PIE CRUST:  2 cups flour, 1/4 tsp salt, 2/3 cup shortening, 1/3 cup water.   Roll out and cut with a small glass.  Roll out large enough to fill a muffin tin. FILLING:   1/3 cup melted butter, 1 cup sifted brown sugar, 2 T milk, 1/2 cup raisins, 1 beaten egg, 1 t vanilla. Mix together and put spoonfuls into each of the tart shells (in the muffin tins).   Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.   ... View Post

3 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 6 tablespoons cocoa (1/3 cup), 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt. Combine above ingredients with a fork! Add:  3/4 cup salad oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 cups of water. Bake in a 9 x 13 inch pan at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes. DO NOT USE A MIXER!  This MUST be mixed by HAND!!     ... View Post

For this dip - Use a large clear glass bowl, because it is very colorful and pretty !  1)   One 10-1/2 ounce can of bean dip and one 10-1/2 ounce can of refried beans.  Mix and spread in a large cake pan. 2)  4-6 avocados, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.  Mash and spread on the bean layer. 3)  One package of taco seasoning mix, 2 tablespoons of mayonaise, 3 tablespoons of sour cream.  Mix and spread on last layer. 4)  1/2 pound grated jack cheese, 1/2 pound grated cheddar cheese, mix and spread on the last layer. 5)  Two 8-1/2 ounce cans of chopped black olives.  Spread on the last layer. 6)  3-4 small tomatos diced and spread on the last layer. 7)  4-5 chopped green onions. 8)  Another optional layer of cheese! ... View Post

Drain one 15-ounce can of fruit cocktail.  Discard the juice!   Dissolve one 3-ounce package of peach jello in 1 cup of boiling water.  Stir in 1 pint of vanilla ice cream until evenly distributed.  Stir in fruit cocktail.  Chill until firm.  Great with cool whip! ... View Post

Beat well 4 eggs with 1 cup of sugar.  Add 2 pounds of small curd cottage cheese and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Bake in a graham cracker crust (2) at 300 degrees for 1 hour.  (Preheat the oven). We would always put a little dab of cool whip with cinnamon sprinkled on it!  A holiday favorite! ... View Post

1 can of corn, 1 can black-eyed peas, 1 red bell pepper, 1 red/purple onion, 1/3 cup Italian dressing, 1 lime (squeezed for the juice), cilantro, salt & pepper, 2-3 tomatoes.   (Heidi adds an orange bell pepper and a sweet cuban pepper, as well as lemon juice and red pepper flakes). Add all but the lime juice and cilantro.  Mix well.  Add the last 2 ingredients just before serving for added "freshness!" ... View Post

These are my kids' FAVORITE meal!  When I want to get them home?  I text them what's for dinner!  Mama Mac Meatballs! Ingredients:  3 eggs, 1 medicum onion, 1-1/2 cups dry bread crumbs, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 pounds ground sirloin, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Sauce:  3-1/2 cups of tomato juice, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 10 gingersnap cookies, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 teaspoon onion salt. In a bowl, combine eggs, onion, bread crumbs, and salt.  Crumble beef over the mixture and mix well.  Shape into 1-1/2 inch balls.  In a large skillet, brown the meatballs in batches in the oil.  Transfer then, to a 13x9x2 baking dish. In a large bowl, combine the sauce ingredients.  Tip: If you let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes, the cookies will dissolve on their own and you will not need to crush ... View Post

1 lb hamburger 1 beaten egg 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 1 cup of Italian bread crumbs 1 small onion, minced 2 cloves of minced garlic 1/2 tsp oregano 1 tsp salt freshly ground pepper to taste 1/4 cup minced fresh basil Mix all ingredients with hands. Form into golf-ball sized meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. ... View Post