Webpossum in TX can go to Bread-Maker.net for instructions on using a bread machine. It gives lots of recipes and hints on making bread in one. I'm sure there are dozens of sites with info on how to use an automatic bread machine in a general way. My suggestion is to make the dough in the bread maker and bake it in the oven. I always have much better luck that way.
Betty in ME

Hi Nancy:
Some time ago, many of your readers posted info on crockpots and their safety. At the time, I didn't need one, but now my Hamilton Beach crockpot, which is about five years old, seems unsafe to use. On one of the handles, which is plastic, started out cracking and now has a big chunk of plastic gone. I'm assuming this is caused from the heat. Can anyone tell me of a really good and safe crock pot to purchase? I have been looking at the stainless steel ones where the handle is away from the crockpot, not attached close to the base. Hamilton Beach makes a Stay or Go that is stainless steel and I wonder if anyone has one or is familiar with it. I would appreciate any thoughts on this.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Helen

Hi Nancy and Ditto. This is for Bobby in Illinois. She was looking for recipes to use up her canned corned beef in the 1/9 newsletter. This is one of our favorite ways to fix it. I call it :

Corned Beef Hash
3 or 4 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 large onion, chopped up
1 can (I use Libby's Corned Beef) Corned Beef

Pour about 2 Tbls. oil in frying pan, heat on medium heat, add the sliced potatoes and the chopped onion. Fry, stirring often until potatoes are nice and brown and then add the can of corned beef breaking it up with a fork. Now you only have to heat this until the corned beef is hot. This is a great recipe to use if you are in a hurry and an excellent recipe when you are camping.
Linda in Grass Valley

Re:Clean dishwasher inside?

Yes! I thought I was going to have to purchase a new dishwasher until the lady at LOWE'S told me to use this product.
Dishwasher Magic

Here's a product link so you will know what it looks like
http://www.summitbrands.com/

I purchased mine at Lowe's but on doing a search for it at Lowe's online nothing came up. It can also be found at ACE Hardware and other places if you search for it. Just follow the directions EXACTLY on the package...The girl at Lowe's suggested if my dishwasher was really bad to use it two times (two bottles) and then run a bottle every three months to keep it sparkly clean. It removes the calcium/lime buildup that I was having and my dishwasher looks like new again and my dishes are clean as a whistle! It costs around $4 a bottle depending on where it is purchased.
Mary

Top 100 Recipe Sites

Barbara in Las Vegas asked about cleaning the inside of the dishwasher. I use lemonade koolaide to clean the inside of my dishwasher. Just one or two packages without the sugar and the inside is clean and smells pretty good too. I had a friend tell me to use Tang but I couldn't see putting all that sugar so use the koolaid. Hope this helps -- Kathy in WY

How to clean a dishwasher.
http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garden/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher
Linda in NM

Re: Recipe for bored with cooking

Sausage and Rice Dish
Cook 1 lb breakfast sausage until pink is gone. Drain, if needed. Add 3 c. water, 4 ribs chopped celery, 1/2 c. onions and green pepper to taste. Add 1 c. brown rice, 1 pkg. dry chicken noodle soup and 1 6-oz pkg. sliced almonds. Bring to a boil. Cover and turn to low to cook the rice.
Barb in OKC

Sugar Donut Muffins
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking power
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup plus 1 TB vegetable oil
3/4 cup plus 2 TB buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract

For topping:
4 TB butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar, for rolling

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a muffin tin with cooking spray or vegetable oil. In a large bowl, beat together sugar and egg until light in color. Add in all the vegetable oil, all the buttermilk, vanilla extract and mix well. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; add this to the wet mixture.
Dawn

This in regards to Ella and Mary Kay's thoughts on using store pie crust. Many years ago, I was watching Natalie Dupree (a famous southern cook). She once said that the hostess should do things to help reduce stress when giving a party, dinner party, etc. Her specific statement was that if the hostess used a store bought crust, then it was no big deal...a stress-free hostess makes for much more relaxed party guests! Well, I have always taken her literally on that specific point. I put the store crusts in my own pie plates and crimp the crust to make it pretty. One thing I also learned, when baking a pie, is to put it in the lower third so the crust cooks and isn't "mushy". These help in having that "homemade" look. Growing up, my Mother always "shooed" me out of the kitchen, so there are several things I have not learned how to do well...a nice pie crust is one! Of course, I have friends that can just whip one up in no time flat...no recipe needed. There are a lot of things I make that may be laborious....my Christmas Fruitcakes, for example. So, if you are one of the lucky ones who can make a beautiful and tasty pie crust....I envy you. But if you are like me, take comfort in the fact that even the famous Natalie Dupree said it is "okay" to use some easy/instant things in order to be a stress-free hostess (or wife/cook/etc.!)
Tina in GA

Hey Nancy,
Hope you and Ditto are great! Have fun with your website course.

