Mile-High Biscuits

From: Cook's Illustrated American Classics pg.44
Makes: 12 biscuits

Dough
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 1/2 cups cold buttermilk, preferably low-fat

To form and bake biscuits
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 500 F. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Also, spray the inside and outside of a 1/4-cup measure with nonstick cooking spray.

2. To make the dough: Add the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda to the bowl of your food processor. Pulse a few times to combine. Scatter the butter evenly over the dry ingredients then pulse 8-10 times, or until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Dump the contents of the food processor into a large bowl and add the buttermilk. Stir with a rubber spatula just until everything is incorporated (the dough will be quite wet and sticky and somewhat lumpy).

3. To form the biscuits: Using the 1/4 cup measure you sprayed earlier and working quickly, scoop level 1/4 cup mounds of dough and drop them into the flour on the baking sheet. Continue until you’ve scooped all of the dough – you should have 12 mounds of dough. Use some of the flour from the baking sheet to dust the top of each mound. Flour your hands, then, one at a time, pick up each piece of dough (coating with extra flour if necessary so you can work with it) and gently shape it into a rough ball. Shake off the excess flour and place in the prepared cake pan. Repeat with the remaining mounds of dough, fitting 9 biscuits around the outer edge of the pan and 3 in the middle.
Gently brush the top of each biscuit with some of the melted butter (don’t press down and flatten them).

4. Bake for 5 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 450 F and continue baking for another 13-15 minutes, or until the biscuits are deep golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and let the biscuits cool for 2 minutes, then invert them onto a clean kitchen towel. Flip the biscuits over and break them apart. Allow to cool 5 minutes longer before serving.

Oatmeal Mix & Oatmeal Muffins

from Make-a-Mix Cookbook by Karine Eliason, Nevada Harward, and Madeline Westover pp.12 & 56
Makes 9 cups mix & 3 batches (12-ct) muffins

Oatmeal Mix
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 teas baking powder
1 1/2 teas salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable shortening
3 cups rolled oats (I use old fashioned)

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Stir in brown sugar. Mix well. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until evenly distributed. Stir in oats and mix well. Put in a large airtight container.

*This mix also makes pancakes, cookies, oatmeal bars, and a few other things... none of which I have tried.

Oatmeal Muffins
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
3 cups oatmeal mix

Preheat oven to 400. Grease muffin pans . Combine mix, egg, and milk and stir until just moistened. Fill muffin tins and bake 15-20 minute until golden brown.

French Muffins

From A Flood of Recipes From the 12th Ward (Julie Orme p.41)
Makes 12

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Mix everything together. Pour into well-greased muffin tins and bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Roll in melted butter and sugar and cinnamon. (I actually brush the tops with margarine and then shake cinnamon & sugar over the tops---delightful!)

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

From PBFingers.com
Makes 12 regular muffins

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup canola oil
Optional mix-ins: nuts, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, raisins

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line muffin tin with muffin cups or spray pan
2. Combine whole wheat flour through sugar in a large bowl and mix to evenly distribute ingredients
3. In a separate bowl, mix egg, pumpkin, milk and canola oil
4. Pour pumpkin mixture into flour mixture and stir until batter is thick and fully mixed
5. Fold in optional mix-ins
6. Pour batter into muffin cups and bake for 18 minutes or until tops of the muffins bounce back when lightly touched

You know I love me some muffins. Moist. Delicious. Warm. Perfect Autumn food.

Colored Playdough

From The Toddler's Busy Book by Trish Kuffner p. 355
Makes 1 big blob

1 cup water
1 TBSP vegetable oil
1/2 cup salt
1 TBSP cream of tartar
food coloring
1 cup flour

Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar (which helps the dough last for about six months), and food coloring of your choice in a saucepan and heat until warm. Remove from heat and stir in flour. Stir, then knead until smooth. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.

I made five half recipes and filled these small containers I found at the dollar store (10/$1) It was a perfect amount to fill 4 with a half recipe. Now they are all ready for party treats for our upcoming rainbow party!

Favorite Oatmeal Cookies

From A Flood of Recipes from the 12th Ward, Ann Heron, p. 125
Makes about 2 dozen

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. flour
3 c. oatmeal

Mix first four ingredients. Add next four. Then add oatmeal last. You may also add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or raisins or walnuts (I never have). Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove while slightly underdone for more chewy cookies.

These are the best oatmeal cookies ever. So chewy and soft. You gotta love them. My hubby's personal favorite.

Apple Muffins

From PaperCrafts Gourmet (p. 66-Alisa Bangerter)
Makes 12 regular muffins

1. Slightly beat 1 egg. Stir in 1/2 c. milk, 1/4 c. vegetable oil, and 1 c. raw grated apple. (I used one large Granny Smith)
2. Mix together 1 1/2 c. flour, 1/3 c. sugar, 2 1/4 teas. baking powder, 1/2 teas. salt, 1/2 teas. cinnamon, and 1/4 teas. nutmeg and add to wet mixture until moistened.
3. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full with batter and sprinkle with topping mixture (1/3 c. brown sugar, 1/3 c. chopped nuts, (which I didn't choose to use) 1/2 teas. cinnamon)
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until done. (mine didn't take that long)

These were super tasty, and I think next time I will try them with whole wheat flour to up the healthfulness of them. Plus, the girls ate them right up.

