creamy)

1/2 cup good mayonnaise (we like Hellman’s Real)
2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon granulated white sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon ground celery seed
sea salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Whisk all ingredients in a salad bowl until smooth.   Taste for seasonings and adjust.  This is a perfect amount to coat about 1 pound or 454 grams [...]

Chocolate Crackles

This is a recipe that I used to make with my childhood friend Shari Hart.

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
4 cups Corn Flakes (dry cereal)

In a heavy bottomed saucepan or top of double boiler, mix together sugar, cocoa powder, butter, and corn [...]

Granny’s Chocolate “Biscuit Cake” (no-bake)

Just writing up this one so it doesn’t get lost.  This was a childhood favourite of my English husband and his siblings.

8 oz crushed Digestive Biscuits
3 oz butter
2 Table Spoons corn syrup
2 Table Spoons cocoa powder

Warm butter on stove top (or in microwave) until just melted.  Add corn syrup and cocoa powder and blend thoroughly.  [...]

Skillet “Stroganoff”

Not really Stroganoff, but hey, that’s what the original recipe in the Working Woman’s book was called! Doesn’t every woman work? Some just get paid for it… My variations are in red.

1 medium onion, finely chopped
4oz can of mushrooms (2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (2 cloves garlic, minced)
1 lb lean ground beef
1 [...]