Gaga's One Bowl Brownies

1 cup Oil (I use Canola)
6 TBS. Cocoa
4 eggs
2 cups Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 cups Flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup Nuts or Chocolate Chips (optional)

Stir everything together well in one bowl. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees in 9 x 13 pan.

My Mom aka Gaga has made these for years. They are always a hit and very easy.

Heavenly Delight

This is such a delicious dessert. I remember always having it at family reunions--my Aunt Barbara makes it. Some in our family call this dessert "Mountain Mama". I'm not sure why, though?

1 stick margarine
1 cup pecans
1 cup flour
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
13 oz. Cool Whip
4.5 oz. chocolate instant pudding
3.4 oz. vanilla instant pudding
2 1/2 cups milk
1 small choclate bar (grated) - optional

For Crust:
Combine margarine, flour, and chopped nuts. Mix well. Press into bottom of 13" x 9" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool.

Blend cream cheese and powdered sugar. Fold in 1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip. Spread over cooled crust. Set in icebox while making puddings. Mix instant puddings together with 2 1/2 cups of milk and beat until thick (about 2 minutes). Poor over cream cheese filling. Top with remaining whipped topping. Grate chocolate over top if desired. Chill in refrigerator.

Migas or Mexican Breakfast Casserole

Juan loves these Migas. I used to make them all the time, but it's not the healthiest.

2 TBS. Canola Oil
3 green onions finely chopped
1 serrano pepper finely chopped
10 corn tortillas torn or cut into 1-inch squares
6 beaten eggs
Salt and pepper

Heat oil over medium heat. Add tortillas. Stir the tortillas and cook until soft. Add onions and peppers. Stir to blend the onions and peppers evenly. Add beaten eggs and continue to stir until the eggs are cooked (as if they were scrambled). Add salt and pepper.

HEALTHIER VERSION: I have sauteed the tortillas in Pam cooking spray, or you could use less oil to cut the fat. It's not quite the same, but definately healthier. We've also used Egg Beaters.

Fresh Homemade Hot Sauce

2 Small Roma Tomatoes
3-4 Serrano or Jalapeno Peppers (Use more if you want it hotter.)
1/4 Cup Chopped Onions
1 clove Garlic
1/4 to 1/2 cup Cilantro Leaves (do not use stems)
1/2 can Tomato Sauce (small)
Salt - to taste

Cover tomatoes and peppers with water. Boil in a small saucepan for about 15 minutes. Remove the stems from the peppers. Put all the ingredients in a food processor, along with 1 cup of water used to boil peppers/tomatoes. Chop using food processor. I prefer not to use the blender because the sauce gets too foamy.

Texas Sheet Cake

This is one of my favorite cakes. It is so moist. I love chocolate cake!

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Chocolate Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
3 tablespoons buttermilk
2 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

Cake Preparation:
Grease a 15X10X1-inch or jelly roll pan or a 13X9X2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In a medium saucepan combine 1 cup butter, 1/3 cup cocoa, and 1 cup of water. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. With an electric hand-held mixer on medium speed, beat chocolate mixture into the dry mixture until thoroughly blended. Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat for 1 minute (batter will be thin). Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Bake in a 350° oven about 25 minutes for the 15X10-inch pan or 35 minutes for the 13X9-inch pan, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Pour warm chocolate frosting over the warm cake, spreading evenly. Place cake in pan on a wire rack; cool thoroughly before cutting.


Frosting:
In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 cup butter or margarine, 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and 3 tablespoons buttermilk. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat; add 2 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth. If desired, stir in 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans.

Candy Crunch Bar Recipe

These are so good. I make them every year at Christmas. They are very easy and make a great gift packed in a pretty tin or box.


1 sleeve (approx. 35 crackers) of saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
½ teaspoon vanilla
8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 15” x 10” x 1” jelly roll pan (or a cookie sheet pan with sides) with foil. You could also use a 9” x 13”—bars will just be thicker. Spray foil lightly with Pam or cooking spray. Spread saltine crackers evenly in pan. They should touch and cover entire foil area. In a 15” x 10” pan, you should use almost the entire sleeve of crackers (and break crackers in half if you need to at the end).

Combine butter and brown sugar in saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring regularly until it comes to a boil. Continue cooking 3 more minutes, stirring constantly. Add vanilla and stir. Pour mixture evenly over saltine crackers. Bake in 375 oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven.

Sprinkle pan evenly with chocolate chips. Let sit for 5 minutes. The chocolate will start to melt. Use a spoon to spread the melted chocolate over the crackers. Sprinkle pecans over chocolate and lightly press into chocolate. Set in freezer for about 30 minutes. Remove from freezer and peel away foil. Break into pieces (however big or little you like). (This is sort of a messy process, but they are worth it!) These are best stored in the freezer or refrigerator.

Party Punch

I made this years ago for a baby shower. It is such a delicious punch! The only drawback is it is RED and will stain. Not for a young kid's party!

2 46-ounce cans Hawaiian Punch
2 cups orange juice
1 2-Liter of Cherry 7-Up
1 Package of Frozen Strawberries

Combine all ingredients in large punchbowl or pitcher. The frozen strawberries help keep the punch frozen.