Miss Spenser's Blog

We hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas holiday with your family. We have certainly enjoyed some down time. However, one thing that never changes around here in terms of work is hungry boys!! Perhaps you can relate? Here’s an easy recipe that does two things – uses up left over turkey and fills hungry boys’ bellies!  ~ Donna 2.5 – 3 C diced turkey * Left over Gravy, about 1 C or 1 Can of Cream of Chicken Soup  1 TBSP of Dried Onions  ¾ tsp. Lawry’s Seasoning  1 large can of Chunky Veg-All Vegetables, drained  1 regular can of corn, drained  1 Box of Pillsbury Pie Crust  Place the thawed pie crust in a pie dish. Place in a large mixing bowl: diced turkey, gravy (or, if using the cream of chicken – use the can of soup and add 1/4th of a can of milk), dried onions, seasoning and drained vegetables. Mix together well. Pour the turkey/vegetable mixture into the crust. I usually put the pie dish on a baking sheet before placi...

Traditional Welsh Cake Cookies 3 ½  C Flour ½ tsp. Baking Powder ¼ tsp. Salt Dash of Nutmeg & Allspice 1 C Sugar ½ pound of Fat (Lard & Butter are best)* 1 Egg 3-4 TBSP Milk ½ C Currants** Measure flour, baking powder, salt and spcies into a bowl.  Cut in the fat with pastry tool.  Add 1 large egg, slightly beaten and ½ C Currants.  Add milk, 1 Tablespoon at a time, blend together to form soft dough that is not sticky. Roll the dough to ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured board.  Cut into rounds with a floured fluted cutter about 2 inches in diameter. Cook on a lightly greased electric griddle on medium heat (275 degrees) until they are golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.  Roll in cinnamon sugar.  Makes approximately 24 – 2 inch cookies.  They keep very well in a tin. *We used half Shortening and half Butter **We like Golden Raisins, so that’s what we use instead of Cu...

Mardi Gras King Cake 1 Stick of Butter, melted 2/3 C Evaporated Milk ¾ C, plus 1 tsp. Sugar 1 tsp. salt 2 Envelopes of Active Dry Yeast, Regular or Rapid Rise 3 Eggs Grated Zest of 1 Lemon 6 C Flour 4 TBSP Butter, melted 1 Egg White, for glazing Cinnamon-Sugar Filling: ½ C Sugar 1 tsp. Cinnamon White Icing : 2 C Powder Sugar 2 TBSP Whole Milk Colored Sugars – ¼ Cup Each of yellow, green, red and blue Combine 1 stick of melted butter, evaporated milk, ¾ C Sugar and salt. Stir so that the sugar dissolves, allow to cool. Dissolve the yeast in ¼ C lukewarm water along with the teaspoon of sugar. Cover and allow to stand for up to 10 minutes or until foamy. (If the yeast does not foam up, it is no good, you will have to start over with yeast and sugar…be sure your water temp is lukewarm, not hot.) Add yeast mixture to the butter/milk mixture. Next add eggs and lemon zest; whisk together vigorously until well blended. Add one cup of flour at a time until you hav...

Superbowl Sunday is coming up - which means Manly Recipes are being posted all over Pinterest! I saw this recipe earlier today and thought it would be a good one to try for all the of the "Carnivores" in our house! Sometimes it feels like we're feeding an army trying to keep these four men in our household full!  LOL This recipe looked yummy and easy! I think I'll give it a try!  Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches  2-3 Lbs. oven roast  2 cans beef broth (about 4 cups)  2 pkgs Lipton Onion Soup mix French  Hoagie or sub rolls (whatever bread you like to do)  Swiss cheese slices Put oven roast in a crock pot.  Add beef broth and soup mix.  Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours.  Shred roast with a fork, then return the shredded beef to the crock pot for a few more minutes (to absorb more of that juicy goodness). Slice open the bread and place a good amount of beef on one side (scoop out some of the bread first if you don’t like it really ...

