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The Dippin' Dip

3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese
1/4 cup of chopped nuts (walnuts work best in this)
about a tablespoon of vanilla

Now, if you have let the cream cheese sit out, you can do this with your hand, but if not, you can put it in the electric mixer and do it.

Put the cream cheese in a bowl, and start mashing it with the fork. Or if you are using a mixer, do it on low speed. Next pour the sugar in, one at a time, mixing it well before adding the next. Next you mix the vanilla in. That way it's a little bit softer. Now the last thing is to put the nuts in. Now mix all that up really good, making sure the sugars have not clumped anywhere. There's your apple dip.

I want to let you know something - if you are having a get-together and want this to be a part of the food, and you are making it ahead of time, do not cut the apples too. They will turn brown. It won't hurt if you do, but if you don't have to, make sure they are freshly cut.

Now, time to cut the apples. My favourite way to cut them is with a sharp knife. But if you do this, ask an adult to help you with this. If not, and you have an apple-corer on hand, use that. It will be quick to use it.

Once, you have done this, you are finished! Now, you can place the bowls of apples and apple dip on the table and set out some plates for people to come and get their own. Hope you enjoy this as much as we do. When we make, it doesn't last very long once you get the Littles started!

Becoming The Excellent Cook,

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. “You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!” Philippians 4:13

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The Excellent Baker - Apple Crisp

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Here's the recipe I use to make some good old homemade banana bread. It's great to use those old bananas that are sitting there not getting eaten. I won't eat mushy bananas, but with this recipe, you can savour every taste of them!

Banana Bread
1 cup of sugar
1/3 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups of bananas, mashed (3-4 four ripe)
1/3 cup of water
1 2/3 cups of flour (I usually use whole wheat flour to make this kind of stuff)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts

Heat the oven to 350*. Grease bottom only of loaf pan, 8 1/2x2 1/2  or 9x5x3 inches. Mix sugar and butter in a 2 quart bowl. Stir in the eggs until well blended. Add bananas and water; beat for about 30 seconds. Stir in remaining ingredients except nuts just until moistened; stir in nuts. Pour into pan. Bake it until you stick a cake tester in it and it comes out clean. Stick it in the middle. 8 inch loaf pan bake for an hour and 15 minutes, 9 inch loaf bake for one hour. Loosen sides of loaf pan; remove from the pan. Cool completely before slicing or it will fall apart. :)

I love making a few loaves and then sticking them in the freezer. Frozen banana bread is  great treat here. Everyone loves it.

Baking still,
   Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

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I thought you would all like to make breakfast on Sunday for your family and so I am giving one of the recipes Mom made to fit us, being the organic-home-grow-it-make-it-better-for-us people we are. :) Hope you enjoy it as much I do. My little brother, Eric, made some yesterday morning for a late breakfast. He does a pretty good job on them. If you do make 'em, tell me how they turned out. I love to hear about them. :)

French Toast
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
6 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsps. vanilla
2 tsps. flax seed
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

And...the directions: Whip eggs with fork. Mix in flour, water, vanilla and flax. Stir in honey. Add milk. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
    Soak each slice of bread for a few seconds, coating it. Put in slightly greased iron skillet. Flip when bread lifts easily from pan.

Rachel

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I got this recipe from my dear friend Kylie, aka All4Him, awhile back. I must admit, I have not made them yet, but I will soon! When you make them, tell me how they turned out, and then leave Kylie a comment telling her. I hope they are good. Pumpkin is one of my favourite kinds of deserts things. Please enjoy!

Pumpkin Chip Cookies
1 1/2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 15 oz. can pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour
2 cups oats
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
 
Here are your directions: Heat oven to 350*. Cream butter and sugars. Beat in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, soda, cinnamon, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by tablespoonfuls about two inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for about 12 minutes.

Hope you enjoy the recipe,
    Rachel
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

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Here is a recipe you might want to try, if tea is at four and you need something sweet to serve with it: Raisin-Spice Coffee Cake. Although I have never made it, I'm sure it's delicious! But once you make it, you have to tell me about it!

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
 1/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup milk
3 tsps. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 egg
1/2 cup raisins
    Streusel (below)

Heat oven to 350*. Grease square pan, 9x9x2 inches. Beat all ingredients except raisins and Streusel on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, two minutes. Stir in raisins.

Spread half of the batter in pan;sprinkle with half of the Streusel. Top with remaining batter; sprinkle with remaining Streusel. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. 1 coffee cake (9 servings).

Streusel

1/3 cup firm butter
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar or regular sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cut butter into flour, brown sugar and cinnamon until crumbly; stir in nuts.

Streusel Coffee Cake:  Omit cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and raisins in batter.

Note: This recipe was also featured on the Backyard. You have to a have a Homeschoolblogger account, so if you don't have one, please join the community!