You can also turn cottage cheese upside down. I remember my mother doing that and it really works well since cottage cheese turns fast.
Denise aka Kitty Mama
Falls Church, VA

Comment
Each Monday's Dennis at Prepared Pantry will provide the content for the newsletter. It will allow me to have time to take a website development course. For the next few months there will be no newsletter sent out on Friday's instead of Thursday's.
Nancy Rogers

Hi,
I am looking for a good recipe for cauliflower soup. I hope every one has a heathy New Year.
Pauline in Pa.

In response to Ella in Ca who asked if Goldblatt's was still in business, I don't think so, at least not in Chicago. I lived in Chicago from my birth (1944) to 1987, and I think they had closed by the time we moved. Wieboldt's too. Are you remembering the days when department stores sold food too? I remember apple slices (like a square of apple pie with white icing on top) we got at Sears. I'm not sure if the stores had restaurants in them or luncheon counters or what. It's been too long ago. If you remember, please write and let me take a trip down memory lane. Sorry I can't be of further help Ella.
Diane in Albuquerque

For Ella in CA
No, there is no longer a Goldblatt's department store in Chicago. It
closed many years ago, and soon after the Chicago Public Library moved
into their building on State Street.
Dee in W. Lafayette (former Chicagoan)

In the Jan 9 issue, Rosemarie/KC asked for a recipe for Panera bread soup. Just do a seach under "panera bread recipes", click on the soup section. I think that's the one you're looking for.

Sharon/IL Oh my gosh! I grew up in Chgo and went to Berghoff's every chance I got! Wonderful food! Thanks for the memory!
DA

Does anyone have a good recipe for homemade Italian bread?
Thanks Mary Ann upstate N Y

Good morning Nancy! Hope you are keeping warm with this cold spell!

Athena in DE here is a link for lots of garlic recipes. I won’t post any because I don’t think we can post from there. This is the best site on the web. Friends of ours who live in San Diego go to this every other year.
http://www.garlicfestival.com/

Recipes from the Gilroy, CA garlic festival
Here is one of my favorite cookie recipes for Valentine’s day.

Chocolate Valentine Hearts
Post by Linda on Sep 22nd, 2002, 6:56pm
http://www.nancys-kitchen.com/holiday-recipes/

1 c. soft butter
1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. icing sugar
1/3 c. cocoa

Cream butter. Sift together flour, sugar and cocoa. Gradually blend dry ingredients into batter to a soft dough. If dough is too soft, chill 15 minutes. Roll dough part at a time, on a lightly floured board to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out hearts with a floured 3 inch heart shaped cookie cutter>. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 300 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from pan. Pipe decorator frosting on each cookie.

Decorator Icing
1 egg white
1 1/2 c. icing sugar

Beat egg white until frothy. Gradually beat in icing sugar. Continue to beat until icing forms stiff peaks. Place frosting in a small pastry bag and decorate heart shaped cookies.
Chris in NM

And this is one of my most favorite for making for Valentine’s Day. (or any day I want chocolate!)

Flourless Chocolate Cake w/ Raspberry Sauce

Cake:
7 oz. semisweet baking chocolate, broken into pieces – I used deep dark bittersweet chips
12 tbl. butter
5 eggs, separated
1 tsp. vanilla – I used raspberry extract
1/3 c. sugar
2 tbl. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 tsp. salt

Raspberry Sauce:
1 pkg. – 12 oz. – frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
1/3 to 1/2 c. sugar
Additional cocoa powder for garnish – I didn’t use

For the cake, preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 9-inch springform pan. (I used cupcake pans with paper inserts). Heat chocolate and butter in med. saucepan over low heat until melted, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, whisk in egg yolks and vanilla. Blend in sugar, 2 tbl. cocoa and salt. Beat egg whites to soft peaks in large bowl. Stir about ¼ of egg whites into chocolate mixture. Fold chocolate mixture into remaining egg whites. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake about 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and edge of cake begins to pull away from side of pan. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 2 – 3 minutes; carefully loosen edge of cake with sharp knife and remove side of pan. Cool cake completely. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days, or wrap well and freeze up to 3 months. For sauce, blend raspberries in blender or food processor until smooth. Strain sauce and discard seeds and stir in sugar to taste.

