1 cup butter or margarine
2 cup sugar 
4 eggs 
1/2 cup sweet milk 
2 1/2 cups flour 
1 teaspoon baking powder 
1/2 cup cocoa 
2 teaspoon cinnamon 
1 teaspoon allspice 
1 teaspoon cloves 
1 teaspoon vanilla 
1 cup of cooked, creamed Irish potatoes 
1 package of chopped dates 
1 cup nuts (pecans or walnuts) 
Mix all ingredients and bake in greased and floured pan. Bake in a slow oven at 300 degrees until toothpick comes out clean. Makes one bundt cake or 5 small loaves.

CARAMEL ICING 
2 1/2 cup sugar 
1 slightly beaten egg 
1 stick of butter or margarine 
3/4 cup of milk 
1 teaspoon vanilla 
Melt 1/2 cup sugar in an iron skillet alowly, until brown and runny. Mix egg, butter, remaining sugar, and milk in a saucepan and cook over low flame until butter melts. Turn the heat to medium and add the browned sugar. Cook until it reaches the soft ball stage. (Put a small amount in a cup of tap water, test to see if you can form a ball with your fingers.) This will take about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool slightly. Add vanilla. Beat until it is the right consistency to spread. If it gets too thick, add a little cream. 
 
 

1 cup hot water
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons margarine (do not use whipped nor low fat), or butter
1/4 cup sugar

Cool this mixture to lukewarm and add to it:

1 package of dry yeast that has been dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water
1 egg

Gradually add:

3 and 1/2 to 4 cups of flour (Better for Bread kind)

You add flour until you can handle the dough well. Knead and put it in a large greased container and store it in the refrigerator. Now you can take it out as you need it to make rolls, pizza crust, cinnamon rolls, or filled sandwiches.(See next recipe). I like to use a double French bread pan. On one side I put several rolls side by side and on the other I make two buns for submarine sandwiches. The dough will keep for about a week in the refrigerator. After making the rolls, allow 4 hours for them to rise at room temperature before baking in an oven which has been preheated to 425 degrees. Baking time about 8-10 minutes.
 
 

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BUROUX
This next recipe was given to me by my sister,Willie and I've been using it for about 40 years. They are filled sandwiches called Buroux. (The first syllable rhymes with 'pure')
 
 

Cook 1 pound chopped sirloin, shredded cabbage (about 4 cups shredded with a knife.) and 1 large chopped onion until meat is done and onion is clear. Season with salt and pepper.Make a ball of chilled Refrigerator Roll dough. Flatten it by hand in a plate that has been floured. Put a generous serving of the meat mixture on the dough and fold the dough around it to make a ball. Place it with the edges down on a greased cookie sheet and let it rise for about 3 hours. Bake in 425 degree oven until the bun is nice and brown. Serve with mustard. (The bread recipe above will make 8 very large Burocks. One sandwich will make a meal for one person.)
 
 

An interesting sidenote: I was looking on the internet at a cooking website and found the very same recipe. They were called Runzas.
 

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HOMEMADE PIZZA
Use the Refrigerator Roll dough for the pizza crust. Grease the pizza pan with margarine. ( Do not use a spray on the pan. The crust will not stay in place if you spray the pan.) Let the dough rise for about 1 1/2 hours, then add a sauce .You can use
a spaghetti or pasta sauce, or one you make yourself. Add your toppings of choice; ground meat, sausage, pepperoni, vegetables etc. Bake at 425 degrees until crust begins to brown. Add cheese and finish baking.
 
 

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POTATO BREAD (BREAD MACHINE)
I adapted the Refrigerator Roll recipe for the bread machine by adding mashed potato to it, and it has become one of our favorites.This recipe makes a 1 pound loaf and is baked on the Basic Bread setting. Add ingredients in the order listed.

1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup cooked, mashed potato
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 Tablespoon margarine
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
3 cups Better for Bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoon dry yeast
 

1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar (optional)
1 egg
1 and 1/4 cup buttermilk*
2 Tablespoons oil
Combine dry ingredients, add egg, buttermilk and oil. Mix well. Pour in greased 8 inch square pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes or until done.

*If you use dry buttermilk, reduce the amount of liquid called for on the box. You don't want your batter to be thin and watery. I also used to culture buttermilk by adding a small amount of buttermilk to milk and letting it set out for a few hours. 
 

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ROAST TURKEY

I have cooked a lot of turkeys, but this recipe makes the best, tenderest turkey that I have ever cooked.

Thaw and prepare the turkey for cooking. Cut a whole, unpeeled grapefruit in 8 pieces. Put the grapefruit inside the turkey and place it in a foil-lined roasting pan 
breast side down. Put the lid on it and bake according to the directions on the wrapper (usually at 325 degrees). A 16-20 lb. turkey will take 6-9 hours. 

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CORNBREAD DRESSING
 

This is my mother's recipe that we have used for years.

