Category Archives: Desserts

Cakes, cookies, pies, puddings

Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

 Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

 

Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

Julia Ann
A soft spicey molasses cookie filled with walnuts and raisins. Originally called a tea cake. First published in an 1877 Portland, Maine cookbook.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 60

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • Mix the first 6 dry ingredients together; whisk to blend.
  • Measure the molasses and water together.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine shortening and sugars; cream until fluffy.
  • Reserve 1/2 egg; add the remainder of eggs to sugars, beat to blend.
  • Alternate adding the dry ingredients and liquids, beating after each addition.
  • Stir in walnuts and raisins until mixed evenly.
  • Drop by tablespoonful on the cookie sheet.
  • Brush tops with egg.
  • Add pinch of white sugar on top of each cookie.
  • Bake 12 to 15 minutes

Notes

These can be made into a bar cookie. Cut when warm and store to soften.
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Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

The Grand Canyon is a special spot our family likes to visit.  There is a fun train excursion from Williams, Arizona up to the Grand Canyon.  Certainly family oriented.  It is a must see place to visit each time we go to Arizona.  It is fun to walk around the El Tovar Lodge on the south rim, visit the shops and see the elk, ride the bus to lookout points over the Canyon and breathe the western air.  I like the the southwest. Now what does that have to do with cookies?  I remembered a cookbook I got at a used bookstore in Flagstaff,  The Grand Canyon Pioneers Society Cook Book, 1988 edition.  Gale Burak baked Gale’s Hermit Cookies to take to the Grand Canyon Ranger Stations.  I have renamed them Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies and bake them as a drop cookie.

South Rim of the Grand Canyon

South Rim of the Grand Can 

                Enjoy the old fashioned flavor of Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies.

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Apple Cobbler

Bowl of Gala Apples for Apple Cobbler

 

The delight of fall is seeing all the apples in the orchards and shops with apple cobblers, apple pies, candied apples, apple chips, apple bread, and apple cider.  Also in the fall, there are pumpkins of every size, squash of every variety , walnuts, hickory nuts, and pecans.  It is really harvest time.  Much thanks to be given.

small wagon

 

There are many apple cobbler and pie recipes and every cook has a favorite.  My aunt would lay out a ring of pie dough about 8 inches circle, add apple slices, sugar and cinnamon, probably butter, before wrapping the apples in a little packet to bake.  I have not tried that method, I am sure it would not taste the same.

The recipe included here is one I found long time ago, do not remember the original source.  It was for peach cobbler, which was good too.  I adapted it for apple cobbler.

Gala Apple Cobbler

Gala Apple Cobbler

Apple Cobbler

Julia Ann
An easy quick recipe to make an apple cobbler. It has a cake like topping instead of a crust.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 8 -10

Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 Gala apples 16 oz. peeled and sliced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 F.
  • Add lemon juice to sauce pan of water, lemon juice prevent apples from turning brown.
  • Peel and slice apples into the pan, heat until just soft, not over cooked.
  • Drain apples before using.
  • Pour the melted butter in 9 x 13 cake pan.
  • Mix flour, sugars, baking powder, salt and spices in a large bowl.
  • Stir in the milk until well blended. This is a thin batter.
  • Pour the batter over the butter in the cake pan, do not stir.
  • Sprinkle the raisins over the batter.
  • Add the drained apple slices.
  • Sprinkle top with pecan pieces.
  • Mix bread crumbs and brown sugar together, sprinkle sweet crumb mixture of the top of the cobbler
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when tested.

Notes

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Serving of Apple Cobbler

Serving of Apple Cobbler

From Julia Ann’s Kitchen, where you are always welcome to visit.

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American Persimmon Cake

American Persimmon

In the midwest and southeastern part of the United States recipes for persimmon cake, puddings, cookies, cheesecakes and ice cream are as popular as pumpkin recipes.  I had not eaten anything persimmon in central Indiana until I married and lived in southern Indiana. It was a yearly treat for my husband’s family.  So I learned to like this strange little fruit.  It is bitter if eaten before it’s time,  it’s ripe after the first frost.  Best eaten in desserts with whipped cream.

