Al's Favorite Coffee Cake

My older brother's wife makes this every year and he just loves it. Try it to see if you feel the same way too!

Item 37792 Celebrate Plates perfect for that holiday dish. Available at 20% off http//www.jams09.com

Ingredients:
2 c. strong coffee
2 Tbsp. cocoa
2 c. sugar
1 c. raisins
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 unbeaten eggs
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. shortening

Directions:
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Combine coffee, 1 c. sugar, cocoa and raisins in saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes then cool. Cream shortening, 1 c. sugar and vanilla together into mixing bowl. Add eggs unbeaten one at a time then beat well. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg together then add ground cloves and mix. Combine all ingredients into a lightly greased and floured Pyrex dish and bake for one hour

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Offering ideas on nutrition, diet, recipes and has kitchen decor ideas including pots and pans

Banana Nut Bread courtesy of the Cave Creek Ladies

Ingredients:
1/2 c. Sugar
1 1/2 c. Flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
2 Eggs, beaten
1/2 c. Margarine/Butter
1 c. ripe bananas
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 c. flaked coconut
1/4 c. Raisins
1/2 c. Pecans, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small mixing bowl crack the eggs remove the shells and pour eggs into large mixing bowl. Using beater beat the eggs about 2 minutes. Add flour, soda, Vanilla extract, mashed bananas, melted butter, sugar and stir Mixture until moistened. Fold in pecans, coconut and raisins. Use non-stick spray and spray the 9x3 loaf pan. Pour in batter and bake until done, or until wooden pick comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes

Easy Stroganoff

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef ¼ cup onions
1 clove garlic pressed 1/3 cup milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup 2 tbsp cooking sherry
½ cup sour cream 1 tbsp salt
cooked noodles or rice skillet
 
Directions:
Brown meat, onions and garlic in skillet and drain. Add soup and milk and reduce heat. Stir in Sherry and sour cream. Serve over cooked noodles or rice.

Eatible Cookie Bowl

Was sent in this cool recipe from Creative Cook’s Kitchen - easy and fun!
Ingredients:
1 1/4 c. all-purpose Flour foil
1/2 c. cocoa powder Loaf pan
1/4 c. blanched almonds, slivered finely 4 Tbsp. Margarine, softened
1\4 tsp. Salt 1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract Assorted Cookies

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover outside of loaf pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray. In mixing bowl combine flour, cocoa, almonds and salt. In blender mix together margarine, sugar, egg and vanilla until light & fluffy. Beat in flour mixture. Roll out dough using rolling pin to 1/8 inch. Use cookie cutter with scalloped edges to cut out circular shapes. Cover loaf pan with dough Circles. Bake cookie bowl until edges are firm, or about 10-12 min.
Transfer pan to wire rack to cool. To remove foil lined loaf pan remove foil gently and it will pop off. Arrange cookies in bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
Makes a great gift!

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Ghosts in the Graveyard Cake.

I received this free Halloween recipe in the mail courtesy of: www.Kraft Kitchens.com and thought it was seasonal to share as Halloween is on-the-way.
Ingredients:
15 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, crushed
3 cups cold milk
2 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 tub (12 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
Assorted decorations: 3 CAMEO Cream Sandwich Cookies,
decorating gel, 5 candy pumpkins, 10 pieces of candy corn
Directions:
Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Let stand 5 min. Gently stir in 3 c. of the whipped topping & half the cookie crumbs. Spread evenly into 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with the remaining cookie crumbs. Refrigerate at least 1 hr. Meanwhile, decorate cream sandwich cookies with decorating gel to resemble tombstones and set-aside the mix until ready to use. Insert decorated cookies into top of dessert just before serving. Add candies. Drop large spoonfuls of the remaining whipped topping onto dessert to resemble ghosts. Cover and store leftover dessert in refrigerator.
How to Make Green Grass:Use snipped pieces of green chewy fruit snack rolls to create "grass" around the graveyard. Serves 18. Has 190 calories per serving
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Old Fashion Irish Stew from Judy Johnson

Ingredients:
1 lb leg of lamb, trimmed and cubed
¼ tsp salt and pepper 3 tbsp water
1 bay leaf 1½ cups beef broth
½ lb white turnips pared and sliced 1 sliced onion
1½ lb carrots, pared and peeled 1½ tbsp flour
Directions:
Place lamb, salt, pepper, bay leaf and broth in pot and boil. Cover and simmer for 40 min or, until meat is tender. Remove Bay leaf and skim off fat. Heat to boil and add vegetables cover and simmer for 30 min or, when vegetables are tender. Mix flour and water together until smooth and place into the stew and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until boiling. Serves 4. Calorie counters be aware that 100 gm of lamb equals 282 calories.

Mexican Grilled Chicken

Chef Tyr sent in his favorite recipe:
Ingredients:
Chicken
Chili powder
Cumin
Rubbed sage
Salt & pepper
Directions:
Toss chicken in spices and grill until done.

Grilled Steak

This is a favorite used by my brother at office get-to-gethers:

Tri-Tip Recipe

Ingredients:

3 lb Tri Tip

1 cup Kosher Salt

½ cup crushed garlic or powder

1 cup Peppercorn

Martha Stewart’s Mixing Bowl

Directions: Put seasoning in a bowl and crush together into paste. Rub/pound seasoning into meat rolling the meat so, that it is thoroughly covered. Place meat on grill and cook slowly to brown on both sides. Flip on the grill until the meat is done the way you like it in the center. The trick for good taste is to make sure the seasoning is really rubbed on the meat so it will have good flavor. The Mixing Bowls are available at http:www.cookingfreedownload