Hertzler Doings~Oct. 26-Nov 1, 2015

Mon.-Came home from Midlothian late afternoon. Did some catching up.

Tues.-Catching up with Susan, studying for Encounter, back on track with Lindsay and food lists, loving the rainy day.

Wed.-Visited Alli and Nathan. Watched movies with Susan

Thurs.-Made food. Visited with Alli and Nathan. Watching Nathan in eve. to give Alli and Freeman a date night at home. He is so adorable. I've missed him. Susan at work. Mike and Tabitha came and we got rid of some things in old house. Yay. Worked on cookbook a little too.

Fri.-Farmville

Sat.-Cleaning, etc. Who would have thought that this fall is my busiest season of all?

Sun.-Church, resting, visiting, getting ready

Hertzler Doings~Oct. 19-25, 2015

Mon.-Catching up with wash, Susan, Tom and Kathy who arrived the day we left, food prep, walking, etc. Went to Buffalo Wild Wings with Phil, Tom and Kathy. Susan was our very pretty waitress. Michael and Jessica went to an essential oil meeting.

Tues.-Plumber and son here working on bathroom. Made blueberry muffins and Susan and I took some over to Tom and Kathy. Made some mashed potato soup for supper ahead of time and some baked potatoes for anyhow. Susan isn't working today or tomorrow and it's been nice to be with each other. Gil's birthday is today. I want to bake him a cake. I wish they lived down the road.

Wed.-Monday, the 26th-Been in Midlothian with a friend. Her husband was taken to the hospital with kidney failure, etc. I've been spending the nights at the Hampton and been with her at the hospital during the day.

Hertzler Doings~Oct. 12-18, 2015

Mon.-Today's the first day of a three week fitness challenge that Lindsay and I are doing together with others online. So far so good. Clean eating makes me want to clean house too. Burned lots of cardboard boxes from old house storage and brought in big legos and other toys and washed them up and exchanged them for some of N's toys here in the house. Walked the whole way out the lane and also did my stretches and strength exercises. Ate well so far. Mindful eating seems to be the ticket for me. And mindful grocery shopping. It really helps to have Lindsay as a partner and we are texting each other the things we eat and drink. We sent each other our measurements and before pictures and Lindsay will send them to our coach. I feel kind of drained because I am probably detoxing and I went from 2 cups of coffee to 1 cup of 1/2 caffeinated coffee. The guys are doing a beautiful job with the dining room. Phil is meeting Uncle Paul Mast out in Lynchburg this eve. for dinner. Uncle Paul is buying a load of cattle.

Tues.-Terrible headache last night made it difficult to sleep. Had another great day though and kept with the plan. Took a walk nearly out the lane this morning and then later in the day, walked to the river with Janelle, Micah, and Lucille Zimmerman. The family was here to meet her. Had supper of tortillas, angel food cake, and ice cream. It was good to catch up with her a bit. She headed towards Harrisonburg, the Tobins, around 8:30 this eve. Susan had to work but she got to see her earlier in the afternoon.
Started questions book today.

Wed.-So much going on around here what with the dining room addition, the Lucas's coming, and a big weekend coming up. Went out to Appomattox and had lunch with Jenny at The Babcock House and then we went to the little shops on Main St. and I got Adi and Emma a little lipstick purse and Susan a Christmas gift and myself some more little bracelets. We also went to the graveside of a young man who recently passed away. His grandfather saw us there and came over to visit. It was heart breaking. Jenny and I parted ways then and I went to Walmart and then came home and watched Nathan while Alli cleaned both houses next door. Susan and friend have been doing the yard work. It's been nice having the guys around. Plus Austin Gridley. Philip Boyer was here doing the electrical work.  I have another severe headache. Hoping to hit the sack early. Drank half the water I drank yesterday but I still drank 3 quarts and walked quite a bit. I walked out the lane and a little on the road this morning and when I got back, Alli and Nathan invited me to walk with them at Happy Valley so that was a good cool down walk for me. Nathan seems to be a mover and a shaker. I think he will run marathons in the flesh and in his spirit. Michael went out to help with youth tonight and Freeman went out to help with Royal Rangers. Philip is working on his house and Susan had off today and worked at Happy Valley and did her wash and cleaned her room. Lots of busyness around here. I love doing this Fitness Program with Lindsay. We text numerous times a day now. One of these days, we'll see each other.

