Jesse's Pumpkin Pieless Muffins

Mix:
15 oz. can pumpkin
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. evaporated milk   (1 can evap. for double recipe)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2/3 c. flour

Grease muffin tins.  Pour about 1/3 c. batter into each   (Do not fill!) 

Bake in 350-degree oven for ~20 minutes. 
Do not overcook.  Should be texture and moistness of pumpkin pie.
Test for doneness with toothpick, which should have crumbs on it.  Remove from oven before there are no crumbs on the toothpick. 

Serve with whipped topping.

Notes: 
Will make 12-15 muffins.
Can substitute 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice for cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

Creamy Chocolate Breakfast Shake

2 frozen bananas
1/2 c. frozen strawberries
2-3 tblsp. cocoa
2 tblsp. almond butter
1 tblsp. flaxseed meal
1 1/2-2 c. almond milk
1/3 c. ice
handful spinach

Blend in Magic Bullet or other food processor.

Crepes

Mix:
1/2 cup soy milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Mix and add:
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Refrigerate for about an hour and cook on electric griddle or in pan.

Adapted from https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/15417/vegan-crepes/

Cranberry Sauce

In a saucepan combine:
     1 cup sugar
     1 cup water
     12 ounce cranberries

Boil on medium heat until all cranberries are broken, mixing occasionally.

After cool refrigerate and serve cold.

posted by Natasha (from Brenna and back of Ocean Spray cranberry bag)

Spritz Cookies

Cream:
     1 cup shortening

Gradually add:
     3/4 cup sugar

Add & beat well:
     1 egg or 3 egg yolks, unbeaten

Sift and add:
     2 1/4 cups flour
     1/2 teaspoon baking powder
     dash of salt
     1 teaspoon vanilla (or almond extract)

Fill a cookie press and press onto ungreased cookie sheet (unless a greased cookie sheet holds them better).  [We have no idea why but sometimes it works better one way and not the other.]

Place:
     maraschino cherries halves or thirds in the center of each cookie

Bake at 400^o for about 8 minutes, until set but not brown.   They'll brown quickly so once you figure out the time to bake them, take them out immediately.


Notes
We love the flower shapes with cherries in the center but any of the cookie press shapes will work.  Just be sure to adjust the time because some shapes bake more quickly than others.

--Nancy.

Herb Chicken

Cut up, wash, and pat dry:       
     3# chicken
Dip pieces in:
     evaporated milk [or any milk will work]
Coat well with:
     dry bread crumbs

Place skin side down in a pan with melted butter [or a good coating of pam]

Combine:
     1 tsp. salt [or less to taste]
     1/4 tsp. pepper
     1/2 tsp. dry mustard
     1/2 tsp. chervil
     1/2 tsp. marjoram
     1/2 tsp. thyme
     1/4 c. onion, finely chopped

Sprinkle half of herbs and half of onions on chicken.
Bake in 400^o oven, uncovered for 30 minutes. 
Turn, sprinkle with other half of herbs & onions and bake till done.

Notes
For some, the amount of salt in the recipe may make the chicken too salty.  Adjust as desired.

If using legs or wings, the cooking time maybe less than if using thighs or breasts.

Recipe for bulk blend of the herb seasoning
     4 tblsp. salt [or less]
     1 tblsp. pepper [or less]
     2 tblsp. mustard
     2 tblsp. chervil
     2 tblsp. marjoram
     2 tblsp. thyme

--Nancy.

Gramma's Molasses Cookies

Mix & beat well:     
     3/4 shortening (melted, if desired)
     1 c. sugar
     1/4 c. molasses
     1 egg
Sift together, add to above mixture, and mix well:
     2 c. flour
     1/2 tsp. salt
     2 tsp. baking soda
     1 tsp. cinnamon
     1/2 tsp. cloves
     1/2 tsp. ginger
Chill dough.  Form into 1" balls and roll in sugar.
Bake on greased baking sheet at 350^o for about  ~7 minutes.

Notes:
It’s worth doubling this recipe if you like molasses cookies.

This recipe came from our grandmother, Emma (Bickerstaff) Meinzen.  I thought it was a recipe special to her but just recently I realized it's a really common recipe, found on the backs of some jars of molasses!

--Nancy