who posted many recipes at the old swap and always signed her posts with CYH - consider yourself hugged. Cyndi passed away
last week after a long illness. She wrote several columns and had
some recipe sites on the internet. Here is one of her columns which ends with some great recipes especially for now.
It is long but read thru to the recipes.
Family Fare by Cynthia Bowan 7 February 10
Snow, snow and more snow - usual forecast for this time of year, but not nice when you have to keep warm and you can't get out of the house for anything.
When the first snowfall hit High Point and surrounding areas here in North Carolina, I just couldn't believe it! This is the SOUTH, darn it! This is not Pittsburgh or Cleveland or Wisconsin or. Thankfully, I had worn my heavy winter coat on the way down here. The couple times I have been out of the house, I was very glad to have that coat.
The teasing from the North was not appreciated, either. My family back home gloated over the fact that snow was heavy here but not there.
It is not wise to gloat at Mother Nature. Just about everything around the Pittsburgh area was closed this weekend. Our oldest daughter, Holly, sent me a picture of their back yard. The snow had covered most of their plants and even the swing! She said she is afraid that they will lose the lilac bush, which appears to have a major portion cracked.
My husband, Merrill, called this morning to tell me of all the problems he had in getting out of the driveway. He was absolutely stuck in the ice - right where the street and driveway meet. Thank heaven for good neighbors! Nick Futules came over with his one vehicle that has a snow plow on it - and in a short time, our car was free and on the road.
Nick also volunteered to plow our driveway. After clearing a straight path, he decided to do the edges so the clean area would be larger. However, no good deed goes unpunished, as the quote states - he got stuck in one part!
No problem - his SUV was right across the street! So he went home, got it out, came over and unstuck his vehicle! Our family was very grateful.
Holly calls me almost every day to report on various things, especially what our grandson Zachary has done or is doing. But her story the other day was the kind I love to hear. Holly and Rich live in Lawrenceville, on a typical steep Pittsburgh street. When the snow was falling heavily, several folks were getting stuck at different places on the street. The drivers were trying to get free to no avail. Then the doors opened from many of the houses around. People of all ages came out with brooms and shovels and began to help the drivers. Holly could hear the conversations, and as she told me how the neighbors were helping, I had goose bumps - this is what I love about Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.
If there is a need, people greatly respond, no matter what it is. She watched the procedure for several minutes. Just as the last car was freed and made it up the hill to the cross street, the snow stopped. After a few minutes, the neighbors went back into their warm houses, and probably went back to sleep. Lights went out in the various buildings, and Holly climbed back in bed.
I remember the terrible snowstorm in the late 50's, where I lived with my parents and siblings. After the snow stopped falling, snowmen appeared in some of the yards, but the best thing was that several of the men got together and made a real Igloo. Bricks were made out of the snow and piled on top of each other. They even had the low tunnel entrance. We had a large number of children on our street and we all got to crawl into the igloo. Somewhere I have pictures of the event.
Then there was the winter when snow fell heavily in our area again. Mark and his family joined us, and we spent three or four days stuck in the house. We played board games and we cooked and baked a lot! Fortunately, we had enough ingredients to do this because as the snow started, Merrill and I drove down to the old Giant Eagle in Oakmont and loaded up on all sorts of food, and of course, keeping to the Pittsburgh tradition, we bought bread, toilet paper and pet food in addition to the veggies and meat etc.
I was reminded of all this as snow fell again here in North Carolina. Friday night, Doug drove Betty and I over to Harris Teeters, his main grocery store just a few minutes away. But guess what? It seems that Pittsburgh does not have sole claim to the before a storm shopping syndrome! None of us has ever seen so many people in one storm before.
Finding a parking space was tricky, but we were able to park and get inside. Carts were lining the aisles so much that we needed traffic directors. The best thing, though, was that no one was angry or rude. Everyone was intent on what they needed to do, and there was some laughter here and there when we had traffic jams in the aisles.
Back home, Doug and Betty made Beer Cheese soup that night. The soup was awesome, warm and filling, and black Russian rye bread equally delicious. Saturday, they were back in the kitchen, and this time they made the most fantastic chili I have eaten in years. Topped with sour cream and grated Cheddar cheese on top, we all agreed that this was the best! They have plans to make the chili again today. As for me, I think we deserve some type of dessert to have as well. So I pulled out some recipes and chose a wonderful old recipe, Cherries in the Snow. This version is quick and easy, and would be a cooling addition after the chili!
Choosing a recipe theme for this column is one of the easiest I have done in a while, so I picked recipes with snow in the title. After all, how often does it snow down South? . I hope you will now have some snow stories of your own to add to your memories, and that you will try one of these fun recipes. Just remember, dear friends, as always, to CYH - consider yourself hugged!!
