Baking Basics

Unless otherwise noted, when baking (this does NOT count for yeast breads)...
1.  Cream together butter (fat) and sugar
2.  Mix in eggs
3.  Add in wet ingredients
4.  Finally sift together dry ingredients and add them to the wet mixture.

*For cakes from scratch alternate the wet and dry... for example a chocolate cake will have the sifted dry ingredients and will likely call for a cup of boiling water - start by adding a little of the dry mixture then add about half the water, then the dry mixture, the rest of the water and then end with the dry mixture - mixing between each addition.

Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cookies

1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
3 eggs
2 c. applesauce
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
4 c. flour

Cream together sugar and shortening, mix in eggs, then mix in applesauce.  Sift together dry ingredients and add to wet mixture.

Drop with two spoons onto cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes, depending on cookie sheet and oven.

Texas Beans

4 sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 c. chopped onions
2 cans pork & beans
2 cans chili con carne (with beans)
2 cans kidney beans (rinsed)
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. chili sauce (whole bottle)
2 c. cooked, cubed chicken (optional)

Bake covered 350 for 30 min.

Quick version
On stove top combine everything... skip bacon, onions, and chicken.  Warm through.

Banana Bread

1 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. mashed bananas (3)
1 1/2 tsp. sour milk
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Milk together shortening and sugar, add in eggs and mix.  Add bananas, mix, add milk and lemon juice.  Sift together all the dry ingredients and then add to wet mixture.  Bake in greased bread pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

California Salad

2 cans mandarin oranges (drained)
2 c. coconut
2 c. (1 large can) pineapple tidbits (drained)
2 c. marshmallows
2 c. (1 pint) sour cream

Mix together all ingredients. Refrigerate over night.

Grandma's Pound Cake

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. almond extract
4 eggs

With hand mixer, beat together sugar and oil, beat in eggs until light yellow. Mix in extracts and buttermilk. Finally add dry ingredients.  Pour into a greased tube pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Pancakes

1 egg
1 c. flour
3/4 c. milk
2 Tbl. oil
1 Tbl. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix all ingredients well, for thinner batter add more milk.  Perfect batch for 2 people.

Variations
Apple Cinnammon
decrease milk to 1/2c.
1/2 c. applesauce
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Banana Nut
1 medium banana mashed
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
dash of cinnamon
1/4 - 1/2 c. chopped nuts

Blueberry
1/2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Meatballs
1 lb. raw hamburger
1/2 c. oatmeal
1 egg
1 Tbl. minced onion
3/4 tsp. salt & pepper
1 tsp. worcheshire sauce
1/3 c. milk
Mix and roll into balls, place in a 9x13 baking dish.

Sauce
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. vinegar
1 tsp. mustard pwd
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
1 tsp. worcheshire sauce
Mix ingredients well and pour over meatballs.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Serve over rice.

Earthquake Cake

2/3 c. nuts
2/3 c. chocolate chips
2/3 c. coconut
layer in bottom of 9x13 pan
prepare german cake mix as directed on box
(1/3 c. oil
3 eggs
1 1/3 c. water)
Mix and pour on top of nuts, chips & coconut
8 oz. cream cheese
1 stick butter
Melt over low heat, whisk in 1 lb. powdered sugar, pour in ribbon design over cake.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

** Ingredients in Blue