Granola

      
2 ½ cups oats     /    ¼ cup bran or wheat germ

1 packet graham crackers, crushed     /     ½ cup coconut
1 cup sunflower seeds     /     ½ cup cashews ~ chopped
¼ cup chopped walnuts     /    ½ cup brown sugar
½ cup honey      /     ½ c. dates (rolled or regular), chopped
½ cup margarine, melted    /    2 tsp. vanilla
3 tsp. cinnamon    /    ½ tsp. nutmeg     /    ½ tsp. cloves

½ cup raisins; add after cooking

(or they'll turn to hard little pellets!)

  
Preheat oven to 300.  Combine all ingredients except raisins and mix well.  Lightly grease 9" x 13" pan and spread mixture evenly.  Bake for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in raisins.  Spread mixture onto ungreased cookie sheet. Cool.  (Recipe by Barb Shelton)

Carrot or Apple Cake

CAKE: 

2 cups flour     /     ¼ tsp. salt
2 tsp. soda      /     1 ½ cups sugar
2 tsp. baking powder     /     2 tsp. cinnamon
1¼ cups oil    /     3 eggs     /     ½ cup chopped walnuts
3 cups carrot or apple, shredded

(or 1/2 the amount of both apples and carrots)
¼ cup milk
            

Combine dry ingredients. Mix in oil and unbeaten eggs.  Add carrots (or apples), nuts and milk. Bake 30 - 40 minutes at 325.

  
FROSTING:   

1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine  /  8 oz. cream cheese

1 box powdered sugar  /  2 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients, mixing well.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup of walnuts or pecans on top if desired.

(Recipe from Mom (Carolyn) Shelton)

Play Dough

1 cup flour    /    2 tbsp. cooking oil
2 tsp. alum or cream of tartar    /    ½ cup salt
food coloring in desired colors

    
Combine all on very low heat in saucepan.  Cook over very low heat until it forms a ball.  Remove from pan. Store in fridge.

Molasses Cookies
    

 1 cup shortening     /    1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses    /   1 cup warm water

2 tsp. baking soda     /    4½ cups flour 
1 tsp. baking powder     /    1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon     /    ½ tsp. salt
           

Cream shortening and sugar. Add molasses and mix well.  Dissolve soda in water.  Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with the water mixture.  Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet or...  Add more flour (approx. 3/4 cup) to made dough easy to handle.  Roll and cut into desired shapes.  Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes. 

(Recipe from my Mom who got it from Grammy, her mom.)

Chili

6 c. dried red pinto (or kidney) beans (1 2-lb. pkg.)

2 T. margarine  /   1 large onion, chopped   /   1 t. garlic powder

1 ½ lbs. ground beef     /    1 tbs. chili powder 

3 bay leaves     /    2 15-oz cans tomato sauce

5 dried red peppers     /    1 tbs. salt

Wash beans. Cover with cold water plus 1 or 2 inches and soak overnight.  Drain.  Add 1 T. salt and water to cover. Simmer until tender (about 1 hr.)  Drain beans again, saving the liquid.  Brown meat and onion and add to beans.  Add tomato sauce, garlic powder, 1 - 2 c. bean liquid (I use more), chili powder, peppers, bay leaves, 1T. salt.  Simmer, covered, for 1 hour.

Gingerbread Cake

1 cup shortening    /    1 cup sugar

1 egg    /    1 cup molasses    /    ½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon     /     ½ tsp. cloves    /    ¼ tsp. ginger

1 tsp. soda dissolved in 1 cup of coffee

Flour, but not to make it too stiff: about 2½ cups

Cream shortening and sugar.  Add egg, molasses, salt, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Dissolve soda in coffee and add alternately with flour.  Pour into 9X13-inch pan. (Metal pan works best.)  Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.  

 (Recipe from Grammy and then my Mom)