Snow Ice Cream
This is an old-fashioned treat to make when the snow is fresh and clean.
3 cups loose clean snow
2 tbsp. milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Mix all the ingredients, sample the result, and add more sugar and vanilla extract to taste. Eat immediately. Makes 4 servings
Snow Drop Cookies
This recipe for Snow Drop Cookies is perfect for whipping up when you're short on time. It's also great for times when the kids want to help you make cookies. Mix up the batter and put them to work shaping the cookies and then rolling the baked cookies in powdered sugar.
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar (powdered and sifted)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour (sifted)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl and mix in vanilla. Sift flour and salt together and add to the sugar mixture. Gently fold in the chopped pecans. Shape mixture into golf ball sized balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes at 350 F. or until baked through and slightly golden.
While cookies are baking place a little extra powdered sugar in a bowl. Once the cookies are done baking roll through the sugar and set aside to cool.
Nestles Chocolate Snow Flurries
25 NESTLÉ BUTTERFINGER Jingles, unwrapped and cut in quarters
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup powdered sugar (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.
Beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until combined. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in the Nestlé's Jingles. Refrigerate dough for 15 minutes for easier handling. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar.
NOTES: Try substituting NESTLÉ Milk Chocolate Jingles.
(NESTLÉ Jingles are available mid-November through December)
Snow People
From Betty Crocker
Have "snow" much fun! Create and offer edible snow people in a jar of sugar cubes to look like snow.
Prep Time: 30 min
Total Time: 50 min
Makes: 12 candies
1/2 package (16-ounce size) vanilla-flavored candy coating (almond bark)
24 large marshmallows
12 large pretzel rods
24 large gumdrops
24 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
About 3 Betty Crocker® Fruit Roll-Ups® (from 5-ounce package)
Cover cookie sheet with foil or waxed paper. Melt candy coating as directed on package.
Thread 2 marshmallows on each pretzel rod so marshmallows are at one end of pretzel. For hat brim, press gumdrop to flatten and attach to top of pretzel, using melted coating; press and hold brim about 5 seconds.
For top of hat, attach another gumdrop, flat side down, on center of brim, using melted coating; press and hold about 5 seconds. Place pretzel in empty beverage glass to hold upright; let stand about 20 minutes or until set.
For eyes, attach chocolate chips to marshmallow, using melted coating. Repeat with remaining gumdrops, pretzels, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Cut fruit snack rolls into strips, about 6 inches long and 1/4 inch wide; place on snow people for scarves.
Special Touch: For an individual gift, package one snowman in a plastic bag filled with miniature marshmallows to resemble snow. Tie with fanciful ribbons.
Cherries in the Snow
1 pre-baked loaf-style angel food cake from your local bakery
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 (12 oz.) container frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling
Combine cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in small bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until smooth.
To assemble, stand the angel food cake on its end and slice in half down the length of the loaf (you will have two long slices).
Spread half the whipped topping in bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Arrange 1 cake slice on whipped topping: press lightly; spread with the cream cheese mixture.
Arrange remaining cake slice on cream cheese mixture; press lightly. Spread with remaining whipped topping.
Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over top. (Pan will be filled to the top.) Refrigerate for 2 hours or until ready to serve. Cut into slices.
Orange Snow Ball Cake
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large box orange gelatin
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 large angel food cake
4 envelopes Dream Whip
1 package flaked coconut
Mix water and sugar in saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in orange gelatin and crushed pineapple. Cool in refrigerator while breaking angel food cake into pieces and placing in a greased bowl or pan.
Mix 2 packages of Dream Whip according to directions on package and mix with gelatin mixture. Pour over angel food cake. Mix remaining packages of Dream Whip and spread over cake. Sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate until serving time.
Apple Snow
6 apples, thinly sliced
1 tsp. cinnamon
Sugar to taste
4 oz. double cream
3 egg whites
Place the apples, cinnamon and a pinch of sugar into a pan and cook until the apples soften, then pass through a sieve and allow mixture to cool.
Whip the cream into soft peaks and whisk the egg whites along with a little sugar until it forms stiff peaks. Fold in the cream and egg whites to the apple mixture and serve in a bowl.
Lime Snow
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 tsp grated lime peel
1/2 cup lime juice
4 egg whites
Sprinkle unflavored gelatin over cold water in a large bowl and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in sugar until blended. Add boiling water and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add grated lime peel and lime juice. Chill until slightly thickened (about 15 min)
Beat egg whites until stiff. While beating, gradually add gelatin mixture until soft peaks form. Spoon the dessert into 8 individual dessert cups or 1 large serving bowl. Chill for 2 hours. Nice with mint leaves whole berries or edible flowers. (You can also make this with Key limes.) This recipe serves 8.
