Granddaughter Emma

My little granddaughter is TERRIFIED of my cats. She comes completely unglued at the sight of one. Finally Molly asked her," why are you afraid of the cats, they aren't hurting you?" With shaking and trembling she said "They have mad eyes" LoL they are so precious. The Grandkids I mean.

Daughter-in-law Chloe Nielson's Sponge Cake

My daughter-in-law is from Australia. So we get
to enjoy a lot of different recipes from her
family. She is a wonderful and energetic young
woman. We love our Chloe!

This is the cake that was served at her and Matthew's Wedding reception.

Sponge Cake

2 boxes of white cake
heavy whipping cream
strawberry or raspberry flavored jam/preserves
strawberries, sliced
banana, sliced
kiwi fruit, sliced (peeled)
chocolate shavings (optional)

* Make the 2 cakes and cook according to directions on boxes (you can cook them at the same time in the oven)
* Take cakes out of pans and let cool on cooling racks until completely cooled
* Place cake 1 on a serving plate
* Spread generous amount of jam over the top of cake 1 (the top will be sticky so make sure you have alot on your knife so it glides over without pulling the cake top off)
* Spread a layer of whipped cream on top of jam on cake 1
* Place cake 2 on top of cake 1
* Spread generous layer of jam over top of cake 2
* Spread remaining whipped cream on top (you want a good thick layer of cream on top)
* Place sliced fruit on top of cake 2 so it is pretty well covered
* Sprinkle chocolate over top

* NOTE: You can use any kind of fruit for the top of the sponge cake. I just mostly use kiwi, strawberry and banana.

Being with my Grandkids

So I am taking care of 3 of my precious grandkids while my daughter and her hubby take a long overdue mini honeymoon. Clara the littlest one was excited but a little nervous to be left. After an hour or so she exclaimed "I don't even miss my mommy and daddy"
Okay, I'm not gonna lie that made my day!

Betsy

I was on my cell phone when my daughter Molly beeped through. I thought...Okay I'll call her right back. 2 seconds later a voice mail, from Molly. 30 seconds later the land line rings. By now I'm a little nervous as to the nature of the emergency awaiting me. I hurriedly ended my call to answer the other phone... I can barely hear Molly's breathless voice over the phone. "Mom I forgot to feed Betsey yesterday, I hope she's alright, will you please go in my room and feed her right now" To quote my Grandmother, "Oh brother!!"

Hearty Lentil Soup

This is truly one of my favorites, even my picky eaters love this.
I combine it with my Sooooooo Good Corn Bread.

3 carrots sliced
2-3 med. potatoes (opt.)
1 med. onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 bay leaf
1 cup dry lentils
1 14 1/2-to 16-ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 tsp.
1/2 - 1 tsp. thyme leaves
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 lb. Kielbasa (I use sausage)
1 Tb. lemon juice
2 Tb. chopped parsley

In a 3-to 4-quart pan, cook carrots, next 9 ingredients, and 5 cups water, covered, 40-50 min. until lentils are tender. I add the vegetables about 1/2 way through cooking
Stir a few times during cooking.
Slice Kielbasa, stir into soup or add browned sausage.
Cook covered, 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice.
Let stand 5 min. sprinkle with parsley (opt.)

Bec's long awaited Split Pea Soup

Savory Split Pea Soup from my sister Katie Banazak

1 lb. split peas (2 1/4)cups
3 fresh pork hocks 3/4 lb. each
Leftover ham bone
2 stalks celery
2 med. onions
4 green onions
2 parsley sprigs
1/4 lb. salt pork chopped (I use bacon)
1/4 tsp. black peppercorn
1/4 tsp. All Season
2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. dried rosemary leaves
1-2 Bay leaves
1 Kilbasa polish sausage
4 med. carrots
4 med. potatoes

In colander rinse peas with cold water. Wipe Hocks with paper towel.
In an 8 qt. pan combine peas, hocks & 2 1/2 qts. water. Bring to a boil reduce heat.
Simmer covered 45 min.
Cut celery diagonally 1/4 inch thick.
Saute bacon in frying pan until crisp (3 min.). Add celery, onion and
green onion. Saute until golden (5) min.
Add mixture to peas w/ parsley,salt, rosemary & Bay leaves.
Bring to boil, reduce & simmer 2 1/2 hours until hocks are cooked.
Remove from heat, remove hocks & cool. Remove skin & fat from hocks.
Wash sausage slice 1" thick add to soup with the carrots and potatoes.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat & simmer 30-40 min. Enjoy!