Ganache
1/2 c. semi sweet or dark chocolate chips
2 tbl. butter – no substitutes
2 tbl. light corn syrup

Heat all ingredients over medium heat until chocolate is melted. Spread over top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down the side.

Spread the ganache on top first, then just at serving time spoon some raspberry sauce on top.

NOW: I have used the springform pan, but this time I used cupcake pans with paper thingies. After the cupcakes were cooled a bit, I spread a bit of ganache on top. It will harden quickly. When you serve the cake/cupcakes, just spoon a bit of the raspberry sauce on top. Posted on Nancy’s message board under chocolate
Chris in NM

Good Morning Nancy,
I just noticed that we only need 4 new members to reach the 11,000 mark. Just think how many members we would have if all the guests that visit the Message Boards were to register?? For anyone who is pushed for time, a quick way to update yourself in what's new and/or what's going on, there is an item at the bottom of the Message Boards main index, down near the bottom left of the page which reads "View the 25 most recent posts of this forum".

I used to make this pudding when the family were young:

Creme Caramel (the Creme is pronounced as in them)
2 medium eggs
8 oz/1 cup milk
4 ozs/110g/1/2 cup condensed milk
4 Tbsp cream
2 Tbsp cornflour
2 oz/50g Sugar
1 tsp butter

For the caramel:
2 oz/50g brown cane sugar (ordinary sugar will do)
2 Tbsp Water

Whisk the eggs thoroughly, preferably using an electric whisk, for a couple of minutes. Then add cream and sugar, whisk again for a minute & add milk and cornflour. Whisk again for a couple of minutes. Prepare the caramel by heating the sugar in a saucepan and when the sugar melts and starts caramelising (darkens), add 2tbsp of water and allow it to boil till you achieve a sauce like consistency. Grease a bowl with a little butter. Pour the caramel into the vessel and swirl it so that it forms a uniform layer. Then pour the beaten egg mixture into it without much disturbing the caramel layer. Allow it to cook in the microwave at high for 4 minutes. Insert a skewer and if the skewer comes clean, its done. Once cool, refrigerate it for an hour and then invert the bowl on to a plate with the caramel coming out on top. You can serve it with a topping of whipped cream or ice cream and garnish it with chopped nuts.
Sylvia <Scotland>

Hot Onion-Cream Cheese Dip
3-4 cups chopped onion (4 medium onions)
3 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened
2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. mayonnaise
Corn chips or assorted crackers

Preheat oven to 425. Stir together the onions, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and mayonnaise until well combined. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart souffle dish. Bake about 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Serve with your favorite dipping chip or assorted crackers.

Tona
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cookin_with_haggermaker

This recipe for creamed spinach is from a cookbook from the Berghoff family in Chicago. They had a very famous restaurant(gentleman's club actually) I ate there once and this is the best spinach I have ever tasted. I hope you enjoy it.Sharon, Illinois

Creamed Spinach
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk
1 1/2 t. chicken base or 1 cube chicken bouillon
1/2 t. Tabasco sauce
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/4 t. granulated garlic
1/8 t. celery salt
4 T. unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 ( 10-ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach,thawed and squeezed dry (2 1/2 cups)
salt and ground white pepper,if desired
ground nutmeg for garnish
crisp ,cooked,crumbled bacon, for garnish

In a medium size saucepan,heat the half and half , milk,chicken base,Tabasco,and seasonings to a simmer. Remove from the heat and keep warm.