2 T. = 64 calories-3 g protein, 0 g fat, 14 g carbohydrate, 0 mg cholesterol
last week after a long illness. She wrote several columns and had
some recipe sites on the internet. Here is one of her columns which ends with some great recipes especially for now.
It is long but read thru to the recipes.
Family Fare by Cynthia Bowan 7 February 10
Snow, snow and more snow - usual forecast for this time of year, but not nice when you have to keep warm and you can't get out of the house for anything.
When the first snowfall hit High Point and surrounding areas here in North Carolina, I just couldn't believe it! This is the SOUTH, darn it! This is not Pittsburgh or Cleveland or Wisconsin or. Thankfully, I had worn my heavy winter coat on the way down here. The couple times I have been out of the house, I was very glad to have that coat.
The teasing from the North was not appreciated, either. My family back home gloated over the fact that snow was heavy here but not there.
It is not wise to gloat at Mother Nature. Just about everything around the Pittsburgh area was closed this weekend. Our oldest daughter, Holly, sent me a picture of their back yard. The snow had covered most of their plants and even the swing! She said she is afraid that they will lose the lilac bush, which appears to have a major portion cracked.
My husband, Merrill, called this morning to tell me of all the problems he had in getting out of the driveway. He was absolutely stuck in the ice - right where the street and driveway meet. Thank heaven for good neighbors! Nick Futules came over with his one vehicle that has a snow plow on it - and in a short time, our car was free and on the road.
Nick also volunteered to plow our driveway. After clearing a straight path, he decided to do the edges so the clean area would be larger. However, no good deed goes unpunished, as the quote states - he got stuck in one part!
No problem - his SUV was right across the street! So he went home, got it out, came over and unstuck his vehicle! Our family was very grateful.
Holly calls me almost every day to report on various things, especially what our grandson Zachary has done or is doing. But her story the other day was the kind I love to hear. Holly and Rich live in Lawrenceville, on a typical steep Pittsburgh street. When the snow was falling heavily, several folks were getting stuck at different places on the street. The drivers were trying to get free to no avail. Then the doors opened from many of the houses around. People of all ages came out with brooms and shovels and began to help the drivers. Holly could hear the conversations, and as she told me how the neighbors were helping, I had goose bumps - this is what I love about Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.
If there is a need, people greatly respond, no matter what it is. She watched the procedure for several minutes. Just as the last car was freed and made it up the hill to the cross street, the snow stopped. After a few minutes, the neighbors went back into their warm houses, and probably went back to sleep. Lights went out in the various buildings, and Holly climbed back in bed.
I remember the terrible snowstorm in the late 50's, where I lived with my parents and siblings. After the snow stopped falling, snowmen appeared in some of the yards, but the best thing was that several of the men got together and made a real Igloo. Bricks were made out of the snow and piled on top of each other. They even had the low tunnel entrance. We had a large number of children on our street and we all got to crawl into the igloo. Somewhere I have pictures of the event.
Then there was the winter when snow fell heavily in our area again. Mark and his family joined us, and we spent three or four days stuck in the house. We played board games and we cooked and baked a lot! Fortunately, we had enough ingredients to do this because as the snow started, Merrill and I drove down to the old Giant Eagle in Oakmont and loaded up on all sorts of food, and of course, keeping to the Pittsburgh tradition, we bought bread, toilet paper and pet food in addition to the veggies and meat etc.
I was reminded of all this as snow fell again here in North Carolina. Friday night, Doug drove Betty and I over to Harris Teeters, his main grocery store just a few minutes away. But guess what? It seems that Pittsburgh does not have sole claim to the before a storm shopping syndrome! None of us has ever seen so many people in one storm before.
Finding a parking space was tricky, but we were able to park and get inside. Carts were lining the aisles so much that we needed traffic directors. The best thing, though, was that no one was angry or rude. Everyone was intent on what they needed to do, and there was some laughter here and there when we had traffic jams in the aisles.
Back home, Doug and Betty made Beer Cheese soup that night. The soup was awesome, warm and filling, and black Russian rye bread equally delicious. Saturday, they were back in the kitchen, and this time they made the most fantastic chili I have eaten in years. Topped with sour cream and grated Cheddar cheese on top, we all agreed that this was the best! They have plans to make the chili again today. As for me, I think we deserve some type of dessert to have as well. So I pulled out some recipes and chose a wonderful old recipe, Cherries in the Snow. This version is quick and easy, and would be a cooling addition after the chili!
Choosing a recipe theme for this column is one of the easiest I have done in a while, so I picked recipes with snow in the title. After all, how often does it snow down South? . I hope you will now have some snow stories of your own to add to your memories, and that you will try one of these fun recipes. Just remember, dear friends, as always, to CYH - consider yourself hugged!!
Snow Ice Cream
This is an old-fashioned treat to make when the snow is fresh and clean.
