Aunt Dorothy's Old Fashioned Brownies

These are my Aunt Dorothy's famous Old Fashioned Brownies.

(The next time I make them I'll post a picture)

Printable Recipe

2/3 cup butter
4 (1-oz) squares unsweetened chocolate
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Melt the butter and chocolate in a saucepan and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with an electric mixer until frothy. Gradually add the sugar, beating until well blended and thick. Beat in the cooled chocolate and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt just until combined. Spread in a greased 9 x 13" pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 35 minutes, or until set in the center and browned around the edges. Cool completely on a wire rack. Frost.

Frosting
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
Half & Half - enough added until the right consistency

Mix together until smooth

I store these in the refrigerator. 

Chicken and Dressing

Printable Recipe

3 cups diced, cooked chicken (I use a Rotisserie chicken)
1 (8-oz) package herb-seasoned stuffing mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 (10 3/4-oz) cans cream of chicken soup
approximately 3/4 of a soup can of milk

Spread half of chicken in a greased 3-quart baking dish. In a large bowl, toss dry stuffing mix with melted butter, soup, and milk. Spread half of stuffing mixture over chicken. Add remaining chicken and top with remaining stuffing mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until bubbly and nicely browned.

Mom's Vegetable Beef Soup

Printable Recipe

3 pounds chuck roast, stew meat or thin-cut sirloin steak
salt and pepper
6 cups water
1 can stewed tomatoes
1/3 cup diced onion
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
4 tsp salt
2-3 tsp beef bouillon granules
1/4 tsp chili powder
2 bay leaves
2 1/4 cups tomato juice (18 ounces)
1-pound can diced tomatoes
1 can corn, drained (or can use 1/2 - 3/4 cup frozen corn)
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup diced potatoes
1 small can lima beans, or 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Brown meat slightly in a small amount of oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place in a large stock pot. Add water, stewed tomatoes, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, bouillon, chili powder, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and cover. Turn down heat to low, and simmer on low for 2 hours. Remove meat from broth and cut into small pieces. Strain fat from broth. Add remaining ingredients and cook for another hour on low.

Serve with corn muffins or other crusty bread.

                       

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Recipe adapted from The Crockin' Girls Slow Cookin' Companion: Yummy Recipes from Family, Friends, and Our Crockin' Community

Printable Recipe

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp butter
2 cans cream of chicken soup
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
2 chicken bouillon cubes

1 (10-oz) can refrigerated biscuits
salt and pepper to taste

Put all of the ingredients, except the biscuits into a crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours. Remove chicken and cut into small chunks. Return to crock pot. Stir everything well. Cut biscuits into pieces and place on top of soup mixture. Cover and cook for another hour, or until cooked all the way through. If desired, turn crockpot to high and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

I sprinkled gravy with poultry seasoning and rubbed sage to taste, for additional flavor.  It is not necessary though and is very good with or without it. 

Italian Meatloaf

This is best made in an actual meatloaf pan, so that the grease can drain in the bottom of the pan.  An actual meatloaf pan is larger than a bread-loaf pan, too. You will have to pack the meat in there. If it doesn't all fit, you can form what doesn't fit into a smaller, free-form loaf and bake separately. (So far, I've only made it in a bread-loaf pan, but I do plan to purchase a meatloaf pan, so that the grease will drain on the bottom.) Of coarse, it would not take as long to bake as the larger loaf - just watch the time and take out of the oven, when done. This is very good, and flavorful!

Printable Recipe


2 1/2 pounds ground beef
4 slices bacon (leave raw and chop into pieces - partially freeze first, to make chopping it easier)
1 1/2 cups Italian bread crumbs
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup diced, seeded tomato
1 cup diced green peppers
1 cup diced onions
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp beef bouillon granules
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp tried basil leaves
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves

Topping
1/2 - 1 cup ketchup


Spray a meatloaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, except for the ketchup and mix until combined. Press the meat into the loaf pan and cover with the ketchup. Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 40 - 60 minutes, or until cooked all the way through and top is nicely browned.