APPLESAUCE-SPICE PUDDING CAKE

1 pkg. (2-layer size)Yellow cake mix
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Vanilla instant pudding mix
4 eggs
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1/4 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in large mixer bowl.  Blend for two minutes.  Pour into greased and floured 10" tube or Bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 50 to 55 minutes.  Cool in pan about 15 minutes before removing.  When cool, glaze with powdered sugar icing with a touch of cinnamon added.

Wow, is this delicious and oh so easy to make, super moist.  I'm definitely going to keep this one!

$100.00 CAKE

2 cups flour
1-1/2 t soda
4T cocoa
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 t baking powder

Mix above ingredients and add:

1 cup cold water
1 cup mayonnaise
2 t vanilla

Bake in greased 7" X 11" pan at 350 for about 40 minutes.  Cool cake and then put on icing.

Icing -
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup margarine
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup milk

Mix all ingredientsand boil 1 minute, stirring.  Cool.  Add 2 t vanilla and spread on cake.

I've been making this cake recipe for years.  It's nothing fancy, but it sure is easy and moist too!  Apparently someone must have won $100 for this recipe in some old contest!

(Untitled recipe from Gloria Haier via Judy)

"I have found that small pieces of chicken are better than larger pieces."

5 T butter
1 small onion chopped
1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms
3 T flour
2/3 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup half and half
2 cups turkey or chicken cooked
1 package frozen artichoke hearts
1/3 cup grated parmesan
1/4 cup crushed rosemary leaves
1/2 t salt
shredded swiss cheese

Melt 2 T butter, saute onion and mushrooms.  Stir in remaining butter untilmelted.  Add flour and cook stirring until bubbly.  Gradually add chicken broth and half and half.  Cook until mixture comes to a boil and thickens stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Add parmesan cheese and salt.  Cool.

Then fill crepes - artichokes, chicken and sauce.  (I add either some cashews or sliced water chestnuts).  Rool and place in flat pan or serving dish.  Put in 375 oven 1/2 hour before time to serve.  Just beforeserving, top with shredded swiss cheese and return to oven until cheese melts.

I took this filling and instead of filling crepes I served it over white rice.  It's a pleasant and filling meal, and since I had that giant jar of artichoke hearts from Costco, this recipe came at just the right time!  Not something I would make again, though.

HOT CHOCOLATE

Austrian Cocoa - dash of cinnamon and nutmeg

Irish cocoa - 1/8 t mint or peppermint extract

Swiss Mocha - 1/2 t instant coffee granules

Italian Capuccino - 1/8 t orange extract

These are okay.  I think the best two were the Austrian and Swiss Mocha.

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.