American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) http://kids.britannica.com/comptoms/art-153606

An interesting fact about this tree, there has to be a male and female tree for the tree to produce the fruit.  How can you tell the difference between trees?  You have to wait until the flowers come out in the spring.  It’s all in how the flowers are attached to the branch.  All hunters need to go out early October to find the female trees to hang their stand. Deer also like the persimmons.

The fruit is round, spicy-sweet when ripe, yellow to deep red with flat seeds.  To get the pulp from the fruit it must first be run through a food mill to separate the skin and seeds.
The pulp can be frozen.  Nutritionally the persimmon is high in vitamins A and C.

American Persimmons for Cake

American Persimmons for Cake                                           

Trees are harder to find now in the wild, unless you know where to go.  One time we found a tree down by Lake Monroe, south of Bloomington, Indiana.  The best spot we have now to gather persimmons belongs to a favorite aunt.  My husband has eyed the tree for this year and it is loaded and hanging heavy.  The following recipe is from Aunt’s Recipe Collection.

American Persimmon Cake

American Persimmon Cake

Julia Ann
A fruit favorite in the fall, particularly in the midwest. Recipes abound for pudding, cookies, cakes and even a fudge recipe. This is a soft moist cake or pudding. Serve it with whip cream or vanilla ice cream
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour 9 x 13 inch cake pan.
  • In a medium bowl, add flour, sea salt, cinnamon, soda; whisk to blend. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
  • Add the persimmon pulp and blend.
  • Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the sour milk, beat after each addition.
  • Add the vanilla.
  • Pour into the prepared 9 x 13 inch cake pan.
  • Bake 45 minutes or when cake tester is inserted, it comes out clean.

Notes

*To make sour milk: 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or apple cider in 2 cup measure; add milk to 2 cups. Let stand 5 minutes to allow milk to sour.
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American Persimmon Cake

American Persimmon Cake

 

Julia Ann andcookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018  Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.

 

Peaches: Canned and in a Cake

How To Can Fresh Peaches

Canning Fresh Peaches and Baking a Cake

Canning fresh peaches and baking  a cake makes for good eating, not for dieting. 6 pounds of Velvet peaches from the farmer’s market made 6 pints of canned sliced peaches in a light sugar syrup: 1 cup sugar to 3 cups of water. After washing the peaches,  boiling water was pour over them for about 40 seconds, lifted out of  hot water into an ice water bath to cool and loosen the peel enough to slide off easily. I sprinkled on some lemon juice to prevent browning then cut the peaches in half-inch slices.  These peaches were freestone, that is, the peach stone came out easily.

Before the canning, I washed the pint jars in the dish washer and left them until ready to fill.  I also boiled lids and jar rings in water, kept hot until ready for use.  By canning in a hot water bath, I started the water boiling in the canner before starting. The sugar syrup also was made ahead to have hot, close to boiling point, to add the sliced peaches for 5 minutes.  The hot peaches were put into pint jars,  sugar syrup was added leaving 1/2 inch space; lids and rings were put on.  The pints were put into the boiling water of the canner, covered to boil for 20 minutes. (Process time varies at different altitudes.) The jars were lifted out, carefully, and set on a towel to cool.  The lids will pop when they are sealed.  After cooling 24 hours, they can be stored on the shelf.¹

 Did you know fresh peaches are recommended in weight control?

There are less than 70 calories in a large peach, and no fat.  Yes, there is sugar, a carbohydrate, however it is a natural sugar which also have vitamins and minerals, unlike the carbohydrates eaten in cakes, cookies and sodas.  Other benefits to eating fresh peaches are vitamin A and C, fiber and potassium.  Add them to cereals, smoothies, cottage cheese, yogurt, lettuce salads or baked ham.²

Now how about a recipe for Peach Upside Down Cake with calories!

