Caramel Corn

Caramel corn is a great sweet treat.
This is an old family recipe. It makes a lot.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees F.

Ingredients:
7-1/2 quarts popped corn- If you use an air popper 2-3 batches will give you the amount you need.
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

In a large pan or dutch oven combine the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt. Bring to a boil, and let it continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda quickly.
Pour the brown sugar mixture over the popcorn and mix well.
Divide the popcorn among 3-4 large baking pans. Put in the oven and stir every 15 minutes. After an hour take it out of the oven and let it cool.

Dutch Apple Bread

This is my grandma's recipe for Dutch Apple Bread.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease an 8"x4" loaf pan

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon sour milk
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup chopped apples
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon orange extract 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping- 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix topping in small bowl and set aside. Cream the shortening and sugar. Add eggs and extracts and blend. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. When
you have it all mixed well, add the apples.
Scrap into the prepared pan and sprinkle with the topping.
Bake for 50-60 minutes or til a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Let rest for 5 minutes before loosening and turning out of the pan.

Super Easy Guacamole!

This is so simple.

Ingredients:
Salsa- up to 1/4 cup, any heat
2 ripe avocados
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt (optional)

Peel and mash the avocados with a fork.Add the lemon juice. A teaspoon at a time, add the salsa. Only add til you get the consistency how you like. Taste and add salt if needed.

Put a piece of plastic wrap right on top of the guacamole and let the flavors meld. Covering it is a must or the avocados will turn a brownish color.
Now grab some chips and dig in.

Yummy Queso Dip

This is a simple dip. You can make it on the stove or in the crockpot. All up to you. I like to do it in the crockpot and keep it on warm once it is done.

Ingredients:

10-1/4 oz. can cream of mushroom condensed soup

16 oz. Velveeta cheese

12 oz. cooked ground sausage. Any kind is good. Italian or breakfast both work.

16 oz. jar of your favorite salsa

On top of stove, or in a crockpot, combine the soup and Velveeta. When cheese is melted add the cooked and crumbled sausage.
Stir til combined and add your salsa. Mix well and heat through.

Best served warm.Great with tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

Blueberry - Banana Bread

If you love banana bread and you love blueberries, here is a delicious combo for you.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Grease the bottom only of 8"x4" or 9"x"5 loaf pan
Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas( 3-4 medium)
1/3 cup water
1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Mix sugar and margarine in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and blend. Add the bananas and water and beat well. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Add the blueberries.
Pour into pan and bake until toothpick comes out clean. An 8" loaf will take about 75 minutes and a 9" loaf will take about 55-60 minutes.
Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Loosen sides of loaf from pan an turn out to cool.

The Best Brownies Ever!

These brownies have everything you'd ever want in a pan of brownies.They are chocolaty, moist, and a mix of cake like and fudgy.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.
Grease a 9-inch square pan.


Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons water
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1- 12 ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup chopped pecans- optional

Combine sugar, butter, and water in a sauce pan. Bring it to a boil and remove from heat. You can also use a microwave to bring it to a boil. It will take about 2 minutes on high if you choose that method.
Put half the chocolate chips in a bowl with the vanilla extract. Pour the hot sugar/butter/water mixture over the chips and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
Let that mixture cool. While you are waiting: mix the flour and baking soda in a small bowl.
After the mixture has cooled, add your eggs one at a time. Beat well after each one.
Add the flour mixture and stir until smooth.
Now, you add the remaining chocolate chips and the nuts, if you are using them.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Put into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when you stick it in the middle.

These will come out of the pan best if you cool completely before cutting.
If you cannot wait til the batter is cooled before adding the eggs and rest of the ingredients, they will still taste good. But the chocolate chips may melt into the rest of the batter.

I hope you enjoy these brownies as much as my family and I do.