In another medium size saucepan,heat the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk well to combine.Cook this mixture for 2-3 minutes,stirring often. Slowly whisk the heated milk mixture into the butter mixture a little at a time ,whisking constantly until smooth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes,stirring constantly,until it thickens. The sauce will be very thick.
Stir in the spinach and simmer for 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings. Serve while hot.
To serve: Place the hot creamed spinach in a bowl, sprinkled with and extra touch of ground nutmeg on top. Top each serving with 1 T. of crisp cooked, crumbled bacon.
From the Berghoff Family Cookbook, page 170 Andrews McMeel Publishing

Re: Shark steamer or the H2O cleaner for washing floors and what you thought about them. Sher in Pa

My daugher got me one for Christmas and I love it. Cleans tile and wood floors. Very easy to use.
Carolyn in Ar

For Sher in PA, I ...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE... my Shark Steam Mop!!
Sandi in LA

Sandy in Philly,this is my favorite calorie counter. It is free and hassle free.http://www.thecaloriecounter.com/. I keep it on my desktop so I can use it before/after every meal to keep me on track. I hope it helps you,too.
Sharon,Illinois

Good evening Nancy and Nancylanders,
To Webpossum in TX wanting an instruction manual for her bread machine. Here is a site she can download one from http://www.creativehomemaking.com/download/

 I want to thank the lady who reposted her grape slicing idea again. Sometimes you read this things and think I can remember that but you don't till someone asks about it again. This time I will make a copy and put it in my file of helpful hints. Since I read through them a lot I hopefully will keep it in my mind this time. Too bad I didn't have it when I made my big bowl of Fruit Salad for Christmas. I also wanted to thank the ladies who posted the answer to a dingy dishwasher. I was getting ready to ask if anyone had a solution when someone beat me to it. I also am waiting for an answer to the best steam cleaner at a reasonable price.
Sharon in snowy Central Pa.

I bought a bread maker at Goodwill for $4.00 but it didn't have an instruction book. I went to retrevo.com and found one for the breadmaker. They have instruction manuals for just about anything.
Mary Ann in Tennessee

Sher in Pa, regarding the Shark Mop and the H20 mop. I have both and my favorite is the H20 mop, it pivots around things much easier, I also use it on my carpet. I love it!
Linda in KY

Here are two tomato basil soup recipes from the Panera cookbook. I hope one of them is what e-zine wants. Her request was in the Friday newsletter.
Marti in AL

Country Bread and Tomato Soup with Mashed Basil Oil

Come in from the cold and warm up with this tasty soup recipe from the Panera Bread Cookbook.

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 (28 ounce) cans whole, peeled tomatoes or 12 Roma tomatoes, peeled
1 quart water or vegetable stock
1/4 cup dry red wine
1 loaf Country Bread, torn into bite-size pieces

Mash the basil well with ½ cup of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Heat the remaining ¼ cup oil over medium-low heat. Cook the garlic, red pepper and oregano just until the garlic begins to sizzle. Crush the tomatoes with your hands over the stockpot, including all juices. Add the water or stock and red wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the bread and remove from heat. Serve immediately, drizzling the soup liberally with the mashed basil oil.
Serves 8

Tomato, Cheese and Bread Soup
8 ounces crusty Sourdough croutons
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
9 garlic cloves, minced
3 large onions, finely chopped
8 cups chicken stock or low-salt chicken broth
2 28 ounce cans peeled plum tomatoes, drained and crushed
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Parmesan Reggiano rind (optional)
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese shavings
1/4 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese

Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat.

Add onions and sauté until very tender, about 25 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute. Add chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, cheeses and cheese rind.
Simmer soup uncovered 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper. For smoother texture, puree in blender or food processor before serving.

Ladle soup into Panera Bread Sourdough bread bowls. Add croutons, torn basil, and Parmesan cheese shavings just before serving.
6 servings

Good morning, Nancy and 'Landers! Just had to respond to Gail LA about the thank-you-for-the blessings. That was a wonderful letter to us all, and a great way to start the New Year. I've just started chemo and this is a marvelous way to start each day.

PEGGY ESE TENN: Hurrah that your grandson is on his way home! We're all praying for his safe arrival; how proud you must be; how proud everyone must be!

JL SO JERSEY: I love Washboards cookies (takes me back about 100 years .........) thanks for a recipe I didn't know I wanted!

Reference the Tang in the dishwasher. That scares me; just imagine what it must do to your stomach LOL.

All those tea tables sound so lovely. Nancylanders are not only great cooks, they're really creative.

And to jump onto the coleslaw bandwagon, I like to make just regular coleslaw and add pineapple, a little minced green pepper and some black beans! Just a bit different but a nice change.

