In response to 9/24/08 request from Marcie in WI:

This is a terrific tried and true recipe.

Pina Colada Squares
2 c. vanilla wafer crumbs
1/3 c. margarine, melted
1 (8 3/4 oz.) can cream of coconut
16 oz. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. ctn. Cool Whip
8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c. chopped maraschino cherries
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. flaked coconut, toasted
1/2 tsp. rum extract or 2 T. rum

Combine crumbs and margarine. Press into a 9 x 13 pan. Gradually add cream of coconut to cream cheese, mixing well with electric mixer until well blended. Stir in flavoring. Fold in Cool Whip, fruits and nuts. Spread over crust. Sprinkle with coconut. Chill overnight. Serves 15.

Pina Colada Wedges
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/3 c. sugar
2 T. rum or 1/2 tsp. rum extract
3 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple in syrup
2 2/3 c. flaked coconut

Beat cream cheese with sugar and rum until smooth. Fold in 2 c. Cool Whip, pineapple with syrup and 2 c. coconut. Spread in 8-in. pan lined with plastic wrap. Freeze until firm, about 2 hrs. Invert onto serving plate; remove plastic wrap. Spread with remaining Cool Whip and sprinkle with remaining coconut. Garnish with pineapple and maraschino cherries, if desired.
~Cris~ in NC

For those wanting to know where to find the frozen pina colada mix that is needed to make Pina Colada salad newsletter 10/5/08,I have found it in my grocery store in the frozen juice freezer.
Brenda/Ala

Spaghetti Pie

6 oz spaghetti - uncooked
1 lb ground beef
1/4 c onions - chopped
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
2 tsp italian seasoning
1 8 oz can mushrooms - drained
2 eggs slightly beaten
1/2 c parmesan cheese - grated
1/2 tsp garlic salt

Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water until done. Drain and rinse with hot water. Preheat oven to 350F. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion; drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and drained mushrooms. Simmer for 10-15 minutes to blend the flavors. Combine the cooked spaghetti, beaten eggs, 1/4 c parmesan cheese and the garlic salt. Press the spaghetti
mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 10 inch pie pan to form crust. Pour the meat mixture over the crust and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is set and the edge slightly browned. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Sue

Crockpot Beef
1 pound stew meat, cut in cubes
1 envelope Lipton onion soup
1 can golden mushroom soup
1/2 cup red wine
1 can (4 ounce)

Mix all together in crock pot and cook 6-8 hours on low. Serve over rice or noodles.
Sue

Beef Taco Soup
1 lb ground beef
1 16 oz can kidney beans
1 11 oz can Niblet corn
1 10 oz can Rotel tomatoes
1 small pkg taco seasoning
1 28 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 small can chopped chile peppers
1 16 oz can pinto beans
1 small pkg Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

Brown the ground beef and drain. Add all other ingredients and stir (do not drain cans before adding). Simmer in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.
Sue

Pork Chop Vegetable Casserole
4-6 boneless pork chops
1 onion (sliced)
4-6 potatoes (sliced)
1 can green beans (drained)
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
1 can Reduced fat Cream of Chicken soup
1 cup fat free sour cream
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tube reduced fat Ritz crackers
1/2 cup fat free butter

Trim all fat from pork chops. Cut them in thin strips. Mix all ingredients together except the crackers and butter. Pour into a 9" X 13" Baking dish. Bake 1 hour in a preheated 375°F oven. Crush crackers, pour melted butter over them. Remove casserole from the oven and top with cracker crumbs. Return to oven until cracker crumbs are Browned.
Sue

Green Bean Casserole Recipes
Thanksgiving Recipes
Cranberry Recipes
Holiday Recipes
Meatloaf Recipes

Enchilada Casserole
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 16-ounce bottle chunky salsa
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 1/4-ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
1 4-ounce can diced green chiles
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
6 corn tortillas

In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, salsa, tomato paste, beans, corn, green chiles, cumin, and garlic powder. Mix well. Ladle about 1 cup of this mixture into the bottom of a 4-quart electric slow
cooker; spread evenly. Top with 2 tortillas, cutting to fit as necessary. Spread on 1/3 of the remaining tomato mixture. Repeat these layers 2 more times, ending with the rest of the tomato
mixture; spread evenly over the top.