Thin Crust Pizza (Chicken Pesto Pizza)

From http://recipes.robbiehaf.com/T/272.htm
Makes 1 pizza

.25 oz. pkt. active dry yeast
1/4 tsp. granulated sugar
3/4 cup 110 degree water
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Top with Pesto, Mozzarella cheese, sliced red pepper, sliced red onion, and cut up grilled chicken. I've also added bacon, which is good.

-Dissolve yeast and sugar in water; allow to rest for 8 minutes.-In a separate bowl, combine flour and salt.-Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture and mix well with a heavy spoon.-Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes.-Working from the edges to the center, press dough into a 12" circle. We've also found that holding the dough up, off the counter and stretching it works well, too (keep rotating the dough circle as you stretch to keep an even circle forming).-Place dough on a lightly greased pizza pan and stretch dough to edges.-Spread sauce over crust and top with cheese and desired toppings.-Bake in a 500 degree oven for 8-12 minutes, or until edges are golden.

We love this pizza, even Ella eats it! And it is my new dinner to make for friends.

Pizza Bombs

From Andrew and Ashley Wray
Makes 1-2 bombs or pizzas

5 c. flour
1 teas. salt
1/4 teas. pepper
1 T. sugar
1/4 c. oil
2 c. warm water
2 T. yeast

Dissolve yeast in water. Add remaining ingredients. Raise 1 hr. (if desired--this will make two pizzas for sure). Roll out dough. Cut out circles. Spoon sauce on center. Put on cheese, meat, etc. Fold dough over and press edges together. Bake at 400 for about 12-14 minutes until golden brown.

This used to be our one and only pizza that we made, but then we found another (flatbread style) that we use too. This one is still the best for a good old pepperoni & black olive (for the hubby) pizza.

Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup

From Erin May
Makes 6-8 cups

Put 6-8 cups water in a medium saucepan over medium high heat.
Add 2-3 chicken boullion cubes.
Cut up and boil any veggies you would like... I put in 2 carrots, 2 stalks of celery, and some diced onion.
Add rice from a box of Long Grain & Wild Rice mix (Rice a Roni, Uncle Ben, Farmhouse, etc).

Meanwhile, make a rous using:
2-3 TBS. butter
1/4 c. flour
Seasoning packet from boxed rice
1/2 can evaporated milk (I would use the whole thing, though) (and any milk will do)

When rice is cooked, add rous and cooked chicken. Salt & Pepper to taste.

*I made this last night, and I used almost a whole can of milk, and it was creamier and better than previous times I have made it. We also don't add chicken, 'cause we are weird like that.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

From A Flood of Recipes From the 12th Ward (Brooke Egbert, Colleen Hobson p. 120)
Makes approx 3 dozen

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup pumpkin
2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup chocolate chips (or raisins...yikes)

Cream shortening and sugar together until fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternately with pumpkin. Add vanilla and chocolate chips. Drop on greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

So yummy, and super festive for this time of year... gotta love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Don't mind how unhealthy they are.

Debbie's Breadsticks

From Nancy Jensen
Makes 1 dozen

1. Dissolve 1 teas. yeast, 1 1/2 teas. sugar, and 1 teas. salt in 1 1/2 cup warm water in a mixing bowl. Stir in 2-2 1/4 cup flour and knead in the rest until the dough is not wet but still slightly tacky. Let rest 5 minutes, covered with a damp cloth.

2. Divide dough into 12 pieces and roll into 10-inch ropes. Place on cookie sheet, brush with melted butter, sprinkle lightly with coarse salt, spray down with water from squirt bottle, and immediately put in the oven.

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees, spraying with more water halfway through the bake time. Remove from oven, place on wire racks, and brush with more melted butter. Serve warm.

Velveeta Down-Home Macaroni and Cheese

From Kraftfoods.com
Makes one 2-quart casserole

1. Melt 3 TBSP butter in medium saucepan on medium heat. Whisk in 1/4 cup flour; cook 2 minutes stirring constantly. Gradually stir in 1 cup milk; cook until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 lb. (8 oz.) Velveeta cheese (cut into cubes); cook 3 minutes or util melted, stirring frequently.

2. Stir. in 2 cups cooked elbow macaroni. Spoon into 2 quart casserole lightly sprayed; sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Melt 1 TBSP butter; toss with 6 Ritz crackers crushed and sprinkle over casserole (I just omitted the butter and sprinkled the macaroni and cheese with Italian breadcrumbs).

Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until heated through.

*This is a nice and cheesy meal, but less cheesy than the one on the Velveeta package.

H.R.M.'s Favorite Waffles

From The New McCall's Cookbook 1973
Makes Small batch (3-4 waffles)

1. Beat 1 egg until light.

2. Sift together 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 teas. salt, 1/4 teas. baking soda, 1/4 teas. baking powder.

