Cocoa Banana Cake (A match made in heaven)

Materials:

Cake:

• 2/3 c. milk
  
• 1 Tbsp. white vinegar
  
• 3/4 c. butter
  
• 1-2/3 c. sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1-1/4 c. pureed banana
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla
  
• 2 c. flour
  
• 3/4 c. cocoa
  
• 3/4 tsp. salt
  
• 1 tsp. baking soda
  
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
  

Frosting:

• 1/4 c. butter melted
  
• 1/2 c. cocoa
  
• 1/4 c. pureed banana
  
• 2 Tbs. milk
  
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  
• 3 c. icing sugar
  

Methods:

Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
   
2. Combine milk and vinegar and set aside
   
3. Cream together butter, sugar, eggs.
   
4. Add banana and vanilla.
   
5. In separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, salt, soda and powder.
   
6. Add dry ingredients to creamed milture alternately with sour milk.
   
7. Divide batter between two greased and floured 9" round baking pans.
   
8. Bake for 40-45min.
   
9. Cool 10 min. in pans before turning onto wire racks.
   
10. Cool completely before frosting.
    

Frosting:

1. Combine melted butter and cocoa.
   
2. Blend in pureed banana, milk, vanilla.
   
3. Slowly add icing sugar and mix until smooth.
   
4. Frost cooled cake.
   
5. Optional: place sliced bananas with icing in between cake layers
   

Supreme Baking Powder Biscuits

Materials:

• 2 c. flour
  
• 4 tsp. baking powder
  
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 2 tsp sugar
  
• 1/2 c. margarine or butter
  
• 2/3 c. milk
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
   
2. Sift together dry ingredients
   
3. Cut in margarine/butter
   
4. Add milk all at once.
   
5. Quickly stir.
   
6. Pat out to 3/4" thickness and use glass to cut out rounds.
   
7. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10 min., but watch closely for the last few minutes.
   

Mom's Chocolate Cake

Materials:

• 2 c. flour
  
• 6 Tbsp. cocoa
  
• 2 tsp. soda
  
• 1/2 tsp. salt
  
• 3/4 c. margarine
  
• 2-1/2 c. brown sugar
  
• 3 eggs
  
• 1/2 c. sour milk (add in a tsp or so vinegar or lemon)
  
• 2 tsp. vanilla
  
• 12/ tsp cloves
  
• 1 c. boiling water
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 375oF.
   
2. Sift together flour, cocoa, salt & soda.
   
3. In mixer, cream margarine, add sugar gradually, then add unbeaten eggs one at a time. Beat well.
   
4. Add flour mixture alternately with sour milk.
   
5. Add flavoring, then add boiling water.
   
6. Pour into two greased 9" round pans.
   
7. Bake 30-35 min
   

Grandma Kate's Chocolate Cake

Materials:

• 1/2 c. butter-softened
  
• 1 c. white sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla
  
• 3/4 tsp. cloves
  
• 3 heaping Tbsp. cocoa
  
• 1 c. sour cream
  
• 1 tsp. soda
  
• 1 c. flour
  
• 1 tsp. baking powder
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
   
2. Cream together butter, sugar and eggs
   
3. Add in vanilla, clives, cocoa, cream and soda
   
4. Mix in flour to which powder has been added.
   
5. Pour into greased 8x8" pan
   
6. Bake 30-35 min.
   

Ambrosia Salad (How to make fruit salad bad for you)

Materials:

• 1 c. sour cream
  
• 1 c. mandarin oranges
  
• 1 c. grapes, cut into halves
  
• 1 c. pineapple chunks
  
• 1 c. shredded sweetened coconut
  

Methods:

1. Mix & serve chilled!
   

Chocolate Zucchini Cake (Do vegetables make chocolate healtheir?)

Materials:

• 2 sq. unsweetened chocolate (1 oz.)
  
• 3 eggs
  
• 2 c. white sugar
  
• 1 c. vegetable oil
  
• 2 c. grate zucchini (fine grate)
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  
• 2 c. all-purpose flour
  
• 1 tsp. baking soda
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  
• 3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
   
2. Microwave unsweetened chocolate until melted & stir until smooth
   
3. In a bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil, zucchini, vanilla & chocolate. Beat well.
   
4. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt & cinnamon. 
   
5. Stir wet ingredients into dry just until moistened.
   
6. Fold in chocolate chips.
   
7. Pour into greased loaf pan.
   
8. Bake 60-70 min.
   

Carrot Cake (Dave's Favorite)

Materials:

Cake:

• 4 eggs
  
• 1-1/4 c. vegetable oil
  
• 1 small can crushed pineapple
  
• 1 c. white sugar
  
• 1 c. brown sugar
  
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
  
• 2 c. all-purpose flour
  
• 2 tsp. baking soda
  
• 2 tsp baking powder
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 3 tsp. ground cinnamon
  
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  
• 3 c. grated carrots (~1-1/2 lbs)
  
• 1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
  

Icing:

• 1/2 c. butter, softened
  
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  
• 3 cups confectioner's sugar
  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
  

Topping:

• 1 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 350oF. 
   