Thurs.-Phil and I left around 12:45 for a quick New England visit with family. Stopped at a Comfort Inn in Wilkes Barre. Traffic awful.

Fri.-Overslept and arrived at our Banton Family around noon. They greeted us in their front lawn with a beautiful fall foliage welcome. Ben acted as if he sees us every day which was really sweet. He is a happy little guy able to communicate exactly what he wants. Emma's beauty and deepening and her love accepting. Adi is an observer and doesn't miss much. She can do anything she wants including sewing like an expert and she is only 7. Emma is 9 and Ben is 2. Lindsay is beautiful and creative and discerning and wise. Gil is protective and generous, grateful and rich. Lindsay mad delicious lunch of lettuce wraps-roast beef, cheese, tomatoes, and trays of fresh fruit and veggies. I tasted their heavenly honey and then got a clean spoon and tasted it again. She also served black bean hummus which was delicious. Lindsay and I walked around their property and saw the bee hives, the apple trees and other fruit trees, the secret garden, and the basement that the New Life team fixed up for them. Ben sat on my lap on the floor and happily looked through a train book. He is gloriously obsessed with trains and Thomas the tank engine. Phil and Ben were a team and decorated the long sofa chair with Ben's drawings and Phil's pen. We took lots of pictures before we left and it was hard to leave but they are coming soon and that helps. Then we drove through awful traffic and arrived at Jordan and Dianah Hertzler's in Auburn, Maine, around 8. Jordan had a nice supper of hamburgers, Hertzler corn and applesauce, and baked potato cubes. Delicious. We hit the sack and slept well. They have a beautiful home. In the morning, Jordan made a breakfast of bacon, scrapple, potatoes, and eggs. Another delicious meal. We drove both cars and went to LLBean in Freeport and walked around that cute tourist town, sampling and buying bread and jams, sharing and eating whoopee pies-the lemon one was one of my favorite, drinking tea and coffee, looking at jewelry. Stopped at another little town and saw their pottery and jewelry and kitchen store where I bought some loose tea and a large muffin tin. We headed to Brunswick and saw where Jordan works on a military ship and then walked on Fort Popham Beach. I took a nap while the others walked several more miles. I stretched out on some kind of beach wooden thingy and soaked in the sun and listened to the waves and heard voices walking by. We ate out at a cool restaurant and Phil ordered a whole lobster. I was the one who should have been wearing the apron because when he'd break a claw, all this whitish liquid stuff flew out. I had a portabella mushroom burger and I wished I had gotten a real one when I saw Jordan's. We said our good byes in the parking lot and Phil and I drove for about 4 hours and got a motel after a number of 'no vacancies' due to a car race in the area. Phil got us a suite and it was nice and we slept well.

Sun.-Traveled home. About 10 hours of driving. House was cold. Jordan, Tommy, Susan, Jessica, and Michael were all wrapped up in blankets watching a movie. I put a lot of our stuff away, took a warm bath, and went to bed.

Hertzler Doings~Oct. 5-11, 2015

Mon.-I spent the day in Midlothian and Richmond, getting my implant rechecked by my dentist and shopping at Home Goods, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, a shoe store, and Joanne Fabrics.

Tues.-Spent this beautiful day at home and took N for a gator ride over to HV in hopes that he would take a little nap while his mommy got their car inspected. He kissed his little leg over and over when she put him in his car seat. He gets goofy tired and does sweet silly things like this and we all fall in love with him all over again. Susan went shopping in Lynchburg and found a few things at Goodwill and elsewhere. We watched 'Ever After' in the evening, but first, Michael watched 'The Truman Show' with us. What a strange movie.