Cover and cook on the low heat setting about 5 hours. Serve hot.

These are two of my most favorite cranberry drop cookies, that I make every year for the holidays. Our friends always look forward to them with much anticipation. Both are good but the Frosted Cranberry Orange Drops take top honor! I do hope Donna G will enjoy them as much as we
do.

Frosted Cranberry Orange Drops
2-1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1/4 cup honey
2 eggs
2 tsp. grated orange peel
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup dried cranberries
Combine all cookie ingredients, except cranberries in a large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth (1 to 2 minutes). Stir in cranberries by hand. Drop dough by round teaspoonfuls 1 inch apart onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake 7 to 9 minutes at 350º, or until edges begin to brown. Cool completely. Frost when cold. Makes about 4-1/2 dozen moist and delicious cookies. These store very well, in airtight container, with waxed paper between layers.

Frosting:
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp. butter, softened
1 to 3 tbsp. orange juice

Beat together in small bowl, adding enough orange juice to make desired spreading consistency.

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1-3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pistachios

In large mixing bowl, cream butter, oil and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed of electric mixer until thoroughly mixed. Stir in cranberries,
cereal, oats and pistachio nuts. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350º for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks and cool. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

These are a very popular cookie during the holidays at our house.
Judy (in Alaska)

Nancy, love your newsletters!! This is not food related but I had received and email called "The Clothes Line" a while ago. I am in charge of a meeting in our senior complex and would like to read it to the ladies. Does anyone have a copy of THE CLOTHES LINE that they could share with me.
Thanks, Eleanor in Fl. elmorstatt@webtv.net

Question: I don't cook for Thanksgiving, not just for 3-4 people. But I usually do cook Christmas dinner. Usually somebody else comes too. I always cook the same things every year. Several of the things I only make for Christmas. I have never made the green bean casserole using the mushroom soup because I won't use or eat anything with mushrooms in it. (I think they should be outlawed! LOL) I recently discovered cream of onion soup. Never had seen it before. I wonder how the green bean casserole would be using the onion soup. Has anybody ever tried using it instead of the mushroom soup?

I'm not sure I'm even cooking this year. With my husband's job being the way it is and it isn't looking up at all and not being able to eat much of what I would cook (diabetic) I'm just not looking forward to Christmas. Of course, I know the REAL meaning of Christmas and will certainly celebrate that and I will have a white tree up and hopefully I can find some pink balls to go with the turquoise ones I found at wally world, but I told hubby if there isn't anything under the tree, I wasn't cooking. But I probably will anyway. Maybe just not as much. We have to eat after all.
Sandee in West TN

Comment
If I don't have cream of mushroom soup I use cream of celery soup. Does change the flavor at bit but it is still good.
Nancy Rogers

I am looking for a couple of recipes and hope someone here can help. First I would like a really good chocolate chip cookie recipe that would make a soft, moist cookie once they are baked. Then I also would like a great coconut pecan cookie that would also turn out soft and chewy, not crispy. If anyone has a Publix in their area, it is their coconut pecan cookie I am trying to duplicate. Just can't bear to pay $3.99 for a dozen barely bite sized cookies.

I know I am bad about sending in requests for recipes but not sending in recipes......so here are a few favorites to save for the holiday baking season coming up.

Kyra in Florida

People Chow
1/2 cup margarine
1-cup peanut butter
1 bag (11 1/2 oz.) milk chocolate chips
1 box (13 oz.) Golden Grahams cereal
3 cups confectioners’ sugar

In large saucepan combine margarine, peanut butter and chocolate chips. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Add cereal a little at a time stirring until well coated.
Place half of the powdered sugar in a large heavy duty, zip top plastic bag. Add cereal mixture and remaining powdered sugar. Seal bag, and gently shake to coat.
Pour mixture onto cookie sheet, let dry. Separate large pieces with fork if necessary

Pecan Kisses
3 egg whites
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 c. pecans
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat egg whites until stands in soft peak. Gradually mix in brown sugar and vanilla. Fold in pecans, place pecan halves (well coated in egg and sugar mixture) on greased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake at 250 degrees for 30 minutes. Turn oven off and let set for 30 minutes store in airtight container. Freezes well.

