Pup Cakes

A treat for man's best friend. See Spot run to the kitchen!

• 1-1/4 c. rolled oats
• 1 c. buttermilk
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ginger
• 1 lg. egg
• 1/4 c. honey
• 1/2 c. butter, melted
• 1/3 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 c. flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Combine the oats, buttermilk and spices in a large bowl and let sit for one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Meanwhile, line with mini cupcake papers, a 24-mini muffin tin.

Add all other ingredients to oat mixture, and stir to combine.

Scoop the batter into the muffin tins and bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and firm.

Diced Chicken and Noodles

• 4 c. cooked chicken, diced
• 8 c. chicken broth
• 1 c. diced celery
• 1/3 c. finely minced onion
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 c. thick egg noodles, broken into pieces

In a large soup pot, combine the chicken, celery, onion, salt, pepper, thyme and garlic. Pour chicken broth over. Taste and adjust seasonings. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add uncooked noodles to boiling chicken broth. Boil lightly until noodles are tender, 20 minutes.  Serves 6.

Boiled Cabbage

• 1 med. head cabbage
• 4 slices bacon fried crisp and crumbled -OR-
• 3 T. butter
• salt and pepper, to taste

Cut the cabbage into narrow wedges. Place in soup kettle with a generous amount of water. Cook, uncovered, until fork-tender. Drain. Season with bacon or butter. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Serve hot. 6 servings.

Oven Beef Stew

• 3 T. butter
• 1 med. onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-1/2 lb. lean stew beef, cubed
• 1/2 c. flour
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 1/2 c. celery, diced
• 2 lg. carrots, peeled and cubed
• 2 lg. potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 c. beef broth

Preheat oven to 350.

Heat butter in a a large skillet and saute the onion and garlic until just tender. Remove and set aside.

Dredge the cubes of meat in the flour which has been seasoned with salt and pepper.  Add to the skillet and brown in the butter. Use more butter if needed, but not too much, or the stew will be greasy.

Layer the rare meat, onions, garlic and vegetables in a large covered casserole dish; salting and peppering as desired between layers. Pour the broth over all, adding more water if needed so that the layers are almost completely covered.

Cover casserole and bake until meat and vegetables are tender; about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

Great Grandma's Brown Sugar Prune Cake

• 1/2 c. butter, softened
• 1-1/2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 eggs, beaten to a froth
• 1/2 c. chopped prunes (softened in hot water)
• 1-1/2 c. flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Dash cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. allspice
• Pinch cloves
• 2/3 c. buttermilk
• 1/2 c. pecans, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350. Thoroughly grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs, then stir in prunes.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Alternately add flour mixture with buttermilk to the creamed mixture. Fold in pecans, then pour the batter into prepared pan.

Bake for about 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center comes away clean. Serve warm or cold with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream.

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Date Bars

• 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 3/4 c. whole-wheat flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• Pinch of cloves
• 1/2 c. butter, softened
• 3/4 c. honey
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 c. milk
• 1 c. quick oats
• 1-1/2 c. pitted, chopped dates
• 1-1/2 c. coarsely chopped walnuts
• Powdered sugar, to dust

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease a 13 X 9-inch pan.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flours, baking powder, soda and spices; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat butter with the honey until fluffy. Add eggs and continue beating. Stir in the milk, then the flour mixture just until ingredients are combined. Fold in oats, dates and walnuts. Turn out into prepared pan.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes away clean. Remove from oven onto a wire rack to cool. Dust with powdered sugar while still warm. Makes 36 small bars.

Medium White Sauce

• 2 T. butter
• 2 T. flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 c. milk

Melt butter in saucepan; stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until mixture begins to bubble. Gradually stir in the milk until mixture is smooth and thickened.  Makes 1 cup. Double recipe as needed.