Grandma's Ginger Raisin Cookies

3/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup raisins

sugar for rolling 

Roll into balls and roll in sugar. Flatten with a fork. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Creamy Tomato Pasta

1 T. butter

chopped onions

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp Italian seasoning

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1/8 tsp pepper

1/2 T. flour

3/4 cup cream

3/4 cup pasta sauce

Saute onions in butter. Add spices and flour. Stir and cook for a minute. Add cream and pasta sauce, bring to a simmer. Toss with pasta. Also works very well with Italian sausage tortelloni.

To make this a one pot meal or side dish:

Saute the onions and spices in butter, then add the pasta sauce, 2 cups of chicken broth and 200 g of pasta. Simmer until the pasta is cooked and the liquid is mostly absorbed, then add the cream mixed with 1 tsp. cornstarch. Keep cooking a few minutes until thickened.

Hashbrown Casserole

4 cups hashbrowns, frozen

chopped red and green peppers

chopped onions

cooked, chopped up breakfast sausage or bacon

1 cup shredded cheese

Mix these ingredients together and spread into a 9x13 dish.

10 eggs

1.5 cups milk

1.5 tsp salt

1 tsp parsley

pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

Mix eggs, milk and spices, and pour over the hashbrowns in the dish. Top with another 1 cup cheese. Bake for 45-60 minutes at 350, or until eggs are set.

(A half recipe makes an 8x8 pan, and a 3/4 recipe makes an 8x11 pan.)

Creamy Bacon Pasta

325-350 grams of pasta

2 slices of bacon, chopped (or more, I use 1/2 a pkg)

3/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp salt

pepper

1/2 cup cream (I use 10%)

1/2 cup pasta water

Cook the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup water when draining. Meanwhile, cook the bacon. Once cooked, add the spices and keep warm on low until the pasta is done. Add the cream, pasta water and cooked pasta to the bacon. Turn up the heat again and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.

Chocolate Pudding Fudge

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup + 2 T. butter

1/3 cup water

1 pkg. instant chocolate pudding

3 cups icing sugar

 

Melt chips, butter and water in a large microwaveable bowl for 1 minute on high. Stir and repeat if needed. Whisk in the chocolate pudding for 2 minutes. Add the icing sugar, one cup at a time. Spread into an 8x8 baking dish lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until hard. Cut into small squares and keep refrigerated.

*This also works great with vanilla instant pudding.

Caramel Apple Pudding Cake

Cake: 

1 cup flour

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup milk

2 T. oil

1 tsp. vanilla

2 apples, diced

Topping:

1 cup brown sugar

1 T. cornstarch

2 T. butter

1 cup hot water

Mix the cake and spread into a large oven-safe bowl or slow cooker. Combine sugar and cornstarch for the topping, spread over top. Melt butter in water and pour over top. Do not stir. Slow cook on high 2 1/2 hours or bake 35 minutes at 350. Let stand 10 minutes for the sauce to thicken.

Cinnamon Loaf

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup soft butter

2 eggs, well beaten

1 3/4 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking powder

Topping:

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 T. cinnamon

Combine sour cream and baking soda, then blend in butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour and baking powder. Spread half the batter into pan, cover with half the topping mixture. Add remaining batter and top with rest of topping. You can make this in a loaf pan or an 8x8 cake pan. Bake for 45-60 minutes at 350.