Orange Bites
1 package orange cake mix
1 egg
4 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
½ cup confectioner’s sugar

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, combine cake mix, egg and topping. (Dough will be very stiff) DO NOT TRY TO USE AN ELECTRIC MIXER FOR THIS. YOU WILL BURN UP THE MOTOR IN JUST A FEW MINUTES! Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into powdered sugar. Roll into 1-inch balls, using sugar to keep dough from sticking to hands. Place balls of dough 2 inches apart on GREASED cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until light brown on bottom.

Chocolate Pixies
1/4 cup margarine
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
½ cup chopped nuts
4 eggs
3 tablespoons powdered sugar

In large saucepan, melt margarine and chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Add flour, sugar, nuts and eggs; mix well. Cover dough with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 300. Lightly grease cookie sheets or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar, coating heavily. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 300 for 13 to 18 minutes or until edges are set. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Makes 5 dozen cookies.

Squash Casserole
1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated not the kind in the can)
1 stick butter melted
1/2 cup onion
1 tsp garlic powder or 1 clove garlic
1/4 cup Bisquick
1/2 tsp oregano
3 yellow squash or zucchini
1 tube Ritz crackers (crushed)
1 more stick of butter melted

Mix all together well. Make sure all squash are coated well with the mix. Bake 30 minutes in a preheated 350°F oven. Once casserole is done, combine cracker crumbs with melted butter and
top casserole with it. Return to oven a few minutes until crumbs are golden brown.
Sue

Southwestern Chicken Casserole
4 lb chicken; cooked
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 pkg corn chips
2 onions; finely chopped
3 cup sharp cheese; grated

Cut chicken in bite size pieces. Combine soups, tomatoes, chicken stock, salt and pepper. In a 3 qt casserole, layer corn chips, chicken, tomato mixture, onions and cheese in the order given. Bake
at 350F for 45 mins. May be frozen. Makes 8 servings.
Sue

Sauerkraut and Chops
4 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick and trimmed
Vegetable oil for browning
1 med. onion, sliced and separated into rings
1/8 tsp. instant garlic flakes
3 c. drained sauerkraut
3/4 c. apple juice
1 1/2 tsp. caraway seed
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. apple slices, unpeeled, cored, red cooking variety

Brown chops, set aside. Place in a crock pot half of onion rings, garlic flakes, sauerkraut, apple juice, caraway seed, salt, thyme and pepper. Place remaining half of ingredients on top of chops;
top with apple slices. Cover crock pot; cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. Serves 4.
Sue

I have no idea where this recipe originated from, but it is easy and good.

Imperial Cherry Cream Pie
1 baked 8 or 9 inch pie shell
1 package (3½ oz) vanilla instant pudding
1 package (2 oz) whipped topping mix
1½ cups milk
1 can cherry pie filling, drained by squeezing through colander. Reserve juice.

Blend pudding, whipped topping mix and milk at low speed. Beat at high speed until high peaks form. Fold in drained cherries. Chill about 2 hours. Before serving, pour thickened syrup (drained off pie filling) over top of pie.
JL in South Jersey

This is a recipe I got in the late 60's.

Corn And Sausage Chowder
Brown one pound sausage and pour off fat. Add one cup, chopped onions, 4 cups diced potatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon marjoram, 1/8 teaspoon pepper and 2 cups water and simmer until potatoes are done. Add 1 can cream style corn, 1 can whole kernel corn and 1 large can of evaporated milk. Heat thoroughly and serve.
JL in South Jersey

Hubby is a diabetic and if he eats regular cornbread it runs his sugar high. so here is a recipe I use with Cream of Wheat. It surprisingly taste like the real thing.