PEACH UPSIDE DOWN CAKE RECIPE

Peach Upside Down Cake

Julia Ann
A buttery moist cake topped with sweet fresh peach slices with a syrup drizzling over it.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup unsalted melted

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven *325 F for 10-inch glass pie plate; 350 F for 10-inch cake pan.
  • **Place foil on bottom shelf to catch any dripping juices.
  • ***Wash and slice peaches into 1 tablespoon lemon juice, gently coat peach slices.
  • Mix brown sugar with melted butter in a small bowl.
  • Spread evenly on bottom of pie plate or cake pan
  • Add toasted almonds.
  • Drain juices off peaches; arrange peaches on sugar-butter mixture.
  • Measure and blend dry ingredients in bowl.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add eggs one at time, beating after each addition.
  • Beat in almond extract.
  • Alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk, beat after each addition to blend.
  • Pour batter on top of peaches.
  • Bake 45-55 minutes, test for doneness by inserting tester in center; it comes out clean when done.
  • Serve warm with whip cream or ice cream.

Notes

*Baking in glass takes longer to heat up, but maintains temperature. If there is much sugar in the recipe, it is best to bake at 25 degrees lower to prevent burning the sugar before it is baked through. **Putting foil in the oven while it is preheating brings the foil up to the oven temperature. The sheet will catch any juices while baking. ***Adding lemon juice to the fresh sliced peaches prevents browning. This is drained off before using the peaches.
cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® es, bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.
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 Additional information on canning, freezing or drying
Inspired by ³Gourmet Magazine, 1993.

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Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.

 

Fourth of July Lunch Menu with Apple Pie Recipe

Fourth of July Lunch Menu with Apple Pie Recipe

Menus do not have to be elaborate to be tasty or for it to be a party or picnic. Lemon Bar-B-Que Chicken Breasts  pieces, served with baked beans, Summer Time Cole Slaw and American Apple Pie tops off an easy holiday lunch or picnic.

Fourth of July Lunch

                               Fourth of July Lunch

The zesty Lemon-Bar-B-Que recipe is in the cookbookinabox® Menu 101.  The Netta Belle’s Choice® Summer Time Cole Slaw is given in previous post for the recipe in this blog.  Use your favorite baked beans recipe or purchase sweet and spicy flavored baked beans. style American Apple Pie recipe follows.

American Apple Pie

American Apple Pie

American Apple Pie

Julia Ann
Celebrate July 4th with a Golden Delicious Apple Pie.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • DOUBLE 9-INCH PIE CRUST

Instructions
 

  • PIE CRUST
  • Combine flour, cold butter and cold shortening in large bowl.
  • Use mixer to blend to corn meal texture.
  • Add water by tablespoons just until dough begins to stick together.
  • Gather into a large ball.
  • Divide into two, flatten and wrap in plastic wrap to refrigerate 30 to 60 minutes.
  • Roll out between wax paper or generously floured board.
  • Line the bottom of 9-inch pie plate.
  • Roll out second ball of dough for the top crust.
  • ------------
  • APPLE PIE FILLING
  • Preheat oven to 425 F.
  • Slice apples into lemon juice, stir to coat. (Prevents apples from browning.)
  • Mix sugars, tapioca and spices in large bowl.
  • Drain apples.
  • Pour apples into sugar mixture, blend to coat apples with sugar mixture.
  • Pour filling in prepared pie plate.
  • Dot top with butter,
  • Cover with second pie crust.
  • Make small holes to allow steam escape while baking.
  • Bake 15 minutes at 425 F.
  • Reduce heat to 350 F, bake 35 to 45 minutes more.
  • Cover with aluminum foil if top browns too fast.

Notes

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. 2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.”Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

                      Enjoy your American Apple Pie with your Fourth of July Lunch Menu.

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.