Country Pound Cake

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 2/3 cups white sugar
5 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
Directions:
1. Do not preheat the oven. Grease 10 inch tube pan and line bottom with wax paper or parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat the butter, shortening, and sugar on low speed for 10 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Alternately add the flour mixture and milk, mixing well. Add the vanilla and lemon extracts.
4. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Set the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of cake comes out clean. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 1 hour. Remove to a cake rack and cool for at least 3 hours.

Sue

The brown sugar meringue gives a sweet crunchy bite and makes these cookies seem even better. No calories in these babies--haha!

MUD HEN BARS

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, divided (1 egg, 2 yolks, and 2 egg whites)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I added this)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 cup light brown sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 pan and set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and granulated sugar until creamy. Beat in 1 whole egg and 2 egg yolks (put aside the whites for later.) Beat in the vanilla extract.
3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Blend until just combined. Spread mixture into 9x13" pan. Sprinkle with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and nuts-if using.
4. Beat two leftover egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the brown sugar. Spread mixture evenly over marshmallows and chocolate chips. Bake for about 30 minutes or until bars are a deep golden brown. Let bars cool completely. Cut into squares and serve. Makes 24.

sweet potato sausage balls

3 cups biscuit mix
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 pound sausage, hot or mild, uncooked
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning or seasoned salt, optional
2/3 cup chopped pecans, optional

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350�. Line a baking pan with foil and lightly grease or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine biscuit mix,cheese, mashed sweet potatoes, sausage, and seasonings until well blended, using hands or an electric stand mixer with paddle beater. Add chopped pecans, if desired. Wet hands with cool water and shape the mixture into 1-inch balls; place on the prepared baking pan. Moisten hands from time to time as needed to prevent sticking. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned on tops and deeper brown on bottoms.

Patti, I just had to copy your recipe down. I just know someone in our family will love those. Might even bake to take to church dinner.

Sue

Whew I thought I had lost a day there and was back on the 9th

I was hungry for something Mexican inspired last night and came up with this creation and we decided it was a definite keeper. There were no leftovers, I thought my husband was going to explode.

Mexican Wraps

1lb lean ground beef
1 chopped onion
chopped garlic ( you decide how much, I like a lot)
1 chopped bell pepper

1 can drained black beans
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 cup frozen sweet corn (canned is ok)
1 pack taco seasoning mix(dry)

blue corn tortilla chips crushed a bit(enough to cover the top of the pot, about 1/3 of a large bag)
grated cheese ( I use colby jack blend) 2 portions each 1 cup

pack of wraps or large flour tortillas

In large skillet or pot brown the beef with the onion, bell pepper and garlic. Drain when done.
Add to the pot the next 4 ingredients, beans, tomatoes, corn, seasoning mix.
Stir well to mix and let simmer on medium-low uncovered 25 mins stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Sprinkle on top one of the portions of grated cheese, and mix it in.
Next take the slightly crushed blue corn chips and sprinkle on top ( do not mix in)
Next take the remaining portion of grated cheese and sprinkle on top of the chips.
Let simmer 8-10 mins on low to let the cheese melt and the flavors blend.
Remove from heat.

It can be eaten just as it is or you can serve it in a wrap or a large flour tortilla. I heat those in the microwave covered with a wet paper towel for about 30 seconds to make them warm and soft.

You can offer on the side extra cheese, sour cream, sliced black olives, salsa, tortilla chips, avocado, or what ever you prefer.
We do these assembly line fashion with each making their own and adding what every they want.

What I used:
tostitos natural blue corn tortilla chips 9oz bag, about 1/3 to 1/2 of the bag.
Mission Wraps the zesty garlic herb ones
taco bell taco seasoning pack

This makes a lot, I cook mine in a large wok shaped skillet.

Ah geez, I didn't even notice I mis-typed the date this morning!

RC that sounds delicious, and obviously tastes it, as well, according to your hubby.