Wed.-Stayed at home getting things done after I went to Dr. F. for some chiropractic care. Cleaned up the butcher shop, did lots of wash, went over to Happy Valley and read a little about Organizing from the Inside Out and I feel hopeful! Also read a book by Joyce Meyers on being fit and healthy while I drank my Chai tea. Did some clean up outside. Made beets, beef, and cabbage egg rolls. Sewed navy lace around my navy pants that were too short a few minutes ago. Also made a belt. Sent pictures to Judy and she sent me a picture of the duvet she made. So beautiful. Talked with Lindsay-or was that yesterday, and made a plan of attack for our Fitness Challenge coming up Monday. Meanwhile I am eating everything in sight and everything hidden as well. Susan had a 4-8 shift and hopes to Red Box a movie and chill out with me again tonight. The guys were working around here all day, tidying up, farming and building. Michael went out to youth in the evening. Our rooster died yesterday. The hens are upset and so are Susan and I. We think he was old. He showed no signs of struggle and he had plenty to eat and drink. Lindsay and the kids were harvesting honey this evening and I called her Wonder Woman but she was reluctant to own that name. Said I was the superhero. HA!

Thurs.-Went walking with Alli and Nathan in the morning and then spent the day in town. Jessica and I went to see Susan at her work place BDubs and then Jess hung out with me while I got my hair cut. We went to Penelopes to check on a Christmas gift for someone dear, went to Carousel Thrift Shop, the bank, the credit union, Sweet Frog, Judy's and then Jess went home to spend time with Michael and I got groceries at Food Lion and some long black pants at Belks and then met Erin at the Japanese Restaurant next to Sunchase and got home soon after 8 and Phil, Susan, and I, had a late movie night.

Fri.-Shout out to my dear sister in law-Karen H! Happy Birthday! You are one of the best things that ever happened to the Hertzler Clan. We love you!  Hello to Jonathan and Joe as well!  Thanks for all you guys do for us. You are always on the giving end and we appreciate you. XO 
Got a lot of odds and ends done today. Walked with Susan, Alli, and Nathan this morning. Susan and I made food. She made spaghetti squash, acorn squash, and Grandma H's sweet potatoes. I made a broccoli beef lo mein and some quiche. Susan went into work this evening. Austin G. and Philip worked on the addition. Phil worked on blueprints. Nathan came this evening and Philip took him on a four wheeler ride which is what Nathan wanted to do first thing. Even though I was ready and waiting for him on the gator. Phil took him for a ride two weeks ago and now the gator is a little slow for him. Phil and I had a sweet time with Nathan. He fed us frozen blueberries and regaled us with his musical rhythm ability. He ate some hot dog, banana, applesauce/mashed potatoes, and graham cracker. He's just so precious and loves to be with us as much as we love to be with him. Tonight, a wrong number caller said to me, "Well, Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life." Thank you, I said. I couldn't stop smiling for a long time.

Sat.-Was at Freeman and Alli's when Nathan woke up and he snuggled for a long time. It's cold and wet today. We decided not to go to the RR Festival with N. Susan and I went to a moving sale and bought at least 20 DVD's for a dollar each. Watched a movie in the afternoon before Susan went to work. I cleaned the house and I forget what else we did.

Sun.-Good church service. Philip bought pizza for lunch and most everyone was sighting in guns at one place or another in the afternoon. Went out to Farmville in the eve. Phil dropped off car at Mark's. We picked up a few groceries so I wouldn't have to go out tomorrow.

Lobster/Crab Bisque

My friend, Jen Cronin, used to make this for me when I visited her.
Her daughter, Jordie, was Susan's age.
Teri Mosteller got the two of them to be part of a commercial for the Republican Party
when they were about 3 or 4 years old. I think they both wore bright pink.
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8 servings

1 medium sized onion, chopped-1/2 cup.
1/2 cup butter-1 stick
3/4 cup flour
3 cans chicken broth
3/4 cup dry sherry cooking wine
2 cans (about 6 oz.) lobster or crab meat
3 cups light cream or half n' half
2 T. tomato paste (tiny little cans found in the store)
Salt and pepper to taste

Saute onion in butter in large soup sauce pan.
Stir in flour; Cook until bubbly.

