Amish Oatmeal Cake

1-1/4 cups boiling water
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

TOPPING:
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup walnuts, chopped
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Pour boiling water over oatmeal and let set 20 minutes.

Cream shortening and sugar well. Add unbeaten eggs one at a time, beat in well after each addition. Blend in oatmeal mixture.

Stir together flour, spices, soda, and salt. Fold into oatmeal mixture. Add vanilla.

Bake in greased and floured pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

For topping: mix brown sugar, and walnuts well. Add melted butter, cream and vanilla. While cake is still hot, pour on topping and put under broiler for 2 minutes or until brown.

*My Notes:*
-This was perfect for a Thanksgiving dessert! My family went nuts over it!
-Instead of putting the batter in a cake pan, I made two loaves of it!

Rice Pudding

1 quart milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup rice
Pinch of salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine first four ingredients. Cook slowly on stove top until rice is tender. Add more milk if too thick.

When cooked, beat eggs with water and add rice with vanilla. cook 2 minutes. Pour into pan and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Chill or serve warm.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

2 cup flour
2-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Dash ground all-spice
1 egg
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
2/3 cup milk
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine first 7 ingredients.

Combine egg, brown sugar, pumpkin, milk, butter and vanilla in another bowl. Stir wet into dry ingredients, just until moistened. Stir in Chocolate chips.

Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until toothpick come out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack.

*My notes:*
-Thanks Andrea!

Strawberry Bread

1-1/2 cups fresh strawberries
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (can use 3/4 cup wheat & 3/4 cup white)
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup yogurt (strawberry or vanilla)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 eggs, beaten


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter one loaf pan.

Slice strawberries, and place in medium-sized bowl. Sprinkle lightly with sugar, and set aside while preparing bread mixture.

Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in large bowl and mix well. Mash strawberries with your fingers or a fork. Blend oil, yogurt, vanilla extract and eggs into strawberries.

Add strawberry mixture to flour mixture, blending until dry ingredients are just moistened. Place batter into the loaf pan.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes. Turn loaf out, and cool completely.

*My Notes:*
-I found this recipe on hip2save.com. I can't wait to try it out!

Oatmeal S'more Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup miniature marshmallows

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips and marshmallows.

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1-2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 6 dozen.

*My Notes:*
-This is a great way to use the left over Peeps from Easter!
-Thanks Peg!
-Recipe source: A_L_I_ACookingCorner yahoo group, submitted by Jackie Austin

Blueberry Cobbler

1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 pints blueberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup cooking oats
1/2 cup cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons cold butter, cut-up small

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Have a shallow 2-quart baking dish ready.

Mix sugar and cornstarch in large bowl. Add blueberries and lemon juice; toss and coat blueberries. Spread into the baking dish.

Wipe bowl clean; add cooking oats, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir to mix well, then work butter in until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle over blueberries.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until top is browned and blueberries bubble.

Cool on a wire rack.

Serve with vanilla ice cream or Cool Whip.

Cottage Cheese Cookies

1 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 c. cottage cheese
1/2 c. cocoa, unsweetened
2 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. chopped nuts
Powdered sugar

Cream together first 5 ingredients then add cottage cheese and cocoa; mixing well. Set aside.

Sift together dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture, stirring well. Stir in nuts. Chill dough in freezer 1-2 hours.

Roll dough into balls the size of walnuts. Then roll in powdered sugar. Bake on lightly greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

*My Notes:*
-Yield: 6-7 dozen
-they are soft, cakey, moist and delicious!
-Thanks Peg

Vanilla Pudding

6 cups milk
6 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
Pinch of salt
½ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat 6 cups of milk to boiling. Mix cornstarch, sugar, eggs, pinch of salt, and ½ cup milk. Pour mixture into milk. Bring to a boil. Add vanilla.

Blueberry Oatmeal Coffee Cake

1- 1/3 cups flour
¾ cup quick cooking oats
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg
½ cup milk
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup sour cream
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
STREUSEL TOPPING:
¼ cup quick cooking oats
3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cold butter or
Margarine

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, beat egg, milk, oil and sour cream. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Pour into a 9 in round baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.
For topping, in a small bowl, combine the oats, flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick come out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Butter Cookies

3 ½ sticks butter
1 cup sugar
2 yolks
Rind of a lemon
4 cups flour plus 3 ½ teaspoon

Mix ingredients together and press top with knife, top with egg and white sugar. Drop of ungreased cookie sheet. Place in cold oven. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Zucchini Cookies

2 cups zucchini shredded and drained (don’t peel)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar –packed
1 cup butter flavor Crisco
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 ½ cups flour

Mix first 5 ingredients together then add the last 3 to mixture. Drop by the teaspoonful on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Frost with cream cheese if need.

Oreo Muffins

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup cold butter or margarine
1 egg
1 cup milk
16 Oreos (coarsely chopped)

TOPPING:
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
5 Oreos (finely crushed)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine (cold)
1 cup vanilla chips
1 tablespoon shortening

1) In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and baking powder. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat together milk and egg; stir into dry ingredients just until moistens. Fold in chopped cookies. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full.
2.) For topping: Combine flour, sugar, and crushed cookies. Cut in butter until crumbly; sprinkle about 1 tablespoon over each muffin.
3.) Bake at 400 degrees for 16-18 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack.
In heavy sauce pan over medium heat, melt vanilla chips and shortening until smooth. Drizzle over cooled muffins.

*My Notes:*
-This is a Taste of Home Recipe

Funnel Cakes

2 eggs, beaten
1-1/2 cups milk
2 cups flour
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix together and put into funnel. Swirl into little cakes. Put on hot fat; brown on both sides and dip into confectioner's sugar. Serve warm.

*My Notes:*
-This is my great gram's recipe.

Fudge Frosting

Melt:
3 squares chocolate
1/4 cup butter
Pinch of salt
Combine:
3 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
5 tablespoons hot milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Pour melted ingredients into sugar mixture, working rapidly. Blend well. Garnish with chopped nuts if desired.

Whipped Cream Frosting

1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup, or less, sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine flour and milk and cook over low heat until paste is formed, stirring constantly. Cool.

Cream butter and shortening, blend with sugar. Beat 4 minutes.

Add paste and beat 4 minutes. Fold in vanilla and beat well.

Strawberry Frosting

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup strawberry juice
1 egg white, stiffly beaten

Combine sugar, shortening, and butter. Add juice; mix well. Add egg white and beat until smooth.

Peanut Butter Frosting

3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
4 to 5 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons peanut butter

Combine ingredients above and mix well.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pkg. ( 8 oz) cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1 pound confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla

Combine ingredients listed above, beating well. Add nuts if desired and mix.

*My Notes:*
-Cocoa may be added for a chocolate cream cheese frosting

Chocolate Snickerdoodle Drops

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 egg
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed 30 seconds.

Add the 1 cup sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Beat until combined. Beat in egg. Beat in cocoa powder and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour.

Drop by slightly rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Stir together remaining sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle dough with sugar cinnamon mixture.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on wire racks.

*My Notes:*
-Thanks Peg
-These cookies are great like snickerdoodles but they have an extra bonus, chocolate!

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
Graham crackers

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sugars; beat just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Place cream cheese mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap; shape into a ball. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, roll cheese ball in pecans. Serve with graham crackers.
Yield: 1 cheese ball (about 2 cups).

*My Notes:*
-Thanks Irene!
-This completely goes against the laws of cheese balls, but if you are want something sweet, this is the perfect fix!