From The Recipe Drawer - Stuffed Frankfurters

When we bought the farm from my mother in law, it came with a recipe drawer.  Her recipes, recipes from aunts, friends, sister in laws, mostly in family members handwriting. This year my daughter and I are on a mission to try each of the recipes in the drawer.

Another one from the Union County Christian Academy Cookbook.  

I think these are meant to be eaten as is, but I served them with hot dog rolls anyway.  

Lemon Lime Cake - From the Recipe Drawer

Lemon Lime Cake by Patsy Truckenmiller

(see the transcribed recipe at the bottom of this post)

So much for not eating out of boxes..  LOL!  

Bake the lemon cake mix following the directions on the box.  Cool thoroughly.

Two packs of lime jello, mixed with 2 cups of hot water

Poke the cake all over with a fork, 

I wasn't sure all of the jello would soak in.. it would probably do better in a cake without the "pudding in the mix", but this is what was on sale this week. I drained it off, then slowly poured it back over a second time, and it all soaked in.

Put in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.

I like this icing a lot!  Two packs of dream whip, 1 cup of milk, mix until it starts to thicken, then add vanilla & instant pudding.  Lemon pudding for this cake, but for a "regular" cake I think I would use vanilla pudding.  It's not cheap to make, dream whip is $3 a box.. but it is really good!

Lemon Lime Cake by Patsy Truckenmiller

Cake:

1 lemon cake mix

2 3oz boxes of lime jello

Topping:

2 envelopes of dream whip

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 lemon instant pudding

Step 1

   Bake cake as usual

Step 2

   Dissolve Jello in 2 cups of hot water

Step 3

   Jab holes in the top of  the cake with a fork, about an inch apart. Pour jello mixture over the top of the cake.  Place cake in refrigerator until cold.

Step 4

   Make topping.  

   2 envelopes of dream whip with 1 cup milk and vanilla. Beat until partly thick.  add instant pudding and beat till thick.  Add yellow coloring if desidred.  Spread over cake.

Must be kept in the refrigerator to stay nice.

Ten Things That Make Me Really Happy

Happiness: state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

I didn't put these in any order, other than the order in which they occurred to me.  As I wrote them, I realized quickly that it is experiences, more than things, that make me happy - which also makes me happy. Other than coffee.  The coffee is definitely a tangible thing that makes not only me, but also anyone who has to be around me, happier.  :-)

1. 8'oclock hazelnut coffee in my favorite hand painted travel mug, on the deck in the morning.  (You know how excited a young child gets when they make something and you use it?  I'm a bit like that, when it comes to craft ideas that I actually completed & can use..  even if they are really imperfect, and look like a kindergarten project)Extra bonus - when I remember to set the coffee pot the night before.  It makes me so happy to come downstairs to coffee already made!

2.Being outside.  In a kayak.  On a bike.  Watching the goats.  Riding the horses.  Watching the sunrise.  Watching the sunset. Hearing the peepers.  Seeing the fields sparkle with lightening bugs. (ok, there is another "thing" - I love my kayaks & my bike!)

3. A clean house (Note that I have no photo to go with this...  )

4. Learning new things.  Learning that i can still do new things. (The book I'm reading, What Einstein Told His Barber, makes me happy.  As does this trip we took to go whitewater rafting.)

  

5. Taking photos.  Although most of the photos on here I either didn't take, or I took with my cell phone..  I really enjoy taking photos, especially for events like the recent camporees, or of the kids that were staying with us holding the barn owls...

 

6.Seeing wildlife, especially eagles.  5 deer came out of our field & crossed in front of me last night.  That made me happy.  Seeing the flocks of wild turkeys out there this spring.  Last fall Dan took me on a date to see (and photograph!) the elk.  LOVED that day!

7. A good book, & time to sit on the deck & read it

8.Loud family dinners, full of jokes & laughter (I know that photo is not of us having dinner, but it captures the essence..  I love these kids, and their friends, and all the fun and laughter they bring.)

9. A well stocked kitchen.  That's not really about how MUCH is in the kitchen, but more about having planned well.  It makes me happy to know what I will be making for each meal, know I have what i need to make those meals, and it makes me happy to feed people.

10.Growing things.  Especially in purple. (Which is funny - I don't have a favorite color indoors..  but outside, I like things that grown in purples and blues) I may not love the work of getting everything started, but seeing it all growing, especially a year or two later, makes me happy!.

Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy

Taco Quiche

Supper Monday night was Taco Quiche, refried beans, & Lemon Lime Cake for dessert.

The taco quiche is one of my new favorite recipes. So quick and easy, it uses up eggs, and is really good!

For the crust:

Tortillas.  You can use either corn or flour, I used flour here because I had them.  Use 3 or 4, tear them in half if needed to make them fit, overlapping, in the bottom of the pan.

For the quiche:

Dice & saute an onion (I used a vidalia)

Brown 1 lb of ground beef in taco seasoning

mix together and place on top of the tortilla crust

top with 8 ounces of shredded Montery or Colby Jack Cheese

In a bowl, mix together 1 cup milk and 4 eggs.  Whisk well, then pour over the meat & cheese.

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes, until set & starting to brown lightly

For the toppings:

Salsa

Chopped lettuce

Chopped Tomato

Chopped avacado

Sour Cream

Hot Sauce

From the Recipe Drawer - Goulash

What I used:

I ended up doubling the recipe.  It only calls for half that box of macaroni, and half that bottle of tomato juice.  I also added salt & pepper.

There was more cheese to add to individual bowls.  My normal goulash does not use vegetables, chili powder, or cheese, and I usually use canned whole tomatoes and a little spaghetti sauce instead of the juice and tomato sauce.  I like the addition of vegetables and will probably do that in the future - although I'll use frozen instead of canned, it is cheaper.  We loved the addition of cheese, and the chili powder is a nice touch.  

The Recipe Drawer

When we bought the farm from my mother in law, it came with a recipe drawer.  Her recipes, recipes from aunts, friends, sister in laws, mostly in family members handwriting. My daughter & I have been working through the drawer, trying as many of the recipes as we can.

See more of the recipes here.