Gradually stir in broth; Cook until thickened.
Stir in sherry and lobster.
Cover; simmer 15 minutes.
Stir in remaining ingredients and heat.

This is some of the best food you'll ever taste.

Dairy Queen Ice Cream

I made this when the kids were younger and just now found the recipe again!
Tastes so good and creamy and just like Dairy Queen's.
I'm not sure where we originally got the recipe but most likely it was from the Lancaster Farming.

2 Quarts scalded milk-heat milk until little bubbles form around the edges
4 pkgs. knox gelatin-1 T. each
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 pint cream (or more)
1 can Carnation evaporated milk
3 T. vanilla

Bring milk almost to boil. (That would be scalding it.)
Soften gelatin in 1/2 cup water (2 T. water per package of gelatin)
Add to hot milk once it is thick.
Add sugar and salt.
Cool.
Add cream, Carnation milk, and vanilla.

Freeze in freezer.

It does work best if you chill it really well before you freeze it in your ice cream freezer.
I'm pretty sure that I just added additional cream if I didn't have Carnation milk.
You really can't go wrong with cream, sugar, and vanilla.
Something good is going to happen.

Susan's Famous Peanut Butter Eggs

We originally got this recipe from Lancaster Farming but we've tweaked it a little.
For several years, Philip had an 'egg' business and Susan followed suit for a quite a few more years.


Soften-1-8oz. package of cream cheese and 2 sticks of butter
and mix together.

Add 3 cups creamy peanut butter.
Add a dash of vanilla. (optional)

Mix together.

Add 6-1/2 to 7 cups of 10x sugar.

Mix well. Chill.
Shape into eggs.
Chill on cookie sheets covered with wax paper.

Dip in melting chocolate.

We found that it works best to melt your chocolate in a small crock pot.

If you want to make coconut eggs, you make them pretty much the same.
Forget the peanut butter. Add about 3 cups of coconut give or take a cup.
Add coconut extract along with the vanilla extract.
Dip the coconut eggs in dark chocolate.

You can make butter cream eggs by using butter extract and vanilla extract
and foregoing the peanut butter and coconut and just add enough 10x sugar
to make it formable.

Aunt Rosalee's Beef Taco Bake

I think Aunt Rosalee got this recipe from Campbell's originally.
This is quick and easy and could also be thrown together and put in the crockpot.

1 lb. ground beef
1 can Campbell's tomato soup
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup milk
6 flour tortillas or 8 corn tortillas cut in 1-2 inch pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a skillet over medium high heat, brown beef.
Pour off fat.

In a big bowl, toss the meat, soup, salsa, milk, tortillas, and half the cheese.
Spoon into a 2 quart shallow baking dish.
Cover.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 min. or until hot.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 5 more minutes.

This is another recipe that I double.
This recipe serves 4.
I usually make it in the crockpot and cook it until it's bubbling.
You can use any kind of shredded cheese as well.

It's so good with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and ripe olives
served on the side.

Aunt Helen's Beef or Chicken Broccoli Lo Mein Recipe

Michael requested this recipe.
This makes 8-12 servings.

16 oz. thin spaghetti; broken in half
2 tsp. dark sesame oil
2 T. veg. oil
6 cup chopped broccoli
3 cups chopped onions
2 T. minced fresh ginger
8 cloves garlic, minced
Beef (venison) or chicken pieces, sliced thin crossways-as much as you want.
 1-2 pounds would be my guess.

