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The enjoyment of home cooking

There are many various types of cooks — one that just love to cook and learn from an early age from their mother or grandmother at home.

You know your little one is interested and wants to help and lean when they get a stool or chair to be able to reach the preparation table and stove…

It is great to hear them ask you ” please let me crack the eggs or let me stir the food or add the ingredients needed for what you are preparing.

Then there are the other children and adults that have no interest what so ever in fixing or cooking anything and end up with a wake up call when they move out in their own apartment or get married and then have no choice as to cook or not to cook unless they want to eat out daily which becomes very expensive. Many women don’t like to cook but luck out because their husbands likes and enjoys cooking different meals and foods.

Even cooking at home however can be very expensive plus time consuming depending on what you are like and are planning to prepare… Meats and Fish have become very expensive these days and couples with several children must plan ahead carefully. In most cases it becomes way more expensive to eat out at a restaurant whereas for the same money you can eat two or three times at home by preparing the meal yourself plus eat healthier.

Another advantage of eating at home is that you have a choice as to what seasonings and ingredients you prefer and know you like and enjoy.

The saying is that men make the best cooks ? For example when my son lived at home he had zero interest in cooking just like my husband and I was always in charge in the kitchen which was fine with me because I love to cook and enjoyed pleasing them preparing their favorite dishes which not only did they enjoy but were also healthier.

My son George has now done a complete turn around and has developed a big interest in cooking and preparing gourmet type meals for his family and friends. He now has purchased a fancy grill and top of the line smoker and has prepared Lamb, Chicken, Pork, Prime rib, Pulled pork, Short ribs, Brisket and other special items and invites the family to come over to try out the different things he is preparing. He experiments with many different spices and seasonings and ways of preparing different meals. He even uses many different seasonings and spices that I have never used in my cooking… I am a pretty good judge of foods and I always give him positive and complimentary comments and encouragement where as my husband is the opposite and does not like changes or so called fancy gourmet foods and although he does not say much it is easy to tell what he is thinking by the expressions on his face. LOL My son is putting a lot of effort into cooking by marinating, rubbing then getting up early and keeping an eye on the meat cooking which can vary from 6 to 8 hours. The good thing also is that his wife (Neysa) is also a very good cook and is teaching their two daughters to make and prepare different dishes.

Now in ending I can honestly say that I have spoiled my two daughters (Niki and Sophia) and son and their families with my cooking.

Till Next Week

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Cinnamon Satin Cookies

Sift together:

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon of soda

1 teaspoon of salt

Cream together:

1 cup of butter or margarine

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Add remaining ingredients and mix until light and fluffy. Chill for half an hour before rolling out, then bake at 400 degrees for 6 to 10 minutes.

Frosting

1/4 cup tiny red cinnamon candy

2 tablespoons of hot water

2 egg whites

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon of salt

Soak candies in hot water for at least one hour. Measure remaining ingredients into a mixing bowl. Add syrup from candy and beat well. Spread on cookies and let set up.

***

Peach Fluff

Drain juice from a 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple. Mix juice with 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil in a large pan and add one 3 ounce peach Jell-o. Remove from heat. Add 8 ounces of softened cream cheese. Mash with a fork or use wire whip. Add pineapple. Let set in the refrigerator until it begins to set ( one and a half to two hours) then add half a container of cool whip; fold in. Pour into Jell-o mold and refrigerate until set.

***

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 table spoon salt

1/2 tablespoon baking soda

Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir into batter. Refrigerate for one hour. Roll into balls and flatten on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 10 minutes or until they begin to brown around the edges.

***

Beef-Stuffed Manicotti

One box Manicotti shells

2 pounds ground chuck

1 onion finely chopped

1 green pepper finely chopped

2 (29 oz) cans of tomato sauce

4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Oragano

Salt

Cook Manicotti shells in salted boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain. Rinse in cold water, drain and set aside. Saute ground chuck, onion and green pepper and till brown; drain. Add tomato sauce and oregano; simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Arrange shells in a baking dish, stuff with meat and mozzarella cheese. Pour remaining meat mixture over shells. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 300 degrees for an hour.

***

Corn Bread Taco Bake

1 and 1/2 pound of ground beef

1 package taco seasoning

1/2 cup of water

1 can corn drained

1/2 cup of green pepper chopped

1 (8 ounce) can tomatoes

1 package corn muffin mix (plus ingredients to prepare as directed on package)

1 can french fried onions

1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet brown the beef; drain. Stir in taco seasoning, water, corn, green pepper and tomato sauce. Pour mixture into a two quart casserole. In a small bowl, prepare muffin mix according to package directions. Stir in 2/3 fried onions. Spoon batter around edge of beef mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until cornbread is done. Top corn bread with cheese and remaining onions. Bake, uncovered, 1 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

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