Microwave Popcorn!

No more buying the store-bought kind! We did this last night and it really works! Depending on your preference, you will need to add some butter and salt after its done cooking.

1/4 C popcorn kernels
1 brown lunch bag

Put kernels in the bag and fold the top down 3 little time. Put in microwave and cook for about 1 1/2 - 2 minutes. Enjoy!

The "listening until it stops popping" trick doesn't work with this, it burns before it gets quiet, so just stop it at 2 minutes or earlier. You can also put a little oil in the bag before you cook it, too.

Best-ever Brownies!

These brownies are from Sister Wade, Jim's seminary teacher. We went to a reunion, had these, and I left with the recipe. They are seriously the best-ever! I don't even bother making any other brownies anymore, they're just not as good. I like to slightly underbake them so they are perfectly gooey, and with the frosting as the finishing touch, I eat them with a fork. Yummy!

Brownies:
2 squares and 2 T margarine or butter
2 C sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 C flour
1 t salt
4 T cocoa
1 t vanilla

Melt butter, add sugar. Beat eggs, add and mix well. Add flour, salt, and cocoa. Mix, then add vanilla and mix. Put into a greased 9 X 13 pan. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Frosting:
1 square margarine
4 T cocoa
2 T canned milk
1/4 C milk
1 box (4 1/2 C) powdered sugar
1 t vanilla

Melt margarine, add cocoa and canned milk. Mix, then add milk and mix. Add sugar, mix, then add vanilla. Spread onto warm brownies. Let cool and cut into squares. Serves 24 (theoretically, at least).

**Let it cool completely - the hardest part. The frosting seems runny at first, but give it time.

Linda's Fresh Fruit (Peach) Pie

This is Aunt Linda's fresh fruit (peach) pie recipe. Its way good. If you make it too often, you can't blame me for the extra pounds!

Make a single layer pie crust and cook it. Let it cool. Wash, peel, and cut your fruit, and place it in your crust. Then follow directions below, but don't wait too long or you will have brown fruit.

1 1/2 C sugar
1/4 C cornstarch
Mix in a pot, then add
1 1/2 C water
Bring to a boil, stirring, then remove from heat.
Add 1 small package jello* (just the powder, don't follow jello directions)
Stir and let it thicken a little bit.

Pour over fruit in crust.
Put in fridge for at least 2 hours (although it usually takes my pie more like 4 or 5 to be set). You may want to put a plate under it for it to drip on or you'll be cleaning your fridge!

We like to put cool whip or whipping cream on our pie!

TIPS:
You can use whatever flavor of jello you want to. I like to use raspberry jello with my peach pie, or peach jello depending on my mood.

You really could make this a strawberry pie, or some other fruit, but I personally think peach is the best (my family would probably really like strawberry, but why make a pie if you can't eat it?) Although, I should make it a raspberry pie sometime, that would be even more heavenly!

If I make this in my regular pie plate, it always overflows. I have started making it in my deep-dish style pie plate and it fits in the pie plate better.

I usually use 5-7 peaches, depending on how big they are.

I have noticed that the pie still looks good on day 2, but on day 3 it starts to look ugly and get a little bit of a "different" texture to it - so don't try to save it too long. Just enjoy it! Give in! Eat all you want/can, or at least have some friends over to share it with in the first place! You can always make another one on day 4 (if not sooner)!

Cherry Bars!

At Lisa's request. I hope this helps with that craving! I personally would do raspberry. But if you like the cherry do the cherry.

Cherry Bars
2 Cubes Margarine
1 ¾ c. Sugar
3 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
21 oz cherry or other pie filling.
½ - 1 tsp. salt

Cream margarine, sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add flour, salt, and Baking Powder. Grease and flour large cookie sheet. Spread with 2/3 of the batter. Put pie filling on top of batter. then drop remaining batter by tablespoonful on top of this.
Bake at 350° for 35-45 min.

Frosting: 1 c. Powdered Sugar
2 Tbsp. Milk
½ tsp. Almond Extract

Cake in a Mug!!! Fast and easy!

This is a really easy and fast treat to have on hand. And kids love helping to make it.

First make the mix:
in a big bag (Ziploc) put 1 angle food cake mix and 1 other flavor cake mix (any flavor, I like chocolate) Shake to combine it all together.

When you are ready for a small personal cake measure 1/3 c. mix into a coffee/Hot chocolate mug. Add 3 T. Water and mix. If you want you can put candy pieces, chocolate chips, etc. in the mix/water mixture. Place in microwave and cook for 1 min. Then turn it over on your plate and eat! Really good with Ice Cream! (but everything is)

Tip:Microwave with something under it, My cakes boil over.