6 T. beef or chicken broth
6 T. soy sauce
4 T. brown sugar
2 T. oyster sauce

Cook pasta; drain well. Return to pan, toss with sesame oil.
Or you could put this in a big bowl.
Heat another pan and stir-fry broccoli and onion in hot oil for 3 minutes.
Add ginger and garlic; continue cooking 30 seconds.
Add meat. Cook 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix the broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and oyster sauce.
Add sauce and pasta to the skillet or wok that holds the meat.
Continue cooking all ingredients together,
stirring often 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

You could also use rice instead of pasta and snow peas and carrots instead of broccoli.
Philip likes it better without the ginger.
You could also throw in some cashews when you are doing the final heat-through.

Oyster Filling

This is Dad's favorite and most often requested dish for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.

Chop one cup each of celery and onion.
Saute in 1/2 stick of butter.

Beat 2 eggs.
Add 1/2-1 cup milk
Throw in some poultry seasoning and salt-my recipe doesn't say how much.
I'd throw in some pepper, too.

Cut up 6 cups of dried bread.
Drain 1 pt. of oysters

Mix onions/celery, egg mixture, bread, and oysters.
Bake in greased casserole at 350 for 50 minutes.

Smells heavenly.

Corn Fritters

My mother, your Grandma Diffenbach, would make corn fritters in the summertime
when corn was fresh from the cob from our garden.
She would cut it off the cob and 'milk' it to make it creamy.
This recipe calls for 2 cups of fresh corn.
The fritters taste so good hot of the skillet with maple syrup.

2 cups fresh corn
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. baking powder
2 T. cream
4 T. fat (butter, oil, shortening, coconut oil, etc.)

Add beaten eggs, flour, baking powder, salt and pepper to the corn.
Mix thoroughly.
Add cream. (Or milk if you don't have cream.)

Melt the fat in a frying pan and drop corn mixture by spoonfuls into the hot fat.
Brown on both sides.
Drain on paper towels or paper plates or paper bags.
Makes 16-18 fritters.

This recipe was taken from 'The Mennonite Cookbook' and it's the recipe my mother used and I use it as well. I think you could also make it with frozen corn, especially it it's our Incredible Corn. The texture would be a little different but the flavor would be there.

Crispy Caramel Popcorn

From Esther H. Shank's Cookbook-'Mennonite Country-Style Recipes


8-9 quarts popped corn-Have ready in large greased container.
1 cup peanuts-optional
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2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup butter or margarine

Combine in saucepan, stirring constantly until boiling.
Boil 5 minutes.
Remove from heat.

Stir in until foamy:
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Pour over popped corn mixing until well coated. Pour into two large pans-sprayed or buttered-
and heat in 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 min.
Remove, cool, and separate.
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A quick Hertzler version:

Melt one stick of butter in saucepan.
Add 1/2 to 1 cup peanut butter.
Mix until smooth.

Add brown sugar and/or maple syrup
and bring to a boil. We never measure except for the stick of butter.
(Probably 1 cup of sweetener or a little more.)

Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 min.
Remove from heat.

Add a teaspoon of vanilla.
Pour over popcorn and mix.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

From "Simply Wonderful"-submitted by Ada Dienner

2 cups pumpkin
2 egg yolks
2 c. brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour

Mix together pumpkin, egg yolks, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla until creamy.
Mix together dry ingredients and add.
Drop by Tablespoon on greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 for 5-7 min.
Sandwich 2 cookies with filling between them.

Filling:
2 egg whites
2 tsp. vanilla
4 T. flour
1-1/2 cup shortening
2 T. milk
1 lb. 10 x sugar

Cream of Tomato Soup-(from More-with-Less Cookbook)

Saute`~
2 T. butter
2 T. chopped onion

Mix together~
3 T. flour
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
dash of garlic salt, basil, oregano, thyme

Add to butter and onions, whisking until smooth and bubbly.

Remove from heat. Gradually stir in:
2 cups of tomato juice

Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Boil 1 min.

In another kettle, heat 2 cups milk on low, before you even start the onions. ;)
If you forget to do this, it's okay to add the milk cold.

Add the warm milk to the hot tomato mixture.

Heat until almost boiling and serve.
I usually double the recipe.

Delicious with toasted cheese sandwiches on a cold, windy, rainy, or snowy day.

