Brownies

These brownies are fudgey, not too sweet and sure to please.

Ingredients:
¾ cup butter, melted
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
1½ cup sugar
¾ cup flour (plus 2 tablespoons in high altitude)
½ cup cocoa
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teasspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Blend butter, vanilla and eggs in a mixing bowl, set aside.
3. Combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients.
4. Spread in a greased and floured pan.
5. Bake until brownies peel away from the pans edges. Cool and cut.

Peanut Butter Fudge

This is a family recipe.  Simplicity is key!

Ingredients:
2 c. sugar
½ c. water
1 c. peanut butter
1 t. vanilla extract

1. Boil sugar and water for 4 to 5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Add peanut butter and vanilla.  Mix well.
4. Spread in pan.  Allow to cool
5. Cut and enjoy!

Peach Cobbler

This recipe is true Southern comfort food for me.  My grandfather used to make it for all family occasions.  It's warm, buttery, sweet, a bit gooey and just oh so yummy.

The simplicity of the recipe makes it great for the budding young chef of the family to prepare for dessert (with supervision, of course)!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 c. butter (1 stick)
1 c. self-rising flour
1 c. white sugar
1 c. milk
1 (16-ounce) can peaches in heavy syrup

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Place butter in an 8x8 baking dish. Place the dish in the oven until ready to use.

In a medium bowl combine flour and sugar, mix well. Stir in milk. Spoon batter into baking dish on top of the melted butter. Pour the can of peaches with syrup over the mixture.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until peaches are bubbly and the crust is lightly browned.

Play-Doh

This is a recipe that my grandmother gave me and informed me I just had to have so I could make it for my kids, and tell them that their great grandmother wanted them to have it for a rainy day.

But, I decided that everyone should have this recipe. It's homemade, completely edible (I'm not saying it's tasty), and lots of fun. So, it's perfect
Ingredients:
1 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 t. cream of tartar
1 T. oil
1 c. water
a few drops of food coloring

1. Mix the flour, salt and cream of tartar together. Mix the oil and water together. Combine both. Add the desired coloring.
2. Stir over medium heat until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. Let cool.
3. Store in an air tight plastic container.

Apple Pecan Smoothie

I made this smoothie this morning when I was really wanting something extra sweet, almost like a dessert.  It would be really good with red grapes as well.  Also, it is a pinkish-beige with flecks of red when fully blended, fair warning.

Ingredients:
1 large red apple, cut -- peeled if so desired.
1/2 c. pecan halves
3/4 c. vanilla yogurt
1/4 c. milk

1. Place all ingredients into the blender, liquids first.
2. Blend on high speed until desired texture.  If too thick add a dash of milk.
3. Enjoy!

No-Flour Peanut Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
1 c. peanut butter (creamy or chunky, your choice)
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. chocolate chips, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Beat peanut butter until it is slightly creamier.
3. Add sugar, mix well.
4. Add in egg, mix well.
5. When well blended, drop by spoonfulls onto a 'greased' cookie sheet, shape.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottom of the cookie is golden brown.

Gypsy Soup

Honestly, I think I could live off of this recipe.  It is so, so good.
I actually just throw all of the ingredients into one big pot and let it cook for an hour or two.

INGREDIENTS:
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can chickpeas
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. celery, chopped
½ c. frozen peas
2 lg. yams cut into ½" cubes
1 lg. green pepper, chopped
2 t. paprika
1 t. turmeric
½ t. cumin
½ t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
4 c. water
pinch of red pepper, to taste