And to the 'Lander who is checking out the Shark steam mop. I had asked advice about it in this newsletter and got some good replies. I checked out Amazon to see what sort of price I could find, and discovered that Bissell also makes a steam mop. Read all the particulars and decided it was sturdier (plus a well-know brand). AND they had it $30.00 off WITH free shipping. So I ordered it and really like it. I don't use is every time (still wet-Swiffer for quickies) but it really really works well. I'm going to order 2 or 4 more pads, though, since the area I clean is huge and waiting to finish while the pads wash and dry is a drag. Simply solved with additional pads.

I am chatty today, but feel good, so wanted to make these comments.
Kathi in Virginia

For Sher in PA regarding the Shark Floor Steamer: I have one and I love it. If I were purchasing one again, I would pick the one with the sturdiest neck. My first shark broke at the neck, and they replaced it free, but it would be better for the future to buy the one with the sturdiest neck/rod connecting the bottom with the top. I am very careful with my new one. Hope that helps!
Renée in Ceres, CA

Good morning everyone! Hope you are staying warm! Sylvia, just stay inside with it so cold! I saw in the paper that Europe got slammed with a major winter storm, so I understand what you say.

Chris in California in the 1/6/09 newsletter is asking for help for high altitude cooking/baking. Chris, on all mixes, there are always high altitude directions for altitudes above 3500 ft. I lived at 7200 ft. for over 28 years and had no problems after checking in lots of cookbooks and our local home extension office. Once you get the hang of it you will have no problems. We are at 4200 ft. now, so I just continue to follow the high altitude directions. I would rather give you the following information than specific recipes, since we all cook/bake differently. This way you can find some great ones! Here is one site that may help http://www.highaltitudebaking.com/recipes.htm
There are a few recipes here too.

Here is another link for you http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/cake_decorating/31903
King Arthur Flour has a great page for changes at high altitude. They also have a chart on changing recipes to high altitude for you. This is a great one, too http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/cake_decorating/31903
Good luck! Chris in NM

Ella in CA, regarding the omelet pan use. I put ½ the egg mixture in either side. After it has cooked a while I add in the veggies, etc. I want to use. The cheese goes on last just before I take it off the heat. Omelet pans come with instructions and you will also get the hang of it quickly. I like ours because I cannot flip the egg with stuff in it like you are supposed to. The following recipe is just enough for the 2 of us. You could find a pan at most kitchen outlet stores and maybe even Walmart. Here is our favorite omelet:

California Omelet T & T
3 – 4 eggs
1 avocado, sliced
¼ c. milk
½ c. Monterrey jack cheese
2 – 3 green onions, diced
salt and pepper to taste

Beat the eggs with the milk and seasonings well. Pour into skillet and cook till lightly browned on one side and partially set on top. Sprinkle the avocado, onions and cheese on top and fold the omelet in ½ so the toppings are covered. Let cook about 10 minutes till everything is melded together. Serve. Posted on Nancy’s message board under egg.
Chris in NM

Spanish “Tortilla” – T & T (my way)
2 tbls. Olive oil, divided
1 small baking potato, peeled and thinly sliced or tiny diced
1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced or tiny diced
1 avocado, small diced
4 eggs
1/4 to 1/2 c. shredded Mexican cheese mixture
1/2 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste

Heat 1 tbl. Oil in a medium skillet over med. heat. Add potato and cook 5 minutes or until soft. Stir in onions and cook 5 minutes or so. Remove from heat. Transfer to a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat eggs with salt and pepper. Add potato mixture and mix well. Add remaining oil to skillet and heat over medium heat. Pour in egg mixture. Cook until omelet begins to set – 7 to 8 minutes. Carefully flip to cook other side. Add the avocado and cheese at this time. Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until done and browned on bottom. Serve hot with salsa. Serves 4 also posted on Nancy’s message board.
Chris in NM

Good morning Nancy!
Roxanne, there are pages of dry dip mixes on Nancy’s message board. Here is a favorite of ours!

Mexican Fiesta Mix
1/2 c. dried parsely
1/3 c. dried minced onion
1/4 c. dried chives
1/3 c. chili powder
1/4 c. ground cumin
1/4 c. salt

Use a 1 quart, wide-mouth canning jar. Combine all the ingredients together and mix well. Pour into jar and pack firmly. Seal and decorate jar, and attach the recipe tag.

Mexican Fiesta Dip
You will need:
3 tbsps. dip mix
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. sour cream

Use a small bowl to mix the dip mix, mayonnaise and sour cream together until smooth. Chill for 2-4 hours. Makes 2 cups. Serve with tortilla chips or raw vegetables. Posted by Carnation in the Sauces/Seasoning/Dips/Dressing Mixes section of the Message Board Chris in NM

April R, here is your honey cake recipe!

