Darcie's Layered Taco Dip

 
For a quick recipe when company comes, you can't get any easier than this.

Darcie's Layered Taco Dip

Line a plate or pie pan with aluminum foil.
In order given, layer the following ingredients:
8 ounces sour cream
1 jar your favorite taco salsa
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
1-2 green onions, chopped

Chill until use, then serve with tortilla chips.

Tips: You can add sliced black olives, shredded lettuce, and even jalapenos to this dip.

Darcie's Sauerkraut Salad

                                                             
Darcie is married to cousin Jerry and they have two sons,Chris and Nick. Darcie enjoys family and friends and wanted to share a few of her recipes.This one is a nice change of pace from regular slaw and will keep well in the fridge for a couple of weeks as the vinegar acts as a preservative. This can also be frozen and brought out later for use when needed.

Darcie's Sauerkraut Salad

1 pound 11 ounce can of sauerkraut, drained
2 cups celery, chopped fine
1 cup green pepper, chopped fine*
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil*
1/2 cup apple cider vinegat (unpasteurized, like Bragg's)*

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, cover and marinate overnight. Stir before serving.

* You can use a mixture of green, yellow, and red peppers.
* The original recipe just called for 'oil' but I am adding a healthy oil.
* The original recipe just called for 'vinegar' and I am adding a healthy alternative.
** 1/2-3/4 cup finely chopped onions or scallions can be added to this salad, if you like.You can also shred some carrot for more color and vitamin content.

Jill Matheson's Cherry Bread

                                                                    
This recipe came from my uncle's wife who shared it with me almost 20 years ago. Oh my gosh! I made this and it is fabulous! The next time I make it, I may experiment and add a cherry glaze over the top made of powdered sugar, cherry juice, and a drop of almond flavoring, but it is delicious just as it is. It is addictive. I highly recommend making this!


Jill Matheson's Cherry Bread

2 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 jar (10 ounces) maraschino cherries, drained, reserve juice, and quarter cherries
Orange juice

1 stick butter, softened*
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2-2/3 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

In small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
Drain the cherries, reserving the juice in a 1 cup liquid measure, adding enough orange juice to make 2/3 cup; set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the juice until well-blended. Fold in the chopped cherries and nuts. Grease and flour a 9" x 5" loaf pan (or two 8" x 4" pans) and pour in batter, smoothing top. Sprinkle top with sugar. Bake at 325 degrees for 60 to 75 minutes, or till tests done with a toothpick.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack and let cool completely. Freezes well.

* Original recipe called for margarine, but I changed to make it more healthy.

Jill Matheson's Honey BBQ Wings

                                                                  
Jill is married to my uncle Jerry, and she enjoys cooking for him and her two sons, who are now grown. She shared this recipe with me and it is really good!

Jill's Honey BBQ Wings

20 chicken wings
2 cups oil*
2 cups flour (unbleached)
2 Tbls. Lawry's Seasoned Salt
2 Tbls. Mrs. Dash (Regular season)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1- 18 ounce bottle Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce*
1/4 cup honey

Mix all dry ingredients in large Ziploc bag; set aside.
Put 2 cups oil in large frying pan, heat on medium heat till hot (350 degrees).
Shake 4-6 wings at a time in flour mixture and fry in hot oil till crispy.
Place wings in large casserole dish with lid or use foil.
Combine BBQ sauce and honey, then brush over wings. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes covered, then uncover and bake another 30 minutes. Serve with favorite foods.

* Use a safe oil such as virgin Palm oil for the frying.
*Avoid high fructose corn syrup by using a brand that does not contain HFCS or use a homemade version.

Lulu's Banana Split Cake

                                                              
This recipe was given to Lulu by her late mother-in-law, Anita Clark, who was a fabulous cook. This is rich, delicious, and sure to get raves.

Lulu's Banana Split Cake

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter*
1 cup (2 sticks) butter*
2 eggs**
16 ounces powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
16 ounces crushed pineapple in its own juice
4 bananas***
1- 8 ounce whipped topping****
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Maraschino cherries (optional)

Combine graham cracker crumbs with 1/2 cup melted butter, and press in bottom of 9" x 13" pan.
Cream 1 cup butter, 2 eggs, sugar, and vanilla and spread over crust.
Drain pineapple, reserving juice to drink, and spread pineapple over creamed mixture. Slice 4 bananas over pineapple.  Spread whipped topping over top and sprinkle with nuts. Add a few maraschino cherries if used.
Chill 8 hours before serving.

*Original recipe called for using 1 cup margarine, but to make this heart healthy I've replaced with butter.
** Do NOT use store-bought eggs raw. For this recipe use farm fresh eggs to greatly reduce possibility of salmonella
***Dip bananas in fresh lemon juice to reduce incidence of browning and keep fresh looking before adding to the cake.
****Original recipe called for Cool Whip, but a better alternative would be to whip your own cream or use Reddi Whip.

Lulu's Death By Chocolate

                                                                   
YUM! The name says it all.

Lulu's Death By Chocolate

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 large can chocolate pudding
1 large tub chocolate whipped cream (Cool Whip) or use regular Cool Whip
6 Heath bars, crushed

Make cake mx according to box, let cool.
In large casserole or trifle dish, start with cake by crumbling 1/4 of cake and then layer 1/4 of pudding, 1/4 of whipped topping, and 1/4 of Heath bars. Continue to layer like this till done. Refrigerate till cool, about 4-8 hours.

Tips: You can make your own cake.
         Use instant pudding made with milk for better taste.
         Use chocolate Reddi Whip for real whipped cream.

Lulu's Mexican Dip

                                                                   
Lulu's Mexican Dip
(Given to her by Robyn)

1- 8 ounce pkg cream cheese
8 ounces sour cream
1 can refried beans
1 jar mild taco sauce
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

In 9" x 5" casserole dish, layer ingredients in order given. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. You can layer any vegetables you want on top. Serve with tortilla chips.