Apple Julep

1 qt unsweetened apple juice
1 c unsweetened pineapple juice
1 c orange juice
1/4 c lemon juice
Fresh mint spigs

Combine first 4 ingredients with ice cubes; mix well. Garnish serving with mint. Yields: 6-1/4 cups

This is a very refreshing drink and easy to make. They serve this at The Apple Barn in Tennessee.

Sticky Buns

2 pkgs. refrigerated biscuits(the small size/not Grands)
3/4 c white sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
3/4 stick butter
1/2 c brown sugar
chopped nuts, optional

Grease a pie pan. Open biscuit tube and separate biscuits. Roll each biscuit into a ball. Roll the biscuit ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated. Place in pie pan. Continue...until all biscuit balls are in pie pan. Melt butter in a small saucepan and add brown sugar. Cook over medium heat until brown sugar is dissolved. Pour over biscuit balls. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until lightly brown. Add chopped nuts the last 5 minutes of baking. Enjoy!

My aunt Debbie use to make a similar version of this called Monkey Bread. It is warm, gooey, delicious and comforting. Serve warm and enjoy!

Banana Split Dessert Pie

1 large ready made graham cracker pie crust (10 serving)
2 sticks softened butter
2 eggs
2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 large bananas, sliced
1 (16oz) can crushed pineapple, drain juice
1 container Cool Whip
Hot Fudge Sauce
Maraschino cherries

Combine softened butter, eggs, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until firm. Spread over graham cracker crust. Slice bananas and place on pie next. Place drained pineapple on top of banana slices. Spread Cool Whip over fruit layer. Top with drizzled hot fudge sauce and maraschino cherries. Chill until ready to serve.

I made this dessert for New Year's Day and everyone loved it. This is a really simple recipe and tastes heavenly.

The Best Banana Bread

3 1/2 c flour
2/3 c sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 beaten eggs
1 c milk
1/2 c cooking oil
1 1/2 c mashed banana
1 c nuts, pecans or walnuts
1 c shredded coconut
Streusel topping, optional

Streusel Topping

3/4 c flour
3/4 c brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 stick of butter

Mix flour, brown sugar and cinnamon together and then cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.



1. Grease your loaf pans; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.

3. In another bowl combine eggs, milk and oil. Add egg mixture, coconut, banana and nuts all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).

4. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle streusel topping over batter. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out of center clean.


This is one of the best recipes I've come up with for banana bread. The Streusel topping really takes it over the edge in a wonderful way!

Challah Bread

2/3 c water
2 eggs
2 TBL vegetable oil
2 TBL sugar
1 tsp salt
3-3 1/4 c bread flour
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1 egg, beaten for glaze
poppy seeds, optional

Using the dough cycle on your bread machine, put the above ingredients in the order they appear above. Start your dough cycle. When dough cycle is complete, remove dough from your machine and divide into 3 pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 14 inches long and braid on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for about 45 minutes. Brush top with egg glaze and sprinkle with poppy seeds, if you desire. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 45 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!

*Challah is a very light and wonderful tasting bread. The dough is somewhat moist and you should add only enough flour to prevent sticking, either while in machine or after the dough has been removed.*

Homemade Chicken Salad

1-1/2 cup chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup chopped celery ( 1 stalk)
1/4 cup chopped onions or sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup grapes (optional)
1/3 cup mayo or Miracle Whip
1 TBL lemon juice
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a medium bowl combine chicken, celery, onions, walnuts and grapes. For dressing, stir together mayo, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Pour over chicken mixture; toss to coat. Cover and chill for 1 to 4 hours. If you want it creamier, just add more mayo or Miracle Whip. Serve on fresh bread of your choice or over a mixed green salad for a light lunch.

Here are some variations for this recipe:

Curried Chicken Salad

Prepare as above and add 1 to 2 tsp curry powder or paste. Before serving, stir in 2 TBL toasted cashews or almonds.

BBQ Chicken Salad

Prepare as above, except reduce mayo to 1/4 cup and add 1/4 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce....you can also eliminate the mayo and just use 1/2 cup BBQ sauce.

Turkey Salad

Prepare as above, except use turkey instead of chicken.

Ham Salad

Prepare as above, except use finely chopped ham instead of chicken and eliminate the salt.

Orange-Glazed Beets

1 16-ounce can sliced beets, drained
1 TBL butter
1 TBL brown sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp finely shredded orange peel
1/4 cup orange juice

Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in brown sugar and cornstarch. Stir in orange peel and orange juice. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Cook for 2 minutes more. Stir in beats and heat thoroughly.

I just love red beets. This recipe gives a fresh and citrus taste to an already delicious vegetable. This is a great recipe for the holidays and simple.

Green Beans Supreme

6 cups frozen cut green beans or 3 cans green beans, drained (14 oz cans)

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 TBL butter

1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream

2 TBL all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup dry bread crumbs or crumbled Ritz crackers

1 TBL butter, melted

If using frozen green beans, cooked about 4 minutes in boiling water and drain.

In a small saucepan, cook onion in 1 TBl butter until tender. In a large bowl, stir together sour cream, flour, lemon peel and pepper; stir in cooked or canned beans and onion. Transfer mix to a 2 qt baking dish. Top with cheese. Combine bread or cracker crumbs and 1 TBl melted butter; sprinkle over cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

This is a Best Loved recipes from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. I really liked this recipe, because it tasted fresh and not as rich and creamy as your traditional green bean casserole. The sour cream and lemon peel really work well with the green beans.

Alice Shoreman's Shrimp Soup

2 sticks unsalted butter
5 carrots, grated
1 cup celery leaves, shredded
3 stalks leek, chopped
3 fish bouillon cubes
3 cups boiling water
1-1/2-2 lbs fresh shrimp (cut into small pieces)
15 shakes fish grille & saute' seasoning
1/2 cup flour
3 pints light cream or 1 pint heavy cream
3 cups regular milk


Melt butter in heavy, large saucepan. Add carrots, celery and leeks and saute' until tender. Add shrimp and cook until shrimp is pink. Add flour and stir. Add bouillon cubes, which have been dissolved in boiling water. Add seasoning. To finish the soup, add the light cream and the milk. Heat thoroughly. Serve hot with fresh crusty bread.



People...let me tell you...you will just have to hold your diets until after you eat this unbelievable soup. This soup is full flavored, rich, creamy, delicious and NOT low fat...but once you taste it...who cares! I'm sure your weight watchers points would go off the chart with this soup, but it is worth it. Alice is a lady who goes to our church and she is a wonderful cook. I have never had anything of hers that wasn't short of a miracle. :) This soup will impress and warm your heart and your guests. Enjoy...I KNOW you will!

CMP Sanwich Cookies

Ritz crackers
peanut butter
marshmallow fluff
Milk Chocolate melting wafers

Take 1 cracker and spread it with peanut butter. Take another cracker and spread it with marshmallow fluff. Sandwich the 2 crackers together and dip into melted chocolate wafers. Put on wax paper until set.

OK...another quick and easy cookie recipe. My boys love these cookies and enjoy helping to make them. You can make any amount you like and they will disappear quickly.

Another quick and easy variation of these cookies: Take the Ritz cracker and dip into melted chocolate wafers with a few drops of peppermint extract in it. These cookies taste identical to the Girls Scout's Thin Mints.

You may also use baking chocolate or chocolate chips, but the melting wafers are quick and easy in the microwave.