GREEN PEPPER STEAK

1 lb. beef chuck or round, fat trimmed
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 clove garlic
1-1/2 t grated fresh ginger or 1/2 t ground
1/4 cup salad oil
1 cup green onion, thinly sliced
1 cup red or green peppers cut into one-inch squares
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 T cornstarch
1 cup water
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges

With a very sharp knife cut beef across grain into thin strips, 1/8-inch thick.  Combine soy sauce, garlic, ginger.  Add beef.  Toss and set aside while preparing vegetables.  Heat oil in large frying pan or wok.  Add beef and toss over high heat until browned.  Taste meat.  If it is not tender, cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes over low heat.  Turn heat up and add vegetables.  Toss until vegetables are tender crisp, about ten minutes.  Mix cornstarch with water.  Add to pan.  Stir and cook until thickened.  Add tomatoes and heat through.

This is good family fare, pleasant tasting and made with most ingredients you would have on hand anyway.  This is worth a go.

SWEET NIBBLES

2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 t salt
4 cups unsalted freshly popped popcorn
2 cup corn chex
1 cup wheat chex
1 cup rice chex
1 cup salted peanuts

Combine sugar, syrup and salt in small saucepan.  Heat slowly stirring constantly just until sugar disolves.  Remove from hea.  Combine popcorn, cereals, and peanuts in large kettle.  Pour sugar mixture over top.  Toss with wooden spoon until evenly coated.  Cook over medium heat stirring constantly for five minutes or until mixture is very sticky.  Turn out onto two large sheets of buttered foil.  Separate into bite-size pieces with two forks.  Let stand at room temp to cool completely.  Store in a tightly covered container.

This is pretty good.  It is sticky though.  The only problem is you have to buy all 3 Chex flavors and then after making this you're left with those pesky Chex left over, unless you really like them!  Or you could make more party mix.......

BAKED APPLES

Old fashioned baking apples.  Peel top half of six pippin apples.  Remove core.  Place in baking dish.  Combine one cup maple-flavored syrup and two teaspoons grated lemon peel and pour over apples.  Bake at 375 degrees for one hour basting frequently.  Serve warm with ice cream or pour cream.  Serves six.

Well, this is just as you would expect it to be.  It was a great accompaniment for pork instead of traditional applesauce with everyone taking a whole apple.  I don't know that I would knock myself out to make it again though.

GALLIANO (Imitation) Very Good

2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups water
6 t pineapple extract
3 t vanilla extract
1-1/2 t banana extract
1/2 t anise
5 drops yellow food coloring
1 quart vodka

Combine sugar and water in saucepan.  Boil gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.  Remove from heat and measure out 2 cups sugar syrup.  Pour into large container and let cool.  Add all extracts.  Add 1 quart of vodka and food coloring.  Mix thoroughly.  Makes 1-1/2 quarts.

Well, let me first say that she underlined the very good in the title, but most of us found this super, super strong, almost good for a throat elixer or cold medicine.  I couldn't find the pineapple extract, so used pineapple juice.  Also couldn't find banana extract, so I substituted raspberry extract hoping to give it some kind of fruity flair, but I really don't think that would've made a big difference.  This stuff is potent, so much so that my neighbor went to bed after having drank some and doesn't remember much the next day because it knocked her out!  I think it would be better to just stick to Grey Goose Pear or something similar if you want a flavored vodka.

APPLE PIE-CAKE

1/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1 t soda
1 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts
2-1/2 cup apples (sliced)
2 T hot water
1 t vanilla

Add in order given.  Grease and flour pan.  Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.  Single recipe for 8" square pan or large pie pan.  Double recipe for large rectangular baking dish.

This is absolutely delicious.  Warm with whipped cream is the best but also good just cut from the pan and eaten on the go!  She's had a lot of these similar recipes, a few I've made of these cinnamony-type cakes, but this one should replace those.  I'll have to look to see if I've held onto those other ones and just chuck them and use this instead.  Sorry no picture because I had to get a new phone so lost the picture previously taken :(

CHEESECAKE (from Marcia Freedman)

Graham Cracker Crust -
1-1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup melted margarine, and 1 T sugar
Mix and press on bottom of large spring form pan.  Refrigerate.

3 large (8-oz) packages cream cheese
1-3/4 cup sugar
5 whole large eggs
2 large cartons (1-lb size) sour cream
2 T vanilla

Cut cream cheese into small pieces.  Try to let soften an hour ahead of time at room temperature.  Beat with sugar until smooth.  Add eggs one at a time beating well after each.  Add sour cream and vanilla.  Beat very smooth.  Pour into graham cracker crust.

Bake at 375 for 50 minutes.  Shut off oven and leave cake in oven six or seven hours.  Refrigerate for at least 24 hours.  Two days is even better.

This cheesecake is really delicious, smooth and creamy, easy to make.  I will definitely make again.  (Make sure you make this on a day you are going to be able to monitor it when it's in the oven in the off position for all those hours.)  She got this recipe from a neighbor of hers that I used to baby-sit for.

CHEESE OMELET

2 eggs
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper
Dash of garlic powder
1 T margarine
2 T shredded cheddar cheese
Paprika
Chopped parsley

Combine first 4 ingredients in small bowl and stir with fork.  Melt margarine in nonstick skillet.  Pour egg mixture into skillet and tip so egg covers bottom completely.  Shake pan in a circular motion.  When egg is nearly set, sprinkle cheese down middle and one side.  Fold one half over and slide onto plate.  Garnish with paprika and parsley.  Serve immediately.  (Serves one.)

Well, it's an omelet all right.  It's perfectly fine, although I don't think I need a recipe card to remember how to make an omelet, although the garlic powder was a nice touch.