Honey or Cinnabon Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup oil
4 large eggs

Filing
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans

Sugar Glaze
2 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Place rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly spray 13x9 inch baking pan. Set aside. Place cake mix, sour cream, oil and eggs in mixing bowl. Blend well with mixer. Beat on low 1 minute. Scraping sides of bowl, mix on high until well blended. Pour into pan. Drizzle honey on top, then sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans.

Bake 38 to 40 minutes until golden brown or until it springs back when you press lightly with fingers. Remove from pan and place on wire rack to cool. Place glaze ingredients in mixing bowl and stir until well blended. Pour over top of warm cake. Allow to cool 20 minutes before cutting. Store covered with plastic wrap at room temperature for 1 week 7/17/2006 page 3 also Favorite recipes/links of our members listed towards the bottom.

Rosemarie in rural Kansas City, I don’t have Panera’s copycat recipe, but I put together a version of my own and it gets rave reviews. Actually we are having it tonight with grilled cheese sandwiches!

Chris’s Creamy Tomato Soup
2 tbl. butter
1 med. (1/2 cup) onion, finely chopped
2 tbl. flour
1 qt. tomato juice (I used 1 can (14.5 oz.) tomato sauce and the rest chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz.) can Italian diced tomatoes with spices
about 3 shakes dry Italian seasoning
2 c. milk
1/4 c. dry rice – or you could use small shell pasta, uncooked (optional)

Melt butter in large 4 qt. saucepan until sizzling; add onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened (2 – 3 min.). Stir in flour, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Add tomato juice, diced tomatoes and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a boil – 8 – 10 min. Slowly stir in milk; continue cooking until heated through – about 15 min. Stir in dry rice. Turn heat to low, add lid and simmer till rice is tender. Serve immediately. I served the soup with slices of French bread. Makes 6 servings. I posted this on Nancy’s message board some time ago in the soup section.
Chris in NM

Hi Nancy:
Happy, Healthy New Year Nancy and to all Nanceylanders. I don't remember who it was that requested a recipe for Gus Saunders Italian Rum Cake in a recent newsletter.I did some research on the internet and found the following recipe submitted by al lady who lives in Massachusetts. Gus Saunders was a radio announcer in Boston and had a program called Yankee Kitchen. I hope this is
the recipe that she is looking for.

No Bake Rum Cake
2 pkg. Stella Doro Aniset Sponge
1 pkg. Vanilla Pudding ( 6 size serving)
1 pkg. Dark Sweet Chocolate Pudding ( 6 size serving)
1 oz Bottle. Rum Flavoring
9 oz. Cool Whip
1/2 cup Slivered Almonds
12 Maraschino Cherries, halved
Milk

Fill a soup dish with milk. Dip sponges quickly and blot on paper towel. Line entire bottom of 13x9x2 pan, packing lightly and refrigerate.

Prepare vanilla pudding and cool down 10 minutes.. Add 2 tsp. of rum flavoring. Cool. Pour over sponges and refrigerate. Prepare chocolate pudding, add 2 tsp. of rum flavoring and refrigerate. When cool, pour over the vanilla layer and let stand 30 minutes. Spread with Cool Whip and sprinkle with
nuts. Refrigerate 24 hours. When ready to serve, place cherries on each slice.
Marie-Pembroke MA

Good morning Nancy and All,
We are experienced 60mph winds, one good thing is that the wind is keeping the snow away.

Linda R, is CLR the name of a particular brand of cleaner? Webpossum good luck with your search, the important thing is to find out which goes into the bread pan first, i.e. liquids or dry ingredients. Many years ago I thought I would cook and tidy for a sick friend. I made a loaf in her bread machine - all my machines except one have had dry first. Just my luck her model of Hinara was liquids first.
Fortunately one of those mobile grocery vans came and I bought a loaf from it.

April, I usually do Honey Valentine Cakes; I'll send in the recipe if you want something a bit fancier than this plain one:

No Frills Honey Cake
Preheat oven to 180oC/350oF

7 oz/200g self raising flour.
5 oz/150g butter,
6 oz/170ml clear honey,
1 tablespoon water,
4 oz/110g soft brown sugar,
2 eggs

Prepare a 7"/19cm round baking tin in your usual manner.

