Shirley McMurtrie

Chocolate caramel bars

You can't go wrong with a German Chocolate Cake mix. Add some nuts and caramels to it and you have a winner again. Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix dry cake mix, softened butter and egg until crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the mixture. Press remaining crumbly dough into an ungreased 9 by 13 inch baking pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until crust appears dry. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in small saucepan over low heat, combine the extra margarine, milk and caramels over low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels are melted. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with nuts and reserved crumbly mixture.

Peanut butter rice crispies cookies

There are many good peanut butter recipes. Here is another one. This makes a lot of cookies. There will be some to share with your friends. In large mixing bowl, cream shortening, peanut butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg whites and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and baking powder. Gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in cereal, nuts, coconut and oatmeal.

Fudge Cupcakes

Cupcakes are so popular nowadays. And why not? They are individual portions that can be eaten out of hand. I remember when heavily frosted cakes were the norm. They needed to be eaten quickly before they dried out. Cupcakes stay soft inside their icing and paper wrappers.

Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies

I like a moist cookie. Crisp ones are good for dunking, but I don't do that. Give me a moist cookie anytime. In mixing bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in oatmeal. Chill in fridge for 1 hour.

Puff Pastry Pumpkins

I am always looking for a special cookie for the Fall season. Here is an easy one. Cute, too. In large bowl, combine pumpkin purée, brown sugar and maple flavoured syrup. Next, roll out 2 sheets of thawed frozen puff pastry. Cut out shapes using 3 inch pumpkin cutter

Depression: Childhood Games

During the Great Depression, kids had few resources outside of their imagination and old-timey games from a long ago era. My two brothers and myself had no outside resources until I began school. Then the world opened up. We played games in the school yard during recess time and inside when it rained.

Pork Chop Stew

You don't usually think of pork chops in the same sentence as "Stew," but here it is. Preheat oven to 350 F. In skillet over medium heat, brown pork chops. Add salt, pepper and poultry seasoning to taste. When browned on both sides remove from skillet and place in 9 by 13 inch baking pan.

Cheesy Pizza Bread

This bread snack goes well with pizza and just about anything else. Spaghetti, for instance. Add more garlic, if you like. Prepare pizza crust according to package directions. Pat onto a 12 inch round pizza pan. In small bowl combine melted margarine, garlic, Italian seasoning and seasoned salt. Brush onto prepared crust. Sprinkle generously with cheese.

Dilly-Do Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are easy to do. Tasty.too. Cook pasta in salted water, adding peas the last few minutes before pasta is al dente. Rinse under cold water to cool quickly. Drain well and set aside. Next, in large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, milk with salt and pepper to taste.

Roll Your Own

I have been reading a lot of Westerns lately. Add that to the 1950's Westerns i watch on television. That makes for a slew of hand-rolled cigarettes, but they don't look right. How do I know the real thing? Easy. My Dad was a tobacco smoker. He preferred cigarettes, but would smoke a pipe. Chewing tobacco and snuff were not to his liking.

Baked Fish And Onions

Here is a different way to fix fish, any fish. Of course, it works best with fillets. Try it. Thaw fish in water. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Line a buttered 9 by 13 inch baking pan with half the onion slices. Top with fillets and remaining onion slices. Combine mayonnaise, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce in small bowl. Spread evenly over the onion slices. Sprinkle with grated cheese. In preheated 350 F. oven, bake for 35 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Pickled Deviled Eggs

Beet juice is the secret here for the pretty pink on these tangy deviled eggs. They are easy to make. Place peeled hard cooked eggs, 6 each, in 2 pint canning jars. Cook first four ingredients in saucepan over medium heat until sugar is melted. Three minutes should do it.

My Eyes

I have always had trouble with my eyes. In school up to the ninth grade, everything only a short distance away looked fuzzy. For instance, trees sometimes looked like green fuzz balls. In school, I would take my notebook up to the blackboard to write down the next day's assignment. The teaches didn't pay any attention until junior high school.

Tuna Pie Deluxe

Here we go! Tuna again. This is a fancy way with that tasty fish. Make this when you have time to fuss with it. There won't be any leftovers. Line a 9 inch pie pan with pastry. Saute onions and celery in butter until tender, but do not brown. Blend in flour, salt, curry powder and pepper

Fresh Tomato Relish

It is that time of year again when tomatoes are in season. This is not a sweet relish like chili sauce. It is more like a salsa. Freeze a batch for next winter. In a small saucepan over medium low heat, bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and cool completely. Meanwhile, in large bowl combine remaining ingredients. Add vinegar mixture and mix well. Spoon into pint or half pint canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch headroom. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 12 months. Makes 6 pints.

Tossed Tuna Salad

Most of us have a favorite Tuna Salad. Here is another one to add to your recipe box. It contains a few ingredients that you don't usually find in a tuna salad - bean sprouts and spinach. It is great that we can now buy fresh spinach in the produce aisle at the supermarket. You will find the canned bean sprouts in the canned vegetable aisle. Let's get started

Tuna Patties

Canned tuna is the star here. Keep a 5 ounce package of instant potato flakes on hand and you are ready to go. You could make your own mashed potatoes , but this is way easier. No peeling. A great way to turn a small can of tuna into a supper delight. Prepare mashed potatoes, decreasing liquid to 1 cup. Cool slightly. Stir in beaten egg, onion and tuna. Shape into 6 patties. In skillet, over medium heat, cook patties in oil until browned, turning once. Top each pattie with 1/2 slice of cheese or tartar sauce. Serve.

Tuna Casserole

This is a different Tuna Casserole. The stove top stuffing makes it special. Very good. In mixing bowl, whisk eggs, salad dressing and water until blended. Add stuffing mix, flaked tuna, red pepper, celery, green onions and 4 tablespoons cheese. Mix lightly. Let stand 3 or 4 minutes to soften stuffing mix. Press mixture firmly onto bottom of buttered 8 inch square baking pan. Bake in preheated 375 F. oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting to serve.

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