Broccoli Salad

Wash and separate into flowerets broccoli and/or cauliflower.(2 bunches)
Let drain in colander.

Meanwhile, fry up 8 strips of bacon.

Mix up a dressing with salad dressing or mayonnaise-about 1 cup.
Sometimes, I use half mayo and half plain yogurt.
Add 1/4-1/3 cup sugar
2 T. vinegar

Let sit and stir to dissolve sugar.

Mix broccoli, bacon, and dressing together.

I like to add raisins.

You can also add shredded cheese, chopped onions, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, etc.
Depends on what you like.

Chocolate Whoopie Pies

1-1/2 cup oil
3 c. sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 cup sour milk-(add 1-2 T. vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk)
1-1/2 T. vinegar
1 T. vanilla
1-1/2 cup cocoa
1 T. salt
1-1/2 cup hot water
7-1/2 cup flour
1 T. soda

Mix together vinegar and milk; let set.
Mix soda in water.
Mix everything together, adding flour last.
Bake at 350 for 10 min.
Sandwich 2 cookies with whoopee pie filling between them.

Icing:
2 egg whites
2 T. vanilla
2 T. flour
2 T. milk
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup Crisco

Beat egg whites until stiff.
Add rest of ingredients.

(Taken from 'Simply Wonderful-submitted by Verna Stoltzfus)

Cinnamon Rolls

Taken from 'Simply Wonderful'-submitted by Sherry Zook

The recipe is for a bread maker but I mix it up in my mixer with the dough hook.
Therefore, I have changed the order of mixing from the regular recipe.

1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1 T. yeast

Mix in mixing bowl and allow to dissolve and foam.

Add 3/4 cup room temperature milk
1/3 cup oil (or melted butter)
3/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten

Mix well.
Slowly add 3 1/2 cups bread flour (more or less)
When dough is not sticky but still pliable
it is ready for use.
Roll out dough on a flour-covered surface.
Make a rectangle.

Melt 3 Tablespoons butter and spread on dough.
I use room temp. butter and just use my hands to spread it around.
Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
I like to mix the two together before putting it on.

Roll up and slice 3/4 inch pieces and place in a greased 9x13 inch pan.
I slide dental floss under the roll and bring the two ends together,
crossing them to slice the dough.

Do not have rolls touching each other in the pan.
Let rise in warm place.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 min.
Partially cool and spread with icing.

I usually double or triple this recipe.
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Frosting #1-
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon milk
1/2 T. vanilla.
Dash of salt.
1 1/2 cup or more powdered sugar.

Cook butter, brown sugar, and milk for 1 min. It should be bubbling for a minute.
Stir while cooking. Cool until lukewarm,
Add vanilla, salt and powdered sugar.
Beat together and put on warm rolls.

Frosting#2-
4 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat together. It works best if the cream cheese and butter are at room temp.

Cinnamon Rolls are a favorite Hertzler Christmas morning breakfast.

Machamer Fudge

Narrated by Dad-(Phil R. Hertzler):

Mr. Machamer was a gentleman farmer who lived near Birdsboro, Pa. This was a recipe for fudge that he gave to Grandpa and often when Grandpa came in from the barn in the evening and after dinner he wanted something sweet, he would make some Machamer fudge, made out of some basic ingredients which always seemed to be there.

Put a sauce pan on the stove.

Melt 1 stick of butter and 3 heaping Tablespoons of peanut butter.
Make sure these two ingredients are melted and blended together.

Then add 3 heaping Tablespoons of cocoa and 3 T. of wheat germ.

Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and blend with spoon until smooth.
Then add confectioner's sugar until it is firm.

Spoon out into a pie plate or square pan and allow to cool.
Cut into squares and let it melt in your mouth.

If Grandma Hertzler didn't have wheat germ, she would crush Wheaties or Corn Flakes
and put that in the mix. Anything like that would work to take its' place.

Of course, it was good without wheat germ.

