February 9: Broccoli Salad

This wonderful salad is so versatile with its many versions. I love it any way!

Salad:
3 lbs broccoli, washed and drained and cut into bite size pieces
8-10 sliced bacon, cooked until crisp
1/2 purple onion
1/2 c raisins or crasins or about 1 1/2 c purple grapes
1/2 c sunflower seeds or 1 c cashews or 1/2 c slivered almonds
1 c grated Cheddar cheese or Mozzarella Cheese, opt

Dressing:
1 c mayonnaise
1/4 c sugar
2 TB vinegar

Combine all salad ingredients. In a separate bowl combine the dressing ingredients. Mix well. Pour mayonnaise mixture over salad mixture. Toss well. Refrigerate several hours.  

February 8: Mini Cheesecakes

This beloved recipe comes from my mother-in-law. It has been a family favorite for many years.

2- 8oz pkg cream cheese
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Vanilla wafers
Pie filling

Mix cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla together. Put a vanilla wafer in 24 lined muffin tins. Fill 1/2 full with cream cheese mixture. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes. Cool. Top with pie filling. 

February 7: Wheat and Honey Pita

Love this recipe! I wish I made it more. It is really quite simple.

In a Bosch bowl with dough hook, add:
2 c warm water
1 TB honey
1 tps salt
2 c whole wheat flour
2 TB yeast

Mix thoroughly. Add unbleached flour until mixture cleans sides of the bowl. Knead until smooth and elastic. Divide into 24 pieces for small pitas or 12 pieces for larger pitas. Roll into 1/4" to 1/8" thick circles on a floured surface. (Any creases in the dough will cause the pita to stick together and not form a pocket.) Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes. Bake at 500 on a preheated pizza stone for 3 1/2 minutes. Watch carefully. Remove from oven when pita puffs up and is slightly golden. Place in bag to soften and flatten. 

February 6: Salt and Spice

My sister, Robyn Flynn and her family love Schilling's Salt ‘n Spice. When they could no longer find it in the stores Kaytlin called Schillings and asked about it. Schillings told her it was no longer available but they offered her the recipe. Here it is.

¼ cup salt

2 TB Schillings Seasoned Pepper Blend 
   (ingredients in it are: black pepper, sugar, red and green      bell peppers)

4 ½ tsp onion powder

4 ½ tsp garlic salt

1 ½ tsp celery seed

Mix together. It is great for anything that you add salt and pepper.

February 5: Deviled Eggs

This recipe comes from my sister, Robyn.

Hard boiled eggs
Miracle Whip
Salt and Spice, to taste.
(Salt and Spice is a seasoning from Schillings. It is not on the market anymore, but I will be sharing the recipe for this spice tomorrow.)
A bit of mustard powder
Splash of Tapatio hot sauce
Paprika

Shell eggs. Slice eggs in half. Remove yoke from egg white. Mash egg yolks. Add Miracle Whip and Salt and Spice. Mix well. Make a smooth consistency. Replace egg yolk mixture in egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika. 

February 4: How to boil an egg

I learned how to do this in 8th grade homemaking and have used this technique ever since. Eggs turn out perfect every time!

Put eggs in sauce pan. Cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover pan, turn off heat, leave the pan on the stove and let it sit for 20 minutes. 

February 3: Snickerdoodles

This is my mother's recipe.

1/2 c butter

1/2 c shortening
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 2/3 c flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
sugar and cinnamon mixture

Preheat oven to 350. Mix butter, shortening, sugar and eggs. Add rest of ingredients. Mix well. Roll into balls. Roll i in cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place on cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.