Cream of Wheat Cornbread
1 cup uncooked cream of wheat
1 cup self rising flour
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup oil
4 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 2ggs

Combine all, mix well. Pour inio an iron skillet. Bake at 450 until brown. This makes a lot and I halve it and use a small 8 inch skillet,
Louise, AL

Nancy here is my Banana Cake recipe, I make one for Thanksgiving, Christmas and little cakes for my gift boxes for people my elder friends leaving the nuts out. Recipe is 40 yrs old. Give Ditto a pat. You take care.

Banana Nut Cake
1 cup vegetable shortening. softened
2-1/2 cups sugar
3 cups flour , sifted
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 egg yolks, beaten
6 tbsp buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups mashed ripe bananas
1 cup pecans, chopped
4 egg whites, beaten

Cream shortening and sugar. Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Alternating with beaten egg yolks and buttermilk. add vanilla , mashed potatoes and pecans. Fold in beaten egg whites. Pour into large tube greased pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1-1/2 hours.
Louise, AL

Hi everyone, This is not a cooking question. The activity director at the nursing home where my mother is living. Wants a afghan pattern, hope somebody in Nancy land knows where we can get it for the ladies. It looks like one afghan is woven into another one. Two colors, like you would make one then make another one different color and crochet it into the first one. I hope I am explaining this so somebody know what I am talking about. They are making these to give to children in hospitals. My mother is 88 years old and still active with her hands.It is crochet with a soft yarn. Hope someone can tell me what it is called and where I can get a pattern. Thanks for ALL the help you have given me over the many years I have been a member.
Love this site. Florence in Indiana

Baked Smelts
This is the way I've been making them for years. Wash the fish and dry them on paper towels, [buy them already cleaned.] I take the smelt and lay it down open end down with the flat of my hand gently press down and  it will remove the bone, this was told to me about 40years ago, no choking was safe for my kids, Preheat the oven to 350* place the fish on foil, sprayed with nonstick vegetable spray, Bake for 10 min. enjoy/ removing the bones they cook quicker, baked or fried.
EMA

Fried Smelts
1/2 lb smelts[cleaned]
1/2 cup oil[any type oil, or Crisco
2 Tablespoons milk
1 egg
2/3 to 1 cup flour

Place flour into a gallon or quart size storage bag; add the fish & shake to coat. Mix egg & milk together &dip fish to coat. Then reflour the fish, In a lg. hot pan add frying oil or Crisco to cover bottom of pan. Heat oil then place fish in till browned on one side, then flip them over to brown other side, about 2 min. remove to paper towel or brown paper to drain oil & season generously with salt & pepper this was the way I made them 70 yrs ago. I like the baked ones better, less work, not so messy both are great. I'm going to buy some this week,
God Bless Nancy
Marie from ma.

For Donna in Colorado wondering about the smelt. This is the way my mom did it all those years ago. Coat smelt in plain flour, then in beaten eggs, finally in finely crushed ( I use my food processor thingy) saltine crackers. Fry in hot Crisco. Delish!
Lindsey in the U.P.

For Donna in Colorado re smelts.
I usually soak them in milk for a few minutes, then coat them in flour and deep fry them.

Hugs to Ditto :)
Blessings for everyone, Angel from Sherbrooke

To Donna in Colorado who asked about cooking smelts: I always do them on Christmas Eve. I flour all of them and place them in a frying pan with a little grease; CAREFULLY turn each one, do not put too many in the frying pan, and cook for a couple of minutes on each side. And, I try to use my newest Teflon frying pan (so they don't stick or make a mess)
Anita S. in Olean, New York

Hi Nancy, Re: N/L 10 11 Flea remedies. It seem expensive to buy but we use Revolution from our Vet for our cats. Since 4 of them are indoor only, We don't have to use it but once or twice a year. The one cat (was feral) we have tamed until she is indoor/outdoor gets Revolution more often, the fleas dry up if they get on her. What I like about Revolution is it prevents all kinds of parasites, including tape worms and ear mites. Also I'v hear of people putting a new flea collar in their vacuum bag before using on the carpet. Be sure to discard bag after each use or more fleas will hatch. Our daughter has had good luck with the salt on her carpet. Margaret, Tulsa

P.S. Glad to hear Ditto is better. You and he are a comfort to each other.