2. Grease and flour a 9x13" pan, two 9" round pans or 18 muffin cups
   
3. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and vannila.
   
4. Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, connamon and nutmeg.
   
5. Stir in carrots.
   
6. Fold in nuts.
   
7. Pour into prepared pan(s). 
   
8. Bake for 40-50 min for 9x13" pan, 30-45 min for two 9" round pans or 25min for 18 muffin cups, until toothpick inserted into center of the cake comes out clean. 
   
9. Let cool in pan for 10min, then turn onto wire rack to cool completely.
   

For frosting:

1. In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla and beat with mixer until smoother. 
   
2. Keep adding confectioner's sugar slowly until right sweetness to taste.
   
3. Beat until smooth and creamy.
   

Finish:

1. Frost the cooled cake and top with chopped nuts.
   

Snowflake Scones (Megan's Favorite)

A simple sweet scone that when paired with honey and cheese, or butter and jam,  just can't be beat.

Materials:

• 3 c. all-purpose flour
  
• 3 tsp. baking powder
  
• 1/2 c. granulated sugar
  
• pinch salt
  
• 3/4 c. margarine
  
• 1 egg, beaten in a 1 cup measure.
  
• milk sufficient to bring the egg to 1 c.
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 425oF.
   
2. Mix dry ingredients
   
3. Cut margarine into dry ingredients
   
4. Add egg-milk mixture, mix quickly and lightly just until no dry particles remain
   
5. Scrape out onto a lightly floured surface and ned gently 8-10 min
   
6. Form into one large flat circle.
   
7. Cut into wedges.
   
8. Separate pieces and place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 min.
   

Palmerosa Oatmeal Flax Pancakes

Materials:

• 1-1/2 c. oatmeal
  
• 1/4 c. ground flax
  
• 1/2 c. flour
  
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
  
• 2 tsp. baking soda
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 c. milk
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla
  
• dash nutmeg
  

Methods:

1. Combine oatmeal, flax, flour, sugar, soda, nutmeg and salt.
   
2. In a separate bowl, combined egg, milk and vanilla.
   
3. Add egg mixture to dry mixture. mixing just until moistened. 
   
4. For each pancake, pour 1/4 c. batter into hot griddle.
   
5. Turn when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.
   
6. Excellent hot with butter and honey, and also cold.
   

Calgary Co-op Old Fashioned Oatmeal Muffins

Materials:

• 1-1/2 c. quick oatmeal
  
• 1 c. flour
  
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp. baking powder
  
• 1 tsp. baking soda
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 3/4 c. brown sugar
  
• 1 egg, beaten
  
• 1/4 c. oil
  
• 1 c. plain yoghurt
  
• 1/2 c. raisins
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 350oF.
   
2. In a mixing bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, soda, salt and brown sugar. Blend well.
   
3. In a separate bowl, beat together egg, oil and yoghurt.
   
4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, pour in egg mixture and stir briefly.
   
5. Add raisins and stir only until mixture in moistened. 
   
6. Spoon into 8 or 9 muffin cups.
   
7. Bake 20-25 min until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
   

Family Cranberry Orange Muffins

Materials:

• 2 c. all-purpose flour
  
• 1/2 c. white sugar
  
• 1 tsp baking powder
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1/4 c. butter or hard margarine, melted
  
• Grated rind of 1 orange
  
• Juice of 1 orange plus water to make to 1 c.
  
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 1 c. chopped cranberries, fresh or frozen (thawed)
  

Methods

1. Preheat oven to 400oF.
   
2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl, stir.
   
3. Make a well.
   
4. Beat eggs with spoon in small bowl. Stir in butter, orange rind, orange juice and vanilla. 
   
5. Pour liquid mixture into well and stir until moistened. 
   
6. Blot cranberries with paper towel. Fold into batter.
   
7. Fill greased medium muffin cups until at least 3/4 full.
   
8. Bake 15-20min. until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
   
9. Makes 12 muffins.
   

Grandma Joan's Banana Loaf

Materials:

• 1/2 c. margarine (I like butter better)
  
• 1 c. sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 2 Tbsp smeet milk
  
• 2-1/4 cups flour
  
• 1 tsp soda
  
• 3 mashed, over-ripe bananas
  

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 350oF.
   
