July Fourth

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JUST IN TIME FOR THE FOURTH

-BARBECUED LINGUICA “HOT DOGS” WITH HOMEMADE BUNS
-PORTUGUESE WHITE BEANS (BAKED BEANS)
-CLASSIC BEST FOODS POTATO SALAD – MY VERSION

These Portuguese Rolls are the perfect bun for my linguica hot dogs. The ease and success of this recipe will have you and your family smiling.

Another Perry Family Recipe, Portuguese White Baked Beans. About 10 minutes to prep and some hours in the oven and you will see why our family is still talking about this recipe 50 years later. Thank you Margaret. Enjoy, Danny and Leonard!

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Almond Cookies

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Almond Cookies Or Biscuits

Great with Coffee, Tea, Milk, Cheese and Wine

almond cookies

When biscotti became the rage in our part of the country in the early 90’s I had already discovered a close relative mandelbrot. I wasn’t sure what I was eating but I knew I loved it! To me it looked like a version of the biscotti, and come to find out the baking process is very similar. But it stops there. Mandelbrot definitely has a different texture … almost like a very heavy angel food loaf, sliced thin, 1/4 inch or less, and toasted to a crunch.

Have you tried Almondina Cookies? Just amazing! This was my first exposure to mandelbrot. This company has several varieties now but the original is still my favorite. The sad part for me is availability. I can’t always find Almondina in my little city … Occasionally at Cost Plus World Market.

So, today I tried my hand at making them. But while distracted by cat or dog I managed to ruin my batter. Wait! I thought I ruined the batter but finished the recipe so as not to waste the ingredients. My mistake? Instead of folding the flour into the egg whites I beat it all together. This might have added to the denseness. It worked perfectly. My mistake might have been just what I needed to get the perfect outcome. Because they are just as I remember.

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Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

chocolate chip cookies

It was one of those baking myself happy kinda days back then.  The day before had been a 14 hour hospital nightmare, and now my bathroom had a puddle growing across the floor. I need a chocolate fix! But no eggs! That eliminates brownies and cakes. (In those days substituting ingredients was sorta like cheating. Yeah, kinda crazy.) I have chocolate chips! And zip eggs needed for shortbread.

Within 30 minutes all was done … Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies. Just in time! The plumber arrived and I showed him the puddle. He reached down around the base of the toilet and said, “you’ve a leaking gasket … can I use the phone?” Sure (I kinda hesitated … his hands still dripping) … leading him to my kitchen phone. I passed him minutes later on his way back to the leaking gasket … He was eating my cookies right off the serving plate. Nope! The family didn’t get a taste that day.

Since then I’ve made this recipe many times with great results. Always delicious and a perfect change.

And today I always offer cake and cookies to avoid a help yourself kinda situation like this one!

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Candy Bar Cookies

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Candy Bar Cookies

Candy bar cookies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a mystery! Hmmm I don’t recognize the handwriting and the address on the back of the recipe card doesn’t ring a bell. From the city address this looks to be at least 20 years old. If mom had lived there I’d say this was a friend of hers recipe … Mom loves Butterfingers. The mystery probably will go unsolved but thank you whoever you are.

Yep, I did a search for candy bar cookies and while similar recipes … that’s about it. An interesting tidbit … other candy bar cookie recipes give a variety of candy bars to use … even combinations of candy bars. This recipe will accommodate other candy bar choices, too. If you need a change up I’d stay with caramel and nougat candy or chocolate covered peanuts … Baby Ruth for example. I’ll leave these choices to your imagination. No George, maybe not Skittles. But who knows! Not my choice for a cookie though.

candy bar cookies

 

 

 

 

 

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Happy Father’s Day

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Butterscotch Pie

Butterscotch Meringue Pie & Peanut Butter Crust

This repost is for you Dad! His favorite cream pie. He didn’t get to experience the peanut butter cookie crust. And I’m not sure he would enjoy anything other than the tradition crust with his pie.

Click this link for this recipe Butterscotch Meringue Pie-Peanut Butter Crust

 

Happy Fathers Day

Loved cooking for Dad.

Miss You!

 

Blueberry Cake

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Blueberry Cake for Two

Blueberry Cake

Craving something blueberry for dessert? This cake works nicely. Whips up in minutes by hand and within 30 you are enjoying this dessert … warm with a dollop of ice cream.

This old fashioned dessert, sometimes called Blueberry Buckle, can second as a coffee cake. 

I’ve used 2 six ounce ramekins to decrease the baking time. And I really enjoy the look of this individual serving dish.

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Italian Cream Cake

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Italian Cream Cake

Italian Cream Cake

 

 

This is absolutely my favorite cake! There are plenty of decadent cakes I would never turn down but usually one or two bites of these satisfy … not that I stop at that! But with this Italian Cream Cake I find myself wishing I had another piece. It’s a very dangerous cake for me to bake unless it’s going to be eaten up by guests immediately.

If you like German Chocolate Cake, Carrot Cake … And what is the recipe going around recently … Hummingbird Cake … I believe you will like this one. And maybe better!

Enjoy!

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Blueberry Pie

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Blueberry Pie Recipe

 

Fresh blueberries … the choices! Snacking, muffin making, blenderizing … today pie making. Ripe fresh blueberries need little sweetening. In fact, this berry requires so little preparation I’ve decided to devote more time to the crust just for fun.

Blueberry Pie

This is an easy recipe. One the whole family will appreciate this Memorial Day Weekend or anytime.

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Chocolate Brownie

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Five Minute Mix Chocolate Brownie

Chocolate Brownie

This is my go to recipe for a quick homemade chocolate dessert. Rich Moist Chocolate Brownies! It’s so quick and easy. And you probably have everything in your pantry to whip it together.

There may be a box mix for brownies out there that I might like but I haven’t tasted it yet! This is so much cheaper and just as fast! And you can tell it’s homemade!

Once baked add ice cream, creme fraiche, or whipping cream. Or go it naked!

This is a dessert that will please your family or guests. The edges are chewy, my favorite piece, the center is moist and the crust is thin and slightly crunchy. I love nuts! But it can go without and still impress!

 

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Mother’s Day Muffins

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It’s Mother’s Day Muffins

Mother's Day Muffins

Spicy Applesauce Muffins that can be reinvented. I love reinventing! Myself included.

Are you looking forward to Mother’s Day Sunday? Or, are you ambivalent?

Picking a Mother’s Day card for my mother is always difficult. I can’t seem to relate to the verses I find in the majority of Mother’s Day greeting cards. For many years this was a mystery … The ambivalence and struggle for the right card and gift. And I didn’t experience an ‘aha’ moment exactly.  But today the ambivalence about Mother’s Day has gone.

There are so many I appreciate on Mother’s Day, family and friends. My daughter and daughter-in-law, April especially … The young mothers of today. And I love being celebrated by my children.

I chose this recipe because of its simplicity. Breakfast in bed is a favorite treat children put together for mom. This recipe can be done by little hands. Or wrap these muffins in a special baking dish as a lovely gift for a mom.

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