Easy Butter Cookies

Our cookie jar is empty.... GASP!

It's never happened before but I think me being a little under the weather, I didn't pay attention to it, so I'm refilling it with some quick and easy butter cookies.

EASY BUTTER COOKIES

1 stick of butter (may use margirine)
1 cup flour
5 tablespoons of sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Mix ingredients together and roll into balls.
Press down with a fork.
Sprinkle a little sugar on top of each cookie.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Green Chili Stew!

So good served with a slice of hot out of the oven bread and slathered on with some homemade butter. Enjoy!

Green Chili Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies
• 1 cup water
• 3 beef bouillon cubes
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, optional

Directions:

In a large skillet, brown beef and onions in oil; drain. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker.
Combine the beans, tomatoes, chilies, water, bouillon, garlic, sugar, salt if desired and pepper; pour over beef. cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until beef is tender. Sprinkle with cheese if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

Amish White Bread!

Amish White Bread Recipe

2 cups warm water (110F)
2/3 cups white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups white flour

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in the warm water, add yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam, about 10 minutes.

2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Work in 6 cups of flour.

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in well oiled bowl, and turn once to coat the entire surface of the dough with oil. Cover with a clean damp cotton cloth. Allow dough to rise until double in size. (Mine took about an hour).

3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves and place into well oiled 9x5 loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes.

4. Bake in a 350F oven for 30 minutes. When you thump the top of the bread it should sound hollow.

For a buttery crust, brush hot loaves with butter. Cool on a rack and enjoy!

Homemade Maple Syrup!

There's nothing like pancakes or waffles with maple syrup, but it's even better when it's homemade maple syrup.

Quick and simple and my family actually prefers this one to the store bought which is good for me, I never have to spend money on those. :)

Homemade Maple Syrup

1-3/4 c white sugar

1/4 c brown sugar

1 c water

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. maple extract

Mix the white and brown sugar with the water, bring to a boil.

Cover and cook for about a minute.

Add the vanilla and maple, mix well and let cool.

This syrup does not need refrigeration. I just use a cute little glass bottle for mine.

Strawberry Bread!

I know, I know, what is that right? Usually it's lemon bread or banana bread, but if you've never had strawberry bread you have no idea what you're missing out on, and since I like you and would never dream of keeping something this good from you, I'm posting the recipe and then you can go forth and conquer the Strawberry World. 

I usually make loaves, but this time I made one loaf and then a bunch of muffins. YUM! And no this final result picture is not mine, I kinda sort maybe forgot to get a pic of mine before it was inhaled by the family LOL 

 

Strawberry bread

 

2 cups of sliced strawberries

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1/4 cup melted margarine

1/4 cup applesauce

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×5x3″ loaf pan.  Place the strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of sugar.

In a large bowl, blend together the remaining sugar, the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until foamy before beating in the margarine and the applesauce. Stir in the strawberries. Combine the two mixtures, blending until the dry ingredients are moistened.

 

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden. Remove from the oven and cool the pan on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes before removing the loaf from the pan.