Meats

TROUT

My favorite way to make trout is to put butter on the bottom of a glass pan,
lay the trout skin side down on top of the butter,
sprinkle lemon juice on top of the trout,
spread melted butter on top of the trout,
sprinkle seasoned salt and lemon pepper on top of the trout.

Bake at 350 for 20-30 min. until the meat flakes when a fork is placed
in the thickest part of the fish steak and twisted.

Yum..

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ROAST-beef, bear, venison

I place the roast in a crock pot and spread horseradish all over the top.

That's the ticket.
You can add crushed garlic, onions, mushrooms, etc. if you want to
but the secret ingredient that tenderizes the meat is horseradish.

Buy it in jars in the refrigerated section at the store.

Cook on low all night or on high for several hours until the meat falls apart.

Diane Horan's Super Duper Chocolate Chip Cookies

More times than not, Diane makes these for me when I visit her overnight.
We have them with coffee in the evening and then we have them with coffee for breakfast.
And then she sends what is left home with me to eat while I drive.

She mixes the ingredients by hand.

1 cup room temperature Imperial margarine
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. water
2 large eggs

3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

1 12 oz. bag of Nestlé's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup broken walnuts

Cream together margarine and sugars.
Add vanilla, water, and eggs, mixing well after each addition.
Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together
and gradually add to wet mixture.
Mix well.
Fold in chocolate morsels and walnuts.
Bake at 350 for 11-12 min.

Grease pan with wax paper dipped in Crisco before each addition of dough.
Bake on bottom shelf.
Let cookie sheet cool before refilling.

Cookies may look under-baked but will be fine when cool.
Drop dough by large tablespoon on cookie sheet.
Remove from cookie sheet immediately and place on foil.

Makes 2 dozen.

Diane is famous in the neighborhood's she's lived in for these cookies.
The UPS man knows about them.
The TV repairman knows about them.
Her kids college roommates know about them.
And now, you know about them, in case you didn't before.

Crumb Cake

This is a recipe that my Grandma Diffy had and my mother made it many times for my dad.
He really liked it. It's good with milk, or tea, or coffee, or applesauce, or ice cream.

Aunt Rosalee sent it to me. She sent it to all my siblings when she sent it to me in case they would want it too. She has the orginal recipe written in my mother's handwriting.

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1-1/2 cups sugar
2-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening

Mix together the flour and sugar and then cut in the shortening until mixture is crumbly.
Reserve 1/2 cup for topping crumbs.

Add:
2 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sour milk (1 T. vinegar plus 1 cup milk)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Pour into greased and floured pans-2 round cake pans or 2 pie pans
Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
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I remember the happy smell of these crumb cakes and how delighted my Daddy was
when he'd come home and numerous crumb cakes would be lined up on the counter.
I'm quite sure she always doubled the recipe. (At least.)
Sometimes, she'd make the little crumb cakes in little pie pans.

Whenever I have breakfast at Aunt Rosalee's house, she makes crumb cake
in memory of our mother and she serves breakfast using Mother's pretty
china and glass dishes.

Mock Pizza Hut Pizza

We got this recipe from
The Lancaster Farming and J.Eby from Reading, Pa. submitted it.

2 packages or 2 Tablespoons yeast
2/3 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar

2 cups cold water
2 T. oil
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic power, optional
1/2 tsp. oregano

6-1/2 cup bread flour

Let first 3 ingredients stand until bubbly; set aside.

Mix remaining ingredients-water, oil, sugar, and seasonings-in mixer or large bowl.
 Then add yeast mixture alternately with flour.

Knead. Let rise until double. (put in a greased bowl, flip, and cover bowl with towel)

Place 1/4 cup vegetable oil in pan-go with less if using a small pan.

Press dough in pan. Do not press up sides.
Add pizza sauce only.
Bake at 450 for 15 min.
Remove and add favorite pizza toppings.
Bake at 450 for 10 more min.
Makes 3 pizzas.

