Thursday, April 16, 2009

Aunt Sula's Gumdrop Cookies









Aunt Sula’s Gumdrop Cookies

¾ cup Crisco
½ cup brown sugar
¾ cup sugar
1 T. vanilla
2 T. milk or cream
1 egg
1 ¾ plus 2 T. all-purpose flour (keep 2 T. flour separate)
1 tsp. salt
¾ tsp. baking soda
1 cup small gumdrops (cut gumdrops in half)
½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired

Instructions

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut gumdrops and dredge in two T. flour. Cream: shortening, brown sugar, sugar, milk (or cream) and vanilla in large bowl. Blend until creamy. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture, gradually. Stir in gumdrops and nuts. Drop rounded measuring tablespoonfuls of dough 3" apart on greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. –( DO NOT OVERBAKE), Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes. Remove to cooling rack. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!


Cheryl

(Again, sorry I didn't get this posted sooner!)


Wednesday, April 15, 2009

"Kids In the Kitchen" Goes to College!



Okay, I haven’t had the opportunity to check in here for a few days, for that I apologize. And I am really sorry that I haven’t posted the gumdrop cookie recipe. We’ve had a lot going on with the holiday and all.

Last Saturday, we were scheduled to provide a petting zoo for a church family picnic/egg hunt at Newcastle, Oklahoma. We were ready to load up when we discovered something had happened to the transmission fluid in the van we were taking! We did end up going, but without animals.

Of course, Sunday was Resurrection Day and we had a lot of company throughout the day. Then Monday I became ill (gall bladder didn’t care for what I had eaten!). So now, I am recuperating and beginning to feel much better.

I do have news!! This summer we will be teaching “Kids In the Kitchen” at ECU (East Central University) through their Continuing Education Department. We are very excited at being excepted and will be posting updates concerning the class from time to time.

This is also ECU’s Centennial celebration, 1909 ~ 2009. So, we are excited to be a part of the Centennial activities and hope to be able to contribute something special during this time.

I will try to be back to post something “good” in a day or two. For now, food doesn’t sound all that great. I’m sure I will recover shortly!

‘Til next time,
Cheryl

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Memories & Cookies



When I was a young girl, I would spend summers with my great-aunt and uncle on their farm north of Okemah, Oklahoma. We passed by Okemah yesterday on the way to Tulsa. Anytime, I am in that part of the state, it stirs up a lot of memories.

Aunt Sula was the best cook.....ever! One of my favorites was her Gumdrop Cookies. Later today, I am going to find her recipe and post it. It is awesome!

Check back after a bit.

Hugs!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

BTW ~ Minor Mishap Today


Miss Mac decided on her own to feed the horses. She tries to take care of everything when she is here. After all, someone has to do it!

Three of the boys came running into the house, "Do you know Michaela did?".....(No, but they didn't give me time to say that.)

"She stuck her hand in the horse's mouth!!"....I was cooking, but by this time, I am heading for the door. "Is she alright?"

"Yeah, he didn't bite her or nothing. Can we have a sandwich?"

"No, I'm trying to cook right now."

The horse Michaela decided to give a little "treat" to, was the stud.....but evidently, she has him wrapped around her finger like the rest of us!

She came in and told me all about it. She was quite pleased with herself. Such sass!

Sandlot and S'mores



One of the grandkids' favorite movies is "Sandlot." You don't even want to know how many times I've watched this movie!

With the movie, comes the question, "When are we going to make S'mores again, Mamaw?" Usually, my answer is the same, "When I pickup the stuff." By "stuff" that would mean having to have chocolate. Chocolate doesn't keep well at my house, but that's another story!

If you have never made S'mores with your family, get ready for a real treat!

S'Mores

You will need Graham Crackers, Hershey (plain) Candy Bars, and Marshmallows (the regular size).

Break the Graham Crackers in half. Place a square of the Hershey Bar on top of the Graham Cracker. Roast Marshmallow over a fire (or if you are desperate, place on fork and brown over the burner on your gas cook stove....if you are all electric, you'll have to wait until you can build a fire outside.....don't try it over a candle as they did in the movie!) Once your Marshmallow is a nice golden brown, place on top of the candy and cover with the remaining half of Graham Cracker.

Enjoy! Gooey...Yummy....want s'more?

Saturday, April 4, 2009



This is Michaela Shelby ~ three years old ~ full of zip and vinegar (as my greataunt would have said). And she would be right! Papaw has dubbed her "Mac."

Mac is going to help me cook tomorrow. That should prove interesting/challenging; one of the two. She stayed busy today making mud pies. Maybe that's what we'll have for Sunday dinner tomorrow. Wanta come eat with us?

Easy Tiramisu for Two

(Don't ask me to pronounce that! You know, I can't!)

My friend, Shelley, sent me this recipe. It sounded so good and was so easy, I thought we would include it in the "Kids In the Kitchen" Collection, but you can try it now! Enjoy!

Easy Tiramisu for Two

8 NILLA Wafers, divided
4 tablespoons hot water
2 teaspoon Instant Coffee
4 (4 ounce) containers JELL-O Vanilla Pudding Snack
1 tsp. instant coffee
1/4 cup thawed light COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
1 Tbsp cocoa powder

Dissolve and stir the coffee into the boiling hot water. Mix the vanilla pudding and the remaining one tsp. of instant coffee together in a small bowl. Brush 6 wafers with coffee mixture. Using parfait glasses , put one nilla wafer in the bottom of the glass , then add pudding and then a layer of cool whip. Add a dusting of cocoa on the cool whip. Repeat another layer of cookie and pudding til you reach the top of the glass , adding the cool whip last. Sprinkle with a dusting of cocoa powder and garnish with a Nilla wafer on the side.