Recipe : Extra Good and Crisp Sugar Cookies

Many thanks to my cousin, Shan, for sharing this recipe from her Grandmother (and my great-Grandmother) Mrs. Fred Thompson.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, combine :

1 c (2 sticks) oleo or butter

2 c white sugar

Beat well.

Add :

2 eggs

½ c salad oil (aka vegetable oil)

Beat after each addition.

Add :

¼ tsp salt

2 or 3 tsp vanilla

Beat well.

5 c unsifted flour

2 tsp soda

2 tsp Cream of tartar

Beat well.

Roll a teaspoonful into a ball.  

Place on a greased cookie sheet.  Dip small glass in sugar and press cookie ¼ inch think.  

Bake 10 minutes in 350° or until slightly brown around the edge.  Do not over brown.  Cool.

Recipe : Grandmother's Sugar Cookies

I remember these sugar cookies from my childhood summers in Augusta, Kansas, with visitors to Grandmother and Grandfather Thompson's little pink house.  Grandmother was always in her apron and magically there were always sugar cookies when we visited.  

In a mixing bowl, cream together :

1 c shortening
1 1/3 c sugar

Add in and beat :

2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

In another bowl, combine :

2 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Add the flour mixture to the liquids mixture and mix together.

Drop by teaspoons-ful on a greased cookie sheet.  Flatten with a glass bottom, dipped in sugar (press into cookie dough first to make the glass sticky, then dip into sugar before pressing the cookie).  

Bake at 350 degress for 8 minutes.  Do not overbake, just until light brown on the edges.

Notes :

You can add 1 c chopped nuts or coconut, or place a pecan half for maraschino cherries on top.

Grandmother's note :  "Good and easy".  7/79, 4/80, 10/80.  6 dozen.

Thanks to Aunt Charlene for saving the recipe!

Recipe : HoHo Bars

Like Hostess HoHo's?  Then this recipe is just the thing for you!

My mother-in-law makes these and my husband loves these bars!

For the bottom layer, you will need:

1 stick butter, softened
2 c sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 c water
3 tbsp cocoa
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c buttermilk (or you can substitute sour cream)

Cream butter, sugar and eggs (hand or stand mixer).  Add remaining ingredients and beat until combined.  

Pour into and 11 x 17" jelly roll pan.  Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees or until done.

Cool completely.

For the middle layer, you will need:

1 c sugar
1 Crisco (regular, not butter flavored)
1/2 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp water
1/2 tsp salt 
1 c powdered sugar

Beat together all ingredients except for powdered sugar for 5 minutes.  Add the powdered sugar then spread on cooled cake.*

(don't try to adjust your color..mine is green for St Patrick's Day!)

For final (top) layer, you will need:

1 c sugar
6 tbsp butter
6 tbsp milk 
1 - 12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat sugar, butter and milk together until butter is melted.  Remove from heat and add chips.  Stir until all chips are melted then spread.  You will need to work quickly so that the chocolate mixture doesn't cool before you're done spreading.

Enjoy!

Recipe : Toffee Cookies

My Grandma Kriebs' recipe.  Don't make it if you've got little willpower.

You will need:

Saltines or graham crackers
2 sticks of butter
1 c brown sugar
1 bag of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line the bottom of a greased jelly roll pan with saltines/graham crackers*.

Melt butter and stir in brown sugar.  Cook until mixture starts to foam.

Pour evenly over the crackers.  Spread if necessary.

Bake for 8 minutes for a chewy toffee or 10 minutes for a crispier toffee.

Remove from oven and spread chocolate chips over the top.  Return to oven for 2 minutes.  Remove from oven and spread hot chips.  

Cool completely then cut/break into chunks**.

Notes:

*I've always used saltines, because I like the extra saltiness.
**I keep cooled toffee in the refrigerator.
***I made chocolate mint toffee this Christmas - it was a hit!

Recipe : Aunt Betsy's Zucchini (or Banana) Bread

I didn't make zucchini bread this time - I had an overripe banana that needed a new purpose.  But this is a good base for either summer's zucchini bumper crop or bananas past their prime :)



In a mixing bowl, combine:

2 c sugar
1 c oil (I use canola)
3 eggs
2 c finely chopped or shredded zucchini or 2 ripe bananas
3 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp vanilla

Add to this mixture:

2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c nuts or raisins (optional)

Pour into 2 loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Note - I was lazy this time and poured into one 7x10" pan. 

Updated : I have tried this with whole wheat flour and it comes it just as tasty!  Also, to "clean" this up a bit, try using coconut oil instead of vegetable oil.