Pumpkin Bread

1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp. shortening

1/2 C. sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup (9 oz.) pumpkin (use dry measuring cup to spoon in and level off)

1 3/4 c. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. cloves

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 C. cold water

½ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease pans liberally with shortening and coat with flour.

2. Cream shortening and sugar together.

3. Add eggs and pumpkin. Mix together.

4. Measure dry ingredients into a bowl. Stir to combine.

5. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, alternately with water.

6. Stir in chocolate chips.

7. Pour into prepared pans.

8. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

9. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a rack for another 10 minutes before slicing.

Pineapple-Ham Fried Rice

4 eggs, beaten 2 (or more) whole green onions, thinly sliced

1 tsp. garlic powder 2 tsp. oil

1/2 tsp. salt 4 C. cooked rice

2 Tbsp. butter 4 tsp. soy sauce

2 slices ham, chopped 1 can (20 oz.) pineapple tidbits, drained

1. Beat the eggs and add garlic powder.

2. Heat a skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, melt the butter.

3. Add the eggs, and allow them to cook until the bottom is set. (See step #4 below. You are not scrambling the eggs). Continue cooking the eggs until they are done, but not dry.

4. Cool the eggs, then remove them to a plate, and cut them into small pieces.

5. Chop the ham into small pieces.

6. Clean, then thinly slice the onions and half the green stem.

7. Put the oil in the skillet and place it over medium heat.

8. Add the green onions, rice, ham, pineapple, salt, egg, and soy sauce. Stir fry until everything is heated through, being careful to not over-stir.

9. Serve with additional soy sauce.

Ziploc Fudge

2 oz. cream cheese - (1 T.) 1/4 C. margarine - (1T.)

3 C. powdered sugar - (3/4 C.) 1/4 C. cocoa - (1T.)

1. Measure ingredients in a 1 gallon freezer zip-lock bag. Push the air out of the bag and seal well.

2. Squish the mixture to mix well. It will be dry at first, but will soon become fudge. It will take about 20 minutes of work.

3. Slit the sides of the zip-lock bag and roll the fudge between the plastic of the zip-lock bag to ½ inch (the thickness of a DVD case) and cut into squares for easy serving.

4. You may press in chopped nuts or coconut.

Tuna Melt Sandwiches

1 (6 oz.) can tuna, drained 2 oz. cheddar cheese, in 1/4" cubes

1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 C. sweet pickle relish

1 hard cooked egg, diced 12 slices bread

1. To prepare egg: Place room temperature egg (if egg is from refrigerator, you can run warm water over egg to warm it) in a pan with enough cold water to cover egg completely (approximately by 1 1/2 inches). Bring the water to a boil, remove from heat, cover tightly with a lid, and allow to remain in the water approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

2. Combine filling ingredients. Mix well.

3. Spread equally on 6 slices of bread. Top with remaining bread.

4. Spread a small amount of butter on the outside of the bread. Cook in a sandwich maker or an electric skillet, turning, until both sides are golden brown and cheese is melted.

Chicken Crepes

1 C. flour

2 eggs

½ C. milk

½ C. water

¼ tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine

*Measure the flour and liquid carefully, because the consistency is important.

The batter should be about the consistency of thick heavy cream.

1. Place ingredients in your blender in the order given. Blend 30 seconds. Stop and stir down the sides. Blend 30 to 60 seconds more, until smooth. Or Using a whisk or mixer, combine flour and eggs in a bowl. Add liquid gradually. Beat until smooth. Add other ingredients and mix.

2. Cook, using a crepe maker, or oiled crepe (omelet) pan. Stir batter between making each crepe.

Filling:

1 C. sour cream 2 whole thinly sliced green onion

1 can cream of chicken soup 1/4 C. finely chopped celery

1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced 2 C. diced, cooked chicken (1 lb. raw)

1/4 C. sliced black olives (sm. can)

3. To prepare chicken: trim fat from chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Heat oil in frying pan on medium-high heat. Saute chicken pieces in oil (1 Tbsp.) until no longer pink.

4. Sanitize your counter top so that you can line up the cooked crepes to fill them equally. Combine ingredients, then fill crepes. Put filled crepes in greased glass 9x13 pan. Cover with plastic wrap, vent corner and place in microwave and cook on high for 10 minutes. (This jump starts the heating process. At home you may cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.)

5. Remove plastic and bake in conventional oven (325 degrees) for 10-15 minutes until heated through.

Topping:

1 cup grated cheese

6. Remove from oven and sprinkle on 1 C. grated cheese.

7. Bake 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted.

Note: You may make shells and filling the night before, but don’t stuff them until the morning of the day

you are going to use them. You may bake ahead, cover with aluminum foil, and reheat, if necessary.