Rachel

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I write for the Backyard on homeschoolblogger. I get to post some of my favorite recipes! Here s one: I love making muffins, although I have not made these! But if you would like to try them, here is the recipe: Blueberry Muffins 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup vegetable oil (I'd probably use organic shortening) 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/3 cup sugar 3 tsps. baking powder 1 tap. salt 1 cup fresh or drained can blueberries or 3/4 cup frozen, thawed and well drained Heat oven to 400*. Grease bottoms of only 12 medium muffin cups. 2 1/2x1 1/4 inches, or line with paper baking cups. Beat milk, oil and egg. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt, all at once, just until flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Sprinkle with sugar if desired. Bake until golden brown, 18-20 minutes. Immediately remove from pan. About 1 dozen muffins. Apple Muffins: Omit blueberries. Stir in one medium apple, peeled and chopped, with the milk and 1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon with the salt. Sprinkle batter in pan with brown sugar if desired . Cranberry -Orange Muffins: Omit blueberries. Stir in one cup cranberry halves and one tbsp. grated orange peel with the milk. Sprinkle batter in pan with sugar if desired. Date-Nut Muffins: Omit blueberries. Stir in 1/2 cup cut up dates and 1/3 cup chopped nuta with the milk. French Puffs: Omit blueberries. Immediately roll hot muffins in about 1/2 cup sugar and one tsp. ground cinnamon. Oatmeal-Raisin Muffins: Omit blueberries. Stir in one cup raisins with milk. Decrease flour to one  cup; stir in one cup oatmeal, 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg and 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon with flour. Thanks for trying the recipe!

Rachel

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This recipe is for a Sour Cream Coffee Cake.

Apple-Nut Filling, Almond Filling or Brown Sugar Filling (below)

1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 tsps. vanilla
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsps. baking powder
1 1/2 tsps. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups dairy sour cream
    Glaze (below)

Heat oven to 325*. Grease tube pan, 10x4 inches, or 12-cup bundt cake pan. Prepare one of the fillings; reserve. Beat sugar, butter, vanila and eggs in 2 1/2-quart bowl on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, two minutes. Beat in flour, baking powder, baking baking soda and salt alternately with sour cream on low speed.

Spread 1/3 of batter (about 2 cups) in pan; sprinkle with 1/3 of the filling. Repeat two times. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour; cool 20 minutes. Drizzle with Glaze. 1 coffee cake (16 servings).

Apple-Nut Filling

1 1/2 cups chopped apples
1/3 packed brown sugar
1 tbsp. flour
2 tbsps. butter
1/4 tsp. groung nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts

Cook all ingedients except nuts over medium heat, stirring constantly, until apples are tender, 3-4 minutes; stir in nuts.

Almond Filling

Heat 1 package (3 1/2 ounces) almost paste, cut up, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup sliced almonds.

Brown Sugar Filling

Mix 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup fineely chopped nuts and 1 1/2 tsps. ground cinnamon.

Glaze

Mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp. vanilla and 1-2 tsps. milk until smooth.


Rachel

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I made some chocolate chip cookies on Sunday night, when Mom, Amanda, and Jocelyn went to town to get a wireless connection because it was lightening here. I'll tell you about the Cookie Monster. 'It' is a girl, and she goes by three different name on HSB1 and 2: HSB1 - Alatariel, Myrtle, and Jocelyn. HSB2 - Jocelyn. have you guessed? Well, if you guessed my sis, Jocelyndixon, then you're right! She is now officially the Cookie Monster!

Each time I make a batch of cookies, she comes in and when I'm getting other cookies out of the oven, or vice versa, she steals a cookie and runs out. Or if I'm not in there, she doesn't 'run' out. And when I bring a plate of cookies in to give out, she always grabs one first. She is a COOKIE MONSTER!

Well, so I made the cookies, and they got back. Jocelyn went to the bathroom and I went to open the door for Amanda, and then Jocelyn comes out to help Mom. She gets Queen Lu's carseat and walks in behind Amanda. Then as I go to tell her not to get a cookie, and I look, and SHE HAS ONE! I was like, "Uh,  which plate did you get that off of?" And I go and look, and it was the plate I was going to take a picture of!

Well, everything turned out ok... I took some pictures, but I didn't have time to upload them, so I'll post them later!

After I was done, I grabbed a cookie and ate it! They were really good! I say 'were' because cookies don't last long in our house, with eight kids! I posted the recipe for chocolate chip cookies on my Homeschool Blog, if you want to have it, go here: Chocolate Chip Cookies (a mouth watering recipe!)

Oh, yes: Lucy turns four months old today! I can't believe she is four months old already! It seems like yesterday the day she was born...

    Rachel

Don't forget to stop over the Milk and Honey Tea House! Please leave a comment to let me know you were here and there!

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