Place butter, sugar, honey and water into a saucepan and heat until the fat has melted, stirring all the time. When fat is melted remove pan from heat and allow contents to cool to blood temperature.

Gradually beat in the eggs. Add flour and mix until smooth. Do not over mix. Pour mixture in to cake tin and bake for 1 hour or until risen and firm to the touch.

Barbara in Wentzville, Thank you, I am feeling OK, but like everyone else, I really need some sunshine. We are doing our best to stay healthy and warm.

Regards to All that includes all our furry friends.
Sylvia <Scotland>

Quick & Easy Dessert

1 box chocolate cake mix
2 eggs
1 can cherry pie filling

Mix well. Bake in 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until done. Cool, cut in squares and serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Tona
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cookin_with_haggermaker

To Barbara in Wentzelle
we have lived in this house for 45 years and it is the house our Grandchildren will ever remember - when I designed the cover for the 4 grandaughters I also added a picture of the house (a summertime photo) and also a photograph of my husband and myself - as I do alot of baking not necessarily for ourselves but my husband gets stuck with all the dishes which he never minds doing - that way the girls will always have something other than just the my own designed cookbook to remember us by -

I am also waiting for nice weather - It hasn't been a harsh cold winter so far here but just lots of snow and snow storms
Joanne Ontario

In the 1/7/09 newsletter Sally PA wanted a lima bean soup recipe. You can also add diced tomatoes, diced potatoes and/or corn to this recipe. I often replace some of the water with 1 cup or more of chicken or vegetable stock to add additional flavor.
Robbie IN

Lima Bean Soup
2 c. dried baby lima beans
8 c. cold water
Ham bone
3 sm. onions, chopped
1/2 bay leaf
1 c. carrots, chopped
1/2 c. minced green pepper
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp. pepper

Wash lima beans and soak overnight. Rinse beans and Place in a large kettle. Add water and ham bone, onions and bay leaf. Cover and simmer over low heat until the beans are tender. Reserve

1 1/2 cups of whole beans. Put remaining beans into blender and process until consistency of thick soup. Return processed beans and whole beans to pot.

Add carrots and green pepper. Continue cooking until tender. Add salt and pepper. If there is any ham left on the bone, cut it off and add to soup.

Remove bone and bay leaves . Serves 8 - 10.
Robbie In

For webpossum in TX., needing a manual for her bread maker. Here is a web site you can try. It is http://safemanuals.com/

Also, for Mary Kay in South Jersey, I missed the recipe for Pineapple Surprise Crunch. Will you repost it or let me know what newsletter it was in? Thanks.
Everyone take care and may God bless you all.
Jean in TN.

Nancy, this is for
Rosemarie in rural Kansas City. Jan 9th newsletter request ----- This is not from Paneras but is a really good recipe from a tea room a friend of my daughters worked at and it is so easy and not too spicy.!

Tomato Basil Soup
1 reg. Prego organic tomato & basil spaghetti sauce
1 reg. sm. can of tomato sauce
1c. chicken stock
cook till low boil

Add: 1-2 cups of heavy cream
add diced tomatoes if you want chunky.
Linda in Al.

For Roxanne that wanted dip mixes in January 9th newsletter.
Use a package of dry spaghetti sauce and mix well in 1 pint of sour cream.
Yummy and people are curious what it is.
Ann in middle Georgia

Re: Root Beer Cake:
I'm sorry I didn't write down the name of the contributor but if I use 1/2 cup root beer schnapps, do I use 1-1/2 cups root beer?
grannym IL

Microwave pop corn popper..I purchased from Miles Kimball the microwave popcorn popper and used it today. You put in 1/4 cup of pop corn and I had it on high and in the microwave for 8 minutes, and it still only made about 1/4 cup of popped corn. I was afraid to leave it going any longer. Has anyone used this popper and have any suggestions for me? there is no name on the popper, just from Miles Kimball.
Thanks, Boots in Va.

Cheesy Potato Soup
6 cups chopped potatoes
2 cups water
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tsps. parsley flakes
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
3 cups milk
4 Tbs. flour
1 lb. processed cheese, cubed

In large pan, combine first 9 ingredients. Cover pan. simmer 15-20 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Gradually blend flour into milk. Add milk to vegetables. Cook until thickened. Add cheese, stir until melted.
JL in South Jersey

I have two book cases full of recipes that I have gotten from my grandmother, mother and have collected over the years. So, I would like to share them with all of you good cooks.

