Dad’s Chili

Chili beans in a can, small can of tomato sauce, chili powder, hamburger cooked and crumpled and drained then reheated and seasoned with salt or season salt, stuff from cans dumped into pot, cans filled with water and dumped in the pot. Stir the beans, sauce, water until boiling. Add chili powder to pot until it tastes okay. You can add more season salt if you need to. You can add a few drops of hot sauce or tobacco sauce for a hotter flavor. Combine meat in pot and mix. Taste and add more seasoning to suit your taste. 

(via text from Dad)

Breadsticks

Breadsticks

1 T yeast
1 1/2 c warm water
2 T sugar
1/2 t salt
3 c flour (you may need up to 1 c more)
1 cube melted butter

Parmesan cheese
garlic salt
sesame seeds
cinnamon sugar

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  (Hot tap water works.)  Add sugar, salt, & flour.  Mix together & knead for 3 minutes.  Let dough rise for 10 minutes.  Roll out large rectangle, about the size of a cookie sheet & about 1/2" thick.  Or you can pinch off small pieces & make a snake of dough.  Melt butter & pour on cookie sheet (or melt butter in the oven on the cookie sheet as it preheats.) Cut dough in strips, (A pizza cutter works great!) roll in butter, & put on cookie sheet.  (For slightly crispier breadsticks, use 2 cookie sheets with half a cube of butter melted on each.)  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, or garlic salt.  For a sweet variation, sprinkle with a cinnamon sugar mixture.  Let rise about 10 minutes.  Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes or until light brown.  Makes about 2 dozen, if small. 

Potato Soup

Potato Soup

4-6 cups water or chicken broth
4-6 bouillon cubes (depending on how much water you use)
1 c shredded carrots (sometimes I use dehydrated)
3-4 medium size potatoes, peeled & shredded
1/4 c or more of diced ham (sometimes I use real bacon bits)
1/4 t salt
1/2 small onion, diced or a dash of onion salt
1/4 t Bon Appetit, to taste (this is the "secret" ingredient that pulls it all together)
1 t celery flakes (sometimes I use dehydrated celery)

Bring all to a boil, then reduce to simmer for about 20 minutes.
In another pan make the roux:

6 T butter or margarine
6 T flour
2 c milk
3/4 c (1 small can) evaporated milk

Melt butter, whisk in flour, cook for a few minutes to get rid of the "flour" taste. (It will start to smell a little nutty.)  Slowly add milk & stir until thickened.  Stir in evaporated milk.  Combine with first mixture.  Garnish each bowl with shredded or chunked cheddar cheese & serve with breadsticks.

Sometimes I cook the base in the crock-pot all day & then add the roux before serving.

Oatmeal Scotchies

Oatmeal Scotchies

1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. oil
2 T water
1 t vanilla
2 eggs

Mix together & add dry ingredients.

1 1/2 c. flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
3 c. quick oats
1-2 c. butterscotch chips

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Optional: add a big sprinkle of cinnamon for an extra yum!

Mrs. Field's Cookies

Mrs. Field's Cookies

2 c. brown sugar
2 c. white sugar
1 lb butter (2 c.)
4 eggs
1-2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
6 1/2 c. flour
3 c. nuts (optional)
4 c. chocolate chips (2 bags)

Oatmeal Cookie Variation
4 c. flour
5 c. oatmeal
3 c. nuts
3 c. raisins

Cream butter & sugars together. Add eggs & vanilla. Mix soda, salt, & flour together & add to mixing bowl. When the dry ingredients are almost mixed in, add chocolate chips & nuts; mix. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Cool on pan for 2 minutes; then transfer to a cooling rack.

Note: Recipe can be cut in half.

Mountains (German Pancakes)

Mountains (German Pancakes)

1 c. milk
5 eggs
1 c. flour
1 T sugar (optional)
1/2 t salt

Mix well & pour into a well greased large cookie sheet (or a 9x13 pan).
Bake for 15-20 minutes at 450.

Note: The more lumps your batter has, the more "mountains" you will get.

Banana Bread

Banana Bread

1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. mashed bananas
1/3 c. chopped nuts (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla
cinnamon to taste (optional)
chocolate chips (optional)

Cream butter & sugar.
Add eggs, banana, & dry ingredient, nuts, & vanilla.
Put in waxed paper lined or greased loaf pan.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until toothpick tests done.