Ingredients: 2 cups sugar 1 cup mazzola oil 3 eggs 1 t soda 1 t salt 2 t vanilla 3 cups flour 3 cups diced apples (Newton or Pippin) Directions:  Mix sugar, oil, and eggs.  Then add soda, salt, and vanilla.  To that, add the flour and apples.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. *Aunt Jean was married to Al, my Dad's brother.   He was also known as "Junior" because Grandpa MacDonald's name was also Allan.  Jean and Al lived in Anaheim, and I would visit them often for holidays when I was stationed in California (more than once).  Aunt Jean is a gifted baker who I am still trying to get to give up her lemon meringue pie recipe!  The name Golly came from Uncle Al, because he always said, "Golly, golly," and we always teased him about that. ... View Post

  Ingredients for Pie Crust: 2 cups flour 1/4 t salt 2/3 cup shortening 1/3 cup water Roll out and cut with a small glass, just big enough to fit a muffin tin. Ingredients for filling: 1/3 cup melted butter 1 cup sifted brown sugar 2 T milk 1/2 cup raisins (or 1 cup if you really like raisins) 1 beaten egg 1 t vanilla Directions:  Mix together and put spoonfuls into the tart shells.  Bake at 450 for 8 minutes, or at 350 for 10-15 minutes. *I always remember Aunt Joanie making these for cousin Lynn MacInnis' husband Robbie.  I also remember that Aunt Irene always had them when we visited her apartment in Toronto!   ... View Post

Stir over medium heat 2-1/2 T flour with 1/2 cup milk until smooth and thick. Cool. Cream together 1/2 cup of butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar.  Add to the cooled paste mix, and beat until it's fluffy.  Add 1/2 t vanilla and beat again. Double recipe if this is for a large sheet cake. *Joan McBride lived across the street from us in Michigan, and she was a dear friend to my mother! ... View Post

  Ingredients: 1 small bottle catalina dressing 1 10-ounce apricot preserves 1 envelope dry onion mix Directions: Mix all together.  Place 8 pieces of chicken in a baking dish.  Pour mix on chicken.  Cover with foil.  Bake about an hour at 350 degrees. ... View Post

  Ingredients: 1/2 pound chicken breasts 2 red potatoes - sliced thin 3/4 cup cheddar cheese 1/2 small red pepper 1/2 green pepper 2 T BBQ sauce 1 green onion 1/4 t salt 1/8 t pepper Directions: Divide chicken strips between 2 pieces of foil. In a bowl, combine all ingredients and spoon over the chicken breasts.  Fold the foil, and seal it tightly. Place on a baking dish and bake 375 degrees for about 45 minutes. *I have found this a really, really easy meal as a single empty nester!   (Have a glass of wine ;) ... View Post

  Ingredients: 1 small garlic clove 2 T chopped onion 1/2 t dried thyme 2/3 cup shredded colby jack cheese 2/3 pound ground sirloin Slices of frozen garlic toast 1/2 cup tomato sauce 1-1/2 t packed brown sugar 1/2 t Worchestershire sauce 1/2 t A1 steak sauce Directions:   In a large bowl, combine the onion, garlic, thyme, and 1/2 cup of cheese.  Crumble beef over the mixture and mix well.  Shape into oval patties. In a large skillet, cook the burgers over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until no longer pink.  Meanwhile, prepare toast.  Drain the burgers, set aside and keep warm. Add tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worchestershire sauce, brown sugar, and steak sauce to the skillet.  Boil and stir 1-2 minutes until slightly thick.  ... View Post

Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts 2 cups Prego Italian sauce 2 cups shredded mozzarella 2 T grated parmesan 1/2 package spaghetti noodles Directions: Place chicken in shallow baking dish. Top the chicken with the sauce, and then sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.  Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until done! Serve with sauce and spaghetti. ... View Post

Ingredients: 2 cups uncooked penne pasta 1 pound turkey sausage 1-1/2 cups milk 1 can cream of celery soup 1-1/2 cups cheddar french fried onions 1 cup shredded mozzarella 1 cup frozen peas Directions: Cook the pasta.  In a large skillet, brown the sausage for 5 minutes.  In a bowl, combine the milk and soup.  Stir in 1/2 cup onions, 1/2 cup cheese, peas, and the sausage.  Drain the pasta and stir into the sausage mix.  Transfer to a greased 13x9 baking dish.  Cover and bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.  Sprinkle with onions and cheese.  Bake again uncovered 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. ... View Post