Cathy's Brownies

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
2 t. vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/3 cup flour (6.7 oz.)
3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup chopped nuts optional
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

Cream sugar and butter.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix.  In a separate bowl mix cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt.  Add to wet ingredients and mix.  Spread in a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup

4-5 cups potatoes peeled and diced
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1-2 cups chopped ham
2 cans chicken broth
ham consomme if you have it
1/2 t. black pepper
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
4 cups milk
1 can of corn
1 cup of shredded cheese
carrots?

1.  Boil potatoes in salted water
2. Heat celery, onion, ham, consomme, pepper, corn and chicken broth in big pot
3. Add boiled potatoes
4.  In a pan melt butter, add flour, brown, slowly add milk
5. Bring roux to a low boil and boil for one minute until thick
6. Add cheese until melted
7.  Add the cheese sauce to the soup.

Braided Bread

1/2 cup warm water
2 pkg yeast
dissolve
1 1/2 cups luke warm milk
scald milk
add:
1/2 c sugar
2 tsp. salt
let cool
add 2 eggs and mix
1/2 cup soft shortening or margarine
1/2 cup of flour
add in yeast mixture
add 2 cups flour in mixer
move to board and knead in rest of flour until feels right
place in greased bowl covered
rise in warm place until double
punch down (may add 2 Tbs orange or lemon zest or mace or nutmeg
Raise again
Braid and raise once more
Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cinnamon Cake

1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup sugar
Cream together
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 t. lemon juice
Mix
2 cups flour
1 t. baking soda
Mix
1 cup sour cream
Mix

  Sprinkle the following mixture on top, then swirl in.
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 t. cinnamon
1/2 cups chopped nuts
Mix into a crumble mixture

Use a bundt or 9x13
Bake 350 degrees fro 30-40 minutes.

Bran Muffins

2 cups All Bran Cereal
1 cup boiling water

Stir and let stand

Cream:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Splenda
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs

Add:
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (white flour also works)
2 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 cup All Bran cereal
2 cups buttermilk (or milk with lemon or vinegar)

Add cereal and water mixture

Optional:
raisins
almonds
oatmeal
coconut
chocolate chips

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes
Batter will last in fridge for 6 weeks.

Christmas Tree Bread

2 c. warm water
1/3 c. sugar
2 pkg. yeast
wait until yeast is dissolved
with mixer beat:
3 eggs
1/3 cup margarine, melted
add 2 cups flour
2 t. salt
yeast mixture
Beat well, then gradually add
4 1/2-5 c. flour.  Should be sticky
Beat with bread hooks.  Let rest 20 minutes
Roll out dough into large rectangle.  Slice very cold butter and place on middle third of rectangle.  Fold one side over and repeat butter slices.  Fold the other third over and seal the edges.  Roll out and fold several times.  Repeat.  Use 2-3 cubes.  Place in covered container in fridge until ready to use, at least one half hour.  Roll dough out and cut into Triangle for base.  Use a doughnut cutter, and place the rounds in rows on the tree, and cut a star for the top, and a base for the tree.  let rise and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.  Watch carefully.  When barely warm, fill circles with red jelly and serve.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

1 pkg. fresh spinach
1/4 lb. strawberries sliced
1 small red onion sliced into rings
1/2 cup almond slivers (optional)

Dressing:
1/4 cup oil
3 T red wine vinegar or rice vinegar
2 T sugar or splenda
1 1/2 t. poppy seeds
1/2 t. dry mustard
1/2 t. salt