2. Cream margarine and sugar, then add eggs.
   
3. Add milk, then add flour to which soda has been added. 
   
4. Last of all, add bananas and ground walnuts (optional).
   
5. Pour into greased loaf pan.
   
6. Bake ~60min.
   

Mom's Pumpkin Loaf

Materials:

• 1-1/2 c. flour
  
• 1 tsp baking powder
  
• 1 tsp baking soda
  
• 1 tsp cinnamon
  
• 1/2 tsp cloves
  
• 3/4 c. cooking oil
  
• 1 c. white sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 3/4 c. pumpkin
  
• raisins
  

Methods:

1. Beat all together
   
2. Bake in greased loaf tin 50-60min, first 20 min at 375oF, finish at 350oF
   

Dad's Pancakes (Tastes Like Sunday Morning)

Materials:

• 2-1/2 c. flour
  
• 6 tsp baking powder
  
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 3 Tbsp sugar
  
• 2 or 3 eggs, beaten
  
• 1-3/4 c. milk, approx
  

Methods:

• Beat until mixed but still lumpy
  

Marine's Quiche Spectaculer (in Metric, of course)

Materials:

• A pie crust
• About 150 grammes of thick smoked bacon (or salmon)
• 1 big leek (or 2 smaller ones) optional
• Grated cheese: swiss cheese, or conte, or… about 100grams
• 4 eggs: 2 whole eggs and 2 egg yolks
• ¼ liter of milk
  
• ¼ liter of liquid light sour cream or about half a pot (yogurt size) of sour cream
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
  

Methods:

• Preheat the oven, about 400 degrees F (okay, we converted this one for you..)
• Slice the leek into small pieces and boil until cooked.
• Slice the bacon/salmon into small pieces. (Marine's note: "Personally, I take off the fat of the bacon, it’s a lot better I think." Megan's note: "bacon fat is yummy")
• Cook the bacon in a (Marine's addition: very tiny) pan. Don’t overcook.
• In a big bowl, mix together the milk, the cream, the 2 whole eggs, the 2 egg yolks, salt and pepper. (not too much salt, the bacon is very salted).
• In the pie crust, cover the bottom with cheese, place the bacon and leek on top, and pour the milk/egg mixture.
• Put in the already hot oven, mid height.
• Cook for about 30 min ++ (Usually takes at least 45min)
• Very yummy with a salad on the side.
• Enjoy!!

Sweet 'n Sour chicken (one pot asian-ish delight)

Materials:

• 1-20 oz. can pineapple chunks, juice reserved
  
• 1/4 c. soy sauce
  
• 1/2 c. vinegar
  
• 3/4 c. brown sugar
  
• 2 Tbsp corn starch
  
• 4Tbsp ketchup
  
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
  
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
  
• 1 cup celery, chopped
  
• 1-8 oz can water chestnuts, drained and sliced
  
• 4 cloves garlic
  
• 1-1/2 lb. chicken, cut into small chunks
  

Methods:

1. Cook chicken in a few Tbsp oil just until not pink through, drain off water and transfer to another bowl, and wipe out pan. 
2. Mix corn starch into ketchup until no lumps remain.
3. Add ketchup mixture to pan, and slowly add in soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic &  pineapple juice, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
4. Continue stirring sauce for a few minutes until thickened and bubbling.
5. Add in pepper, celery, chestnuts, chicken and cook until heated through and peppers just start to soften. 
6. Stir in pineapple chunks. 
7. Serve over lots of white rice.

Cornbread Crab Cakes (y'know, when you had extra crab lying around?)

Materials:

Crab cakes:

• 1 package prepared cornbread (or buy a pan of the pre-made stuff)
  
• 4 - 6 oz cans crabmeat, drained
  
• 2 eggs, beaten
  
• 12 green onions, chopped
  
• 1/2 medium white onion
  
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
  
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  
• 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
  
• 3/4 tsp salt
  
• 1/4 tsp pepper
  
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
  
• Oil & Butter (for frying)
  

Aioli:

• 3/4 c. mayo
  
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 2-1/2 Tbsp lemon joice
  
• 3/4 tsp salt
  
• 1/2 tsp pepper
  

Methods:

1. Crumble up 2/3 of the cornmeal onto a pan and place in oven at ~250-300oF. Keep turning over cornbread while preparing remaining ingredients until lightly toasted.
   
2. Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in a skillet and saute green & white onions & garlic until translucent. Let cool. 
3. Combine crabmeat, eggs, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, cayenne, salt, pepper, Old Bay and cooled onion mix. Add in enough cooled cornbread crumbs to soak up most of liquid (about 1/2 or 4-6oz).
4. Make cornbread into balls, coat in remaining corn bread crumbs and make into 1/2 inch patties. Place on pan. Put pan in fridge for >15min to allow to cool.
5. Heat vegetable oil and/or butter in a pan and fry patties ~3min per side until golden brown. 
6. Serve with aioli and salad!