Hot chocolate-Instant and Real

Instant-

To one medium box of dried milk
add 1 pound Nestlé's chocolate milk powder
 and a medium size container of dried creamer.
Mix. Add 1/2 cup to a mug and add boiling water.
 Stir to dissolve.

If you want, use a large box of dried milk and 2 pounds of Nestlé's and a larger container of creamer.

You can't go wrong, really.
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Cocoa-taken from The Mennonite Cookbook.

3 T. cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup warm water
1 quart milk
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 marshmallows

(Vanilla, salt, and marshmallows are all optional.)

Mix sugar, salt and cocoa together.
Add warm water and stir to a smooth paste.
Cook for 3 min.
Mix warm milk into hot syrup.
Whisk in vanilla.
Top with a marshmallow or whipped cream.
Meanwhile, in another kettle on medium heat, warm up 1 quart milk.

Gourmet Potatoes-Mashed and otherwise

Gourmet Mashed Potatoes-From "Simply Wonderful"-submitted by Charlene Fisher

9 large potatoes
1/2 cup milk
6 oz. cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. finely chopped onion
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 T. butter

Peel potatoes and cook in water until soft.
Mash, adding milk, and then add remaining ingredients.
Pour into a greased casserole and bake covered at 350 for 45 min,
or put in Crock-Pot for several hours.
This can be made a few days ahead of time and kept in refrigerator until ready to bake.
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Make-Ahead Potatoes-From "Simply Wonderful"-submitted by Marilyn Stoltzfus

10 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 cup sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese
6 T. butter, divided
2 T. dried minced onion
1/2-1 tsp. salt
paprika

Place potatoes in large kettle, cover with water and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover and cook for 25 min. or until potatoes are tender.
Drain and place in a bowl.
Mash with some kind of masher, not a mixer.
Add sour cream, cream cheese, 4 T. butter, onion and salt.
Stir until smooth and the cream cheese and butter are melted.
Spread in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Melt remaining butter and drizzle over potatoes.
Sprinkle with paprika.
Refrigerate or bake immediately, covered, at 350 for 1 hour.
If you refrigerate, allow to sit out at room temp. for half an hour before baking.

I think you could also dice the potatoes and cook them and leave them diced.

To both recipes above, you could make them even creamier by adding a handful
or two of shredded cheese.

Also, whenever I make potatoes, I usually add garlic in some form or another.
I also like to add a pinch of dill weed.

Homemade Sandwich Rolls

1 cup warm water
2 Tablespoons or 2 packages dry yeast
1 Tablespoon regular or brown sugar

Stir together. Dissolve. Let foam.

Stir together the following until melted.
Cool to lukewarm and add to yeast mixture.
If it is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
If it is too cold, it won't work.
Lukewarm is about the temperature a baby likes his bath water to be. :)

1 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar, honey, or brown sugar, or coconut sugar
2 1/2 tsp. salt

When these mixtures are mixed together well, begin to add bread flour.
Regular flour works but occident or bread flour is nicer.
Add 5 cups of flour and then gradually add more until
you have a nice soft dough but not a sticky dough.
(Recipe calls for 10 cups but add it gradually.
You might not need it all.)

Put into a greased bowl and then flip over so greased dough is top-side.
Cover with a wet tea towel over top of bowl and put in warm place
such as the oven with the light on.

Let rise until double.
Punch down and let it alone for 10 min.
Shape into rolls and let rise until double again.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. until lightly browned.

I like to brush the tops with butter when they are hot out of the oven.

Should make about 32 large rolls.

(When I am making sandwich rolls, I flatten the pieces of dough down with a rolling pin
on a cutting board. Then I let the dough rise. )

Make sure the pans are  greased when you put the unbaked rolls on them to rise.

Macaroni and Cheese-Baked

Cool 1 1/2 cups dry macaroni in boiling water for 10 min.

Drain.

Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar,
 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp pepper,
 2 cups milk, and 1 small egg, beaten.

Mix well.

Put in greased 8x8 pan.

Pour 1/4 cup of melted butter over top.

Bake at 350 for 45 min.