Angel Sweets
2 tbs. butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1 egg
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Melt butter over low heat. Add chocolate chips, stirring till melted. Add egg and beat until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoonsful onto chopped nuts on wax paper. Refrigerate.
JL in South Jersey

For Webpossun in TX, try appliance 411. They have all kinds of manials you can print out for free. Also the GT Xpress cooker can be bought from Fingerhut Think you L Mason Yukon OK

Nancy Happy New year. I am looking for a orange muffin recipe. It had no other ingredients in it. Just a glazed icing. I had lunch at a little tea room yesterday. The muffins were excellent. I have searched some and all I have found is Orange with other added items like chocolate chips cranberries etc. Hopefully one of our good cooks has one. I hate, to try and tweak one if I can find a TNT one. Thanks Orlena in Illinois

Hi Nancy and Happy New Year!
I was wondering if anyone might have a TNT recipe that is called "Chop Soupy". I believe it is a Campbell's Soup recipe. My mother used to make it and I have lost the recipe. I would really appreciate it if someone out there might have the recipe and would share it. I think my family would really enjoy this recipe. Thanks in advance and thank you, Nancy for a wonderful newsletter!
Carin in Central FL

Killer Chocolate/Cream Cheese Brownies
1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
3/4 cup margarine or butter
2 (1 oz) squares unsweetened chocolate
1 (1 oz) square semi-sweet chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
3/4 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Combine cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar, mix until well blended. blend in 1 egg and set aside.

In med. size bowl melt butter with the chocolate in Microwave , then stir until smooth. Add remaining eggs (3), sugar 1 1/2 cups and vanilla to chocolate mixture. After mixing well, stir in the flour. Reserve 1/2 cup of batter, pour the rest into a greased 9X13 pan. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the chocolate batter, and then take the reserved chocolate batter and place small spoonfuls all over the top of cream cheese and swirl with knife to create a marble effect. Top with nuts and chocolate chips. Bake 350 for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Tona
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cookin_with_haggermaker

Peanut Butter Roll Up Candy
1 lb. confectioners sugar
1 stick butter
2 tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
Peanut butter

Mix all ingredients (except peanut butter) together into a well combined mixture and roll out on wax paper, using some confectioners sugar to keep from sticking. Spread peanut butter dough and roll up in jelly roll fashion. Let sit 3 hours in refrigerator, then cut into 1/4 inch slices.

Tona
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cookin_with_haggermaker

I just made the most delicious chicken in the oven using the "Stainless Steel Chick Can Rack" by Bayou Classic from Bed Bath and Beyond. It cost $5.60 after using the 20% coupon and it makes the most moist and tasty chicken using a beer can inserted into the body of the chicken.

It is all made of stainless steel and can also be cooked in gas or electric bbq grill. If you want I can scan the front and back of the packaging it came in.

The chicken stands on the rack, you put a half can of beer in body, and an onion or potato in the neck of the chicken to seal in vapors and all the fat drips down into a pan that you can use to make chicken gravy. The chicken was extremely moist and flavorful and the skin was very crispy.
CAMILLE, Commack, L.I., NY

Hi Nancy and All,
We have had a thaw on for the last couple of days, but the evenings are still very cold.

Barbara in Las Vegas, there are expensive proprietary brands available for cleaning your dishwasher which I have used and they do a good job,. I now use 1 tablespoonful of bicarbonate of Soda to 1 cup of white vinegar and it does the job just as well. I use the quickest cycle for the cleaning process. Remember to clean out the filter. I am not too clear about the "pesky spots". Initially, I personally would make a paste of the soda and vinegar and apply to the spots only. Hope this helps.

My DH has developed eczema on the hands. It has troubled him on and off for over a year and he has had lots of different prescribed creams. I would have understood if he had developed this during his working career, as a dentist when his hands were constantly being washed and sanitised. One doctor thought it could be the stress he was under when I was in hospital. Not only is it itchy and painful it is also unsightly. He has this morning just returned from the doctors with a new prescription, paraffin based and a higher % of cortisone cream. One of my cousins has been complaining of a similar type of problem. Is there anyone out there who has or have had similar problems?
Sylvia <Scotland>

Hi Can anyone tell me what to use to remove the black from under the toilet bowl rim.
Thank you H.S. Canada