3 cups chopped onion
3 cups chopped celery
Saute or cook in 1 cup water until onions are clear.

Crumble together:
12 cups cornbread, baked the day before
(You can use prepared mix.)
12 cups white bread. (12 hot dog buns)

Add cooked onions and celery, plus:
4 chopped hard boiled eggs
4 cups turkey or chicken broth
1 cup milk
5 Tablespoons rubbed sage

Bake at 400 degrees until brown. For this recipe I used one 9x12 greased pan
and one 10x10 pan.

Serve with GRAVY:

4 cups broth with fat skimmed off
3/4 cup flour mixed with 3/4 cup milk
When this is smooth add another 3/4 cup milk to it and slowly add to broth to thicken the gravy. Add 2 cut-up boiled eggs, salt and pepper.
 
 

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PAT'S 20 HOUR CROCK POT BEANS
 

If you work outside the home, I'm sure you have discovered the convenience of using a crock pot to prepare meals. Here is my favorite crock pot recipe. 
 

Put in the crock pot 3 cups of washed dried pinto beans. (If desired, use 2 and 1/4 cups of pinto beans and a mixture of 3/4 cup of other kinds of dried beans, lentils, and barley.) Add 8 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon soda and 1/2 inch piece of ginger(optional). Cook on low heat until the beans are tender.

Add:

2 slices of bacon (optional, if you are on a low fat diet)
1/4 cup catsup
1/4 cup dry onion flakes
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon French's mustard (or dijon)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper
2 more cups of water

Continue cooking on low heat another hour or two. Serve with rice, picante sauce and hot cornbread. If you have added barley, you don't need to serve with rice.Makes 8 - 10 servings. On the second day, freeze what you haven't eaten to avoid spoilage.
 
 

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SWEDISH CHERRY COBBLER
 

Mrs. Smith made a cobbler that was really good .This is one of my favorites and so easy to prepare.
 
 

The topping:

3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar

Blend into this mixture:

1/4 cup shortening or margarine (can be reduced to 2 Tbsp for low fat)
1/4 cup milk (if you reduce shortening, increase milk to 1/3 cup)
1/4 cup chopped nuts

Into a 9 inch square pan put:

1 cup drained sour cherries 

Mix 2 Tablespoons flour (or 3 Tbsp. tapioca) into 1 cup sugar. Pour over cherries. Add 2 cups water. Spoon dough over the top and bake at 350 degrees 40 minutes or until brown. Any suitable fruit can be substituted for cherries. At different times I have used canned or fresh peaches, apricots, or apples.
 

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RIPE TOMATO RELISH
 

Mother made this relish when we were growing up. If you have a garden you will enjoy making and using this delicious recipe. 
Chop in the food processor and measure after chopping:

16 cups ripe tomotoes 
16 cups apple, cored but unpeeled
6 cups onions 
3 cups sweet bell pepper

Cook in a large roasting pan (uncovered) Add:

1 quart apple cider vinegar
3 cups sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves 
1 Tablespoon salt

Cook, stirring constantly, until enough of the liquid boils away so that it is the consistency of picante sauce. The pan must be uncovered for it to boil down satisfactorily.

If you start with 1 gallon (16 cups) of chopped tomatoes, you will end up with about 15 pints of relish.

This relish is especially good with black-eyed peas and cornbread. 
 
 

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HOMEMADE GRANOLA CEREAL
 

This is another recipe from Aunt Thelma which dates from 1975. 
Mix together as many or as few of the following ingredients that you desire. The oatmeal, of course, is basic.

7 cups dry oatmeal (a 42 oz. box contains 14 cups) 
2 cups puffed wheat or rice cereal 
1 cup wheat germ 
1 cup flaked coconut 
1 cup sunflower seed, chopped 
1/2 cup sesame seed 
1/2 cup flax seed 
1/2 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, or peanuts 
2 Tablespoons brewer's yeast 

After you have mixed the dry ingredients together, mix the following wet ingredients and pour over and mix well with dry ingredients.

1/2 cup water 
1 and 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla 
1/2 Tablespoon salt (may be omitted for low salt diets)
1 cup sugar 
1/2 cup corn oil. 
1 teaspoon almond flavoring (optional) 
2 teaspoons cinnamon (optional) 

Spread in large cake pans and bake at 200 degrees for 2 hours or until dry. Stir occasionally. Cool and serve with milk as a breakfast cereal. 

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SWEET CHILI

This has become my favorite chili recipe. It is so good on cold winter days.

2 pounds ground beef (very lean)
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
salt to taste
1 can tomatoes 28 oz.
1 small can tomato sauce
1/4 cup red wine (optional)
1 can chili beans (red kidney beans)


Cook meat and onion together until done. Add other ingredients and a little water so it will cook well and not stick. Bring to a boil, then turn burner down and cook on very low heat about an hour.
You can serve it just as it is with crackers or cornbread, or you can serve with cooked elbow macaroni, sour cream, or grated cheese.