Found in a fortune cookie: Don't put off until tomorrow what you can enjoy today.

For the flea problem in Saturday's newsletter: My inside dog that only goes out to potty and is 16 years old and NEVER had fleas. We never put a collar or anything else on him because the vet said he was too small. Chico was a 1# Chihuahua at the time. Since he never had the problem we never thought anything else about it. Well, early this summer I noticed Chico looked like he had been sprinkled with pepper. I took him to the vet because I had no idea what it could be. Of course the vet said he was infested with fleas. (the specks were flea p**p!) Got advantage and use it every month now. However, there were still fleas in the house. Didn't want to bomb because of the bird and not having anywhere to go for a day with dog and bird. My sister told me to get some 20 Mule Team borax, vacuum real good and then sprinkle the borax around like you would the carpet smell good stuff you can buy. I put some under my recliner and even in the seat that i keep covered with a sheet. The vet said it would take 3 months to get rid of the fleas on the dog and it did and we haven't had a problem since. Every 15th of the month Chico gets a bath in Palmolive dish detergent as the vet said to do. He gets to dry completely and then gets the advantage. It works!
Sandee in West TN

For Debbie in AR, I found this method in "The Dollar Stretcher" newsletter quite some time ago and have used it myself and passed it on to friends who had success as well. (I used all Borax.) Here is a copy and paste of the tip. Good luck!
Diana T in Middle TN

Words From Experience
Fleas are dangerous pests. They continue sucking blood even when full, because their larva feed on the blood that they pass with their stool. Fleas carry tapeworms, and a bad infestation can cause serious loss of blood. Puppies and kittens can die from flea caused anemia.
Any insecticide you use will be absorbed through your skin and the animal's skin, and be breathed by you, the kids, and the animal. Our San Diego fleas are resistant to most insecticides. The ones that work are either really strong or act as hormones, with unknown long term effects on people. The borax/repellent approach described here is much safer.
The following has worked for us for the past 10 years, and we have three large outdoor dogs and an outdoor cat.

Vacuum the house thoroughly, including floors and furniture. This will get any loose flea eggs, larvae, and adults. Dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag. Otherwise, the fleas you catch will hop out (they go toward light).

Make a 50/50 mixture of 20 Mule Team Borax (the boxed laundry product), and diatomaceous earth. The diatomaceous earth is available cheaply wherever swimming pool supplies are sold, including most supermarkets and drug stores. It is also called swimming pool filter earth. Pure borax will also work but will cost a bit more.

Make a dust can by punching or drilling a bunch of holes in the base of a container. A used quart yogurt or cottage cheese container, with the top, is perfect. Medium dust all carpets and hidden nooks and crannies of furniture, closets, and wherever else larval fleas might be hiding (they eat dust and detritus). I like to sweep the powder into the carpets with a push broom and not vacuum the rugs for several days so the dust can really sift down.

Do not breathe this dust or get it on the skin. This isn't a systemic poison like insecticides but it is irritating to the eyes, skin, and lungs. For this reason, be sure the kids and animals are out of the house while you dust. Do not use this dust outside or on houseplants. The borax will harm any plants it contacts. I wrestle with the dogs on the rug after dusting, and don't notice any irritation from that small contact.

To keep fleas off of pets or kids when they are outside, thin slice a lemon or lime (peals and all) into two cups of water. Heat the water to boiling and let sit overnight. Sponge the child or pet in the morning with the lemon scented water, and let it dry. It will soothe the skin, smell really nice, and keep the fleas off for about 1/2 a day.

Lemon grass (also called citronella, available from Asian markets) would probably work even better. I use commercial citronella based insect repellents to keep off ticks, mosquitoes, and other biters when hiking. It seems to work as good as DEET, but is safe and smells nice. It only lasts about 2 hours. A weak solution of eucalyptus oil and/or pennyroyal oil also works, but may irritate the skin.
We have found that outside fleas get on the dogs and cats, come into the house on them, jump off and die. We have almost no fleas in the house or yard (we do not spread poisons on our yard), and we take our dogs hiking once or twice a week.
A dust treatment once a year works for us but we treated twice the first year.
David