My Mom's Banana Bread

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt

1/2 c. shortening or margarine
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs beaten
6 T. buttermilk or sour milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. mashed very overripe bananas
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (opt.)

sift flour with soda, salt and baking powder.

Cream shortening or margarine with the sugar until light.
Add the beaten eggs, buttermilk, bananas and vanilla.
Beat until smooth and add the dry ingredients blend until smooth and fold in nuts.
pour into well greased loaf pan and bake at 350 dergrees 45-50 min.
I double this and it makes 2 reg. size loaves or 3 med. size loaves.
I use very ripe bananas, which you can freeze in the skins or mashed and put into a freezer bag,to save for later.

Great Pizza Crust

This is so easy and very good. It's fantastic if you have a pizza stone, if not, it is still good just not fantastic.

You need a mixer that can handle bread dough. If not I bet you could experiment and see how to do it by hand.

Okay on with the recipe!

Crusty Pizza Dough

1 pkg. active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
1 cup warm water (105- 115 degrees)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. olive oil
2 - 21/2 cups flour (I don't know if you might need more in another part of the country.)

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl.
Add salt, olive oil, and about 1 3/4 c. flour maybe a little more.
Using the dough hook on your mixer turn to Speed 2 and mix (1) min.
Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix (2)more minutes or until dough clings to hook an cleans sides of bowel. Knead on speed 2 about (2) more minutes.

Place dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in a warm place, free from draft until doubled 20-60 minutes.
Punch dough down.

I use a 16 inch pizza pan but I don't spread it all the way to the edge or it is too thin. When I used the 14 inch pan it was too thick.
But I think if you had a 14 inch stone you would be good.

Spread a little oil on the pan and sprinkle a little cornmeal on the pan to prevent sticking.
Spread dough, spread lightly with a little oil and then spread sauce cheese and toppings. Bake 450 degrees for about 15-20 min.

This is a Facebook entry from my daughter Mary. Her kids do the darndest things. I think she should write a book.

So crazy Life, yesterday I knew the day would be a bad one when Lissie came running upstairs to tell me that Braden had dumped the cereal all over the ground and then Sarah peed on it...yeah to think it actually got worse than that...Someone in CA hacked into our account and spent 1200.00 at Walmart...seriously I just started laughing. I mean kids peeing on cereal and hacker's taking my money what a day!

This picture is an older one of Sarah, our little stinker! Grammie sure loves you Sar!

Good Food & Good People

Hi! Welcome to my latest idea for sharing recipes and stories.
I LOVE good food and good people so I thought this might be
a great place to share both.

So let's get started

Amazingly simple rolls

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 pkg. active dry yeast or 4 1/2 tsp.
2 c. flour

Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl & cut with a pastry cutter.
2 eggs, beat in 2 c. measuring cup, fill cup to 2 cup mark with hot water.
Pour over dry mixture.

Slowly add:
3 c. flour mixing in
Cover. Let Rise 20 min. or until double in or on warm oven.
Pour on floured surface Knead.

Flatten with hands into large pizza shape.
Cut with a pizza cutter into 16 slices.
Roll up from wide end to point. Place in greased
pans leaving space for rolls to double in size.
(can shape like crescent or lay on side where swirl shows.)
Cover, let rise in warm oven at least 20 min. or on warm oven until double.
Remove from oven. Preheat oven to 375.
Bake 20-30 min. depending on how dark you prefer.
Immediately brush with butter.
Yields 16 rolls in 2- 9x13 pans.