3 cups loose clean snow
2 tbsp. milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Mix all the ingredients, sample the result, and add more sugar and vanilla extract to taste. Eat immediately. Makes 4 servings
Snow Drop Cookies
This recipe for Snow Drop Cookies is perfect for whipping up when you're short on time. It's also great for times when the kids want to help you make cookies. Mix up the batter and put them to work shaping the cookies and then rolling the baked cookies in powdered sugar.
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar (powdered and sifted)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour (sifted)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl and mix in vanilla. Sift flour and salt together and add to the sugar mixture. Gently fold in the chopped pecans. Shape mixture into golf ball sized balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes at 350 F. or until baked through and slightly golden.
While cookies are baking place a little extra powdered sugar in a bowl. Once the cookies are done baking roll through the sugar and set aside to cool.
Nestles Chocolate Snow Flurries
25 NESTLÉ BUTTERFINGER Jingles, unwrapped and cut in quarters
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup powdered sugar (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.
Beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until combined. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in the Nestlé's Jingles. Refrigerate dough for 15 minutes for easier handling. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar.
NOTES: Try substituting NESTLÉ Milk Chocolate Jingles.
(NESTLÉ Jingles are available mid-November through December)
Snow People
From Betty Crocker
Have "snow" much fun! Create and offer edible snow people in a jar of sugar cubes to look like snow.
Prep Time: 30 min
Total Time: 50 min
Makes: 12 candies
1/2 package (16-ounce size) vanilla-flavored candy coating (almond bark)
24 large marshmallows
12 large pretzel rods
24 large gumdrops
24 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
About 3 Betty Crocker® Fruit Roll-Ups® (from 5-ounce package)
Cover cookie sheet with foil or waxed paper. Melt candy coating as directed on package.
Thread 2 marshmallows on each pretzel rod so marshmallows are at one end of pretzel. For hat brim, press gumdrop to flatten and attach to top of pretzel, using melted coating; press and hold brim about 5 seconds.
For top of hat, attach another gumdrop, flat side down, on center of brim, using melted coating; press and hold about 5 seconds. Place pretzel in empty beverage glass to hold upright; let stand about 20 minutes or until set.
For eyes, attach chocolate chips to marshmallow, using melted coating. Repeat with remaining gumdrops, pretzels, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Cut fruit snack rolls into strips, about 6 inches long and 1/4 inch wide; place on snow people for scarves.
Special Touch: For an individual gift, package one snowman in a plastic bag filled with miniature marshmallows to resemble snow. Tie with fanciful ribbons.
Cherries in the Snow
1 pre-baked loaf-style angel food cake from your local bakery
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 (12 oz.) container frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling
Combine cream cheese and confectioners' sugar in small bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until smooth.
To assemble, stand the angel food cake on its end and slice in half down the length of the loaf (you will have two long slices).
Spread half the whipped topping in bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Arrange 1 cake slice on whipped topping: press lightly; spread with the cream cheese mixture.
Arrange remaining cake slice on cream cheese mixture; press lightly. Spread with remaining whipped topping.
Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over top. (Pan will be filled to the top.) Refrigerate for 2 hours or until ready to serve. Cut into slices.
Orange Snow Ball Cake
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large box orange gelatin
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 large angel food cake
4 envelopes Dream Whip
1 package flaked coconut
Mix water and sugar in saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in orange gelatin and crushed pineapple. Cool in refrigerator while breaking angel food cake into pieces and placing in a greased bowl or pan.
Mix 2 packages of Dream Whip according to directions on package and mix with gelatin mixture. Pour over angel food cake. Mix remaining packages of Dream Whip and spread over cake. Sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate until serving time.
Apple Snow
6 apples, thinly sliced
1 tsp. cinnamon
Sugar to taste
4 oz. double cream
3 egg whites
Place the apples, cinnamon and a pinch of sugar into a pan and cook until the apples soften, then pass through a sieve and allow mixture to cool.
Whip the cream into soft peaks and whisk the egg whites along with a little sugar until it forms stiff peaks. Fold in the cream and egg whites to the apple mixture and serve in a bowl.
Lime Snow
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 tsp grated lime peel
1/2 cup lime juice
4 egg whites
Sprinkle unflavored gelatin over cold water in a large bowl and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in sugar until blended. Add boiling water and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add grated lime peel and lime juice. Chill until slightly thickened (about 15 min)
Beat egg whites until stiff. While beating, gradually add gelatin mixture until soft peaks form. Spoon the dessert into 8 individual dessert cups or 1 large serving bowl. Chill for 2 hours. Nice with mint leaves whole berries or edible flowers. (You can also make this with Key limes.) This recipe serves 8.
2 T. = 64 calories-3 g protein, 0 g fat, 14 g carbohydrate, 0 mg cholesterol