The Recipe Exchange Revisted...

 I am WAY late (the story of my life) and missed the opportunity to participate in another recipe exchange.  Calista over at Each Day Is A Gift, invited me... and I missed the email until I was 'cleaning house' so to speak.  I've been searching on CDs and old removable hard drives for the following.  Success has finally been achieved!  I loved Army Wife's post!  It's made me want to just bake until the smell fills up the house and the mouth starts watering!


Back in December of 2006, Army Wife Toddler Mom had a special recipe exchange which I participated in. The Lemon Stand blog link will not work because in 2008 I had a series of surgeries and deleted my blog. I could not function much less write.  There have also been some folks looking for it and I hope it will make up a little for my tardiness.  NOTE: My husband is NOT deployed at the moment... this post was made back in 2006 without any changes.  Enjoy...

Sunday, December 03, 2006

The Recipe Exchange....

Army Wife Toddler Mom, is having a recipe swap. I Thought I would give you the recipes that we recently used to send care packages to my husband and co-workers. (Plus a couple that are my absolute favorites!)

I Hope your house smells just as good as ours did once we were done..... 


Banana Bread (We used this batter to also make miniature cupcakes that were a big hit with the kids...but alas, they could not be shipped to DH because they do not keep for long!)

1 3/4 cups Flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 tbs milk
1 cup mashed banana
(Secret....Add an extra banana in addition to the 1 cup of mashed banana...it makes the bread come out extra moist!)

Bake 350 degrees

Mix all wet ingredients till smooth, add dry ingredients and mix till no lumps.

Lightly grease loaf pan and bake about 60 minutes. Makes one loaf.

If using miniature cupcake pan, bake til lightly brown on top.

(Eat within a few days or freeze)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/3 cup packed DARK BROWN SUGAR
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbs milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup quick rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins

Bake 375 degrees

Mix all sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk and butter till smooth. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix till no lumps. Fold in oats and raisins. Mix well.

Chill Dough 2 hours.

Form 1" balls

Bake abt 10 minutes. Until center doesn't stay depressed when lightly pressed. Lightly brown around the edges if you like a drier cookie.

Makes 36.

If shipping these cookies to deployed troops, reduce cook time by 1 minute and they will stay moist during shipment. Wrap well.


Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup packed DARK BROWN SUGAR
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups (12-ounce package) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup chopped nuts

Bake 375 degree

Beat all sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs till smooth. Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl (except Chips and nuts). Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients till smooth. Fold in chips and nuts.

Drop rounded tbs onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake about 9 to 11 minutes until lightly golden brown. Decrease cooking time by 1 minute if shipping these cookies to deployed troops and they will stay moist during shipment. Wrap well.


Molasses Drop Cookies

2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp HOT water
1/4 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup packed DARK BROWN SUGAR
1/2 cup dark molasses
1 egg
6 tbs COLD water
Optional 1/2 cup raisins, almonds or walnuts

Bake 400 degrees

My grandmother swore that the secret to getting these cookies cake moist was to SLOWLY heat the molasses in a double boiler. She would then use the pan as mixing bowl.

In a cup mix soda and HOT water. Set aside.

Blend butter, sugar and egg together until smooth. Add to molasses and mix until VERY light.

Add baking soda mixture and remaining dry ingredients. (except for raisins, almonds or walnuts) Mix until smooth.

Fold in raisins, almonds or walnuts, if desired.

Chill for 2 hours.

Spoon drop 2" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake about 10 minutes or until center lightly springs back if pressed.

Makes 24

Wrap well.


Peanut Butter Cookies

1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg

Bake 350 degrees

Beat all sugars, butter and peanut butter.

Add egg

Add remaining ingredients.

Mix until smooth.

Make 1" balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Press fork onto top to make lines. (Secret: Dip fork in sugar before pressing onto the cookie EACH TIME)

Bake about 10-12 minutes. (A minute or two less for moister cookies...especially if sending to troops)

Wrap well.

Make 2 dozen


Ginger Bread People Cookies

3 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup packed DARK BROWN SUGAR
2/3 cup dark molasses
1 egg

Bake 350 degrees

Mix flour baking soda, clove, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt, set aside.

Mix sugar, butter and cream of tarter til fluffy. Add eggs and molasses.

Slowly add the flour mixture. Mix well

Divide in half and wrap in plastic.

Chill 2 hours.

On lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin lightly dusted with flour to roll dough 1/8 inch thick.

Use a cookie cutter and place on ungreased cookie sheet. (dip cutter into flour between each cutting)

If desired, press chocolate chips, candy or raisins into cookies for the 'buttons'

Bake 8-10 minutes.

Cool and decorate. Wrap well.



Rice Krispies Treats (This one is right off the box)

1/4 cup butter
1 (10 oz., about 40) pkg. regular marshmallows or 3 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal

In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and continue to stir until the marshmallows have completely melted. Remove from heat.

Stir in the Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal coating them well with the melted marshmallow mixture.

Using a buttered or silicone spatula, press the mixture evenly into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan which has been buttered or sprayed with non-stick spray or lined with wax paper.

Cut into squares when the mixture cools.

Makes 24 squares.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

Microwave butter with marshmallows on high setting for 2 minutes in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir together when melted. Microwave again on high for 1 additional minute. Stir in cereal, mixing until well coated. Press into pan as above.