3. Mix 1/2 cup buttermilk or 1/4 cup sour cream with 1/4 cup milk.

4. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to beaten eggs.

5. Add 1/4 cup melted butter to batter. Blend thoroughly and bake according to waffle iron directions.

*These are delicious with maple syrup, too. They don't really need butter because it's added in the batter. These were a Sunday tradition at our house growing up. They are still my favorite waffles.

Aebelskivers

From Grandma Leah
Makes Small batch (3-4 pans)

1. Seperate 1 egg, putting egg white in a small bowl and egg yolk in a larger one. Beat egg whites until stiff and egg yolk.
2. Add 1 cup buttermilk and 2 TBSP melted shortening (I use applesauce) to the egg yolk.
3. Sift together 9/10 (.916) cup flour, 1/3 teas. salt, 2 teas. sugar, 1/2 teas. baking soda, and 1/3 teas. nutmeg and add to the egg and milk mixture. Fold in stiff egg whites.

Preheat your aebelskiver pan on medium heat, adding a little shortening to each cup in the pan. When melted, add 1/8 cup batter to each cup. (Also known as a coffee measure) Cook until browned on bottom, then turn over. (We use turkey lacing skewers- they are perfect!) Cook until second side is browned.

*These are best served with maple syrup... but other fillings can be used. Whatever is your favorite. We use "honey bears" and poke the aebleskivers and fill them with syrup. Delicious! These are a family tradition at our house. We love them.

Zucchini Bread

From A Flood of Recipes From the 12th Ward p. 47 (Kathryn Gudmundson)
Makes 2 loaf pans, one large pan, two layer cake pans, or four small loaf pans.

2 cups zucchini, grated
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 teas. vanilla
1 cup wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teas. baking soda
1/2 teas. ground cloves
2 cups white flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teas. nutmeg
1 1/2 teas cinnamon

Mix together all wet ingredients (this is what Kitchen Aid mixers were made for). Sift the dry and add to the wet mixture. Mix well. Pour into greased and floured pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Flour Tortillas

From Mexican Fiesta p. 366
Makes 8-12 tortillas (depending on the size)

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup warm water

1. Combine flour and salt in medium bowl. Rub shortening into flour with fingertips until mixture has fine, even texture. Stir in water until dough forms.
2. Knead dough on floured surface 2 to 3 minutes until smooth and elastic. Wrap in plastic wrap. Let stand 30 minutes at room temperature.
3. Knead dough a few times. Divide evenly into 8 pieces for 10-inch tortillas or 12 pieces for 8-inch tortillas. Shape pieces into balls; cover with plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
4. Using rolling pin, roll out each dough ball on floured surface, turning over frequently, into 8- or 10-inch circles. Stack each tortilla between sheets of waxed paper. (I just cook them as I go... not stacking)
5. Heat ungreased heavy griddle or skillet over medium-high heat until a little water sprinkled on surface sizzles. Carefully lay 1 tortilla on griddle; cook 20 or 30 seconds until top is bubbly and bottom is flecked with brown spots. Turn tortilla over; cook 15 to 20 seconds until flecked with brown spots. If tortilla puffs up while second side is cooking, press it down gently with spatula. Remove tortilla to foil.
6. Cook remaining tortillas as shown in step 5.

*These are best when fresh, but can also be refrigerated and reheated.

Breadsticks

From A Flood of Recipes From the 12th Ward p 53 (Merl Duersch, Jennifer Morrison)
Makes 2 cookie sheets full

1 1/2 cup warm water
2 T sugar
1 T yeast
3 cups flour
1/2 teas. salt
1 cube butter (I just melt some and put in on top or just brush on from soft tub)
parmesan cheese
garlic salt
Salad Supreme

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water. Add flour and salt. Knead 1-3 minutes. Let rest. Roll out dough on floured surface (Melt butter to roll breadsticks in-I don't do this) Roll into long strips, or whatever shape you prefer. Sprinkle with garlic salt, parmesan cheese, and/or Salad Supreme. Let raise 15-20 minutes or until double. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

*The less you let them raise, the crispier they are, so whatever suits your fancy.

Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

From A Flood of Recipes From the 12th Ward p. 123 (Ashley Mecham) & my special touch
Makes a lot

1 pkg. cake mix (Red Velvet is the BEST)
2 cups flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teas. vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup water

Mix together (Kitchen Aid) and drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Pound Cake Muffins

From ________ (an email from my sister)
Makes..... I don't remember

2 cups flour
3 teas. poppyseeds
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 teas. baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup yogurt (plain unless you want a little flavor)
1 teas. vanilla or almond flavoring

1. Stir first four ingredients together.
2. Cream the sugar and butter together.
3. Add eggs, yogurt, and vanilla or almond flavoring to creamed mixture.
4. Add the flour mixture to the rest.

Pour into muffin pan. Bake at 400 degrees from 15-20 minutes.