In Honor of Downton Abbey Season 3 Episode 2 airing tomorrow night, we thought we'd make this special treat:  Chocolate Pots de Creme! Bittersweet Chocolate Pots de Creme 1 cup Heavy Cream 3/4 cup Whole Milk 1/3 cup Sugar 4 ounces Bittersweet Baking Chocolate 1 Tbsp. unsweetened Cocoa Powder 1 tsp. Vanilla extract  1 tsp. Chocolate extract  1/8 tsp. Salt 6 Egg Yolks 1. Preheat oven 275 degrees 2. In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, milk, sugar, chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture just begins to boil; remove from heat. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth. Pour approximately 1 cup of the hot chocolate mixture into the beaten yolks, whisking constantly; repeat. Return the yolk-chocolate mixture to the saucepan and whisk to combine; strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. 4. Evenly divide the mixture among 4 ramekins. Line the bottom of a large baking pan with a folded ...

For the Brownie Base – use a Brownie Mix – prepare as per box and bake in a 9x13 pan. After the brownies have baked and cooled – top them with: Peanut Butter Frosting: 2/3 Cup softened butter 2/3 Cup creamy peanut butter 2 2/3 Cup powdered sugar 2-3 TBSP Milk (or more of needed) to create spreadable frosting After spreading the brownies with the peanut butter frosting, refrigerate until set – then top with the melted chocolate icing. Chocolate Icing: 1 Cup semisweet chocolate chips 6 TBSP Butter Melt the chocolate chips and butter in the top of a double boiler. Stir until smooth. Pour warm glaze over peanut butter filling. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens. Cutting tip: Remove pan from the refrigerator and allow the brownies to come to room temperature so the chocolate will not crack when cutting. CAUTION -- Very rich, but oh so yummy! Cut small pieces…and Enjoy!

Here is a delicious recipe to try on the next cold wintery day...it's delicious!! 2 C Black Beans - presoaked overnight 8 C Chicken Broth 1 small onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 tsp. garlic in jar) 1 Bay Leaf Combine the above and simmer covered until beans are thoroughly cooked (about 2 to 2.5 hours) Once the beans are cooked add: 4 - 6 oz. Summer Sausage, cut into pieces (optional) 1/4 C Cooking Sherry 1/2 to 3/4 tsp. Cumin 1 TBSP Brown Sugar Handful of fresh cilantro Salt/Pepper To Taste Cook 30 minutes more with lid off, or until the broth is reduced and slightly thickened. During the last 30 minute cooking time - prepare your rice per package. We enjoy Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice. Serving Suggestions: Place a spoonful of rice in a bowl, top with beans, a teaspoon of sour cream, a splash of fresh lime juice and garnish with fresh cilantro. There you have it...a delicious dish!!

Mardi Gras King Cake 1 Stick of Butter, melted 2/3 C Evaporated Milk ¾ C, plus 1 tsp. Sugar 1 tsp. salt 2 Envelopes of Active Dry Yeast, Regular or Rapid Rise 3 Eggs Grated Zest of 1 Lemon 6 C Flour 4 TBSP Butter, melted 1 Egg White, for glazing Cinnamon-Sugar Filling: ½ C Sugar 1 tsp. Cinnamon White Icing : 2 C Powder Sugar 2 TBSP Whole Milk Colored Sugars – ¼ Cup Each of yellow, green, red and blue Combine 1 stick of melted butter, evaporated milk, ¾ C Sugar and salt. Stir so that the sugar dissolves, allow to cool. Dissolve the yeast in ¼ C lukewarm water along with the teaspoon of sugar. Cover and allow to stand for up to 10 minutes or until foamy. (If the yeast does not foam up, it is no good, you will have to start over with yeast and sugar…be sure your water temp is lukewarm, not hot.) Add yeast mixture to the butter/milk mixture. Next add eggs and lemon zest; whisk together vigorously until well blended. Add one cup of flour at a time until you have a th...

1 10 ounce package of Fresh Cranberries, washed and picked over 4 C Water ¼ tsp. Baking Soda 2 C Sugar 3 – 3 oz. boxes Strawberry Gelatin 4 C Miniature Marshmallows 2 C Apple, peeled and diced 1 C chopped Nuts, optional 1 9 ounce Can Crushed Pineapple, drained 2 Navel Oranges, peeled and sectioned 1 or 2 C seedless green or red Grapes, halved Cook cranberries in the 4 C water to a boil. Add soda and stir. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in sugar, gelatin and marshmallows. Stir until melted. Let mixture cool. Add apples, nuts, pineapple, orange sections and grapes. Pour into a 9x13 pan and one 8x8 pan. Chill until firm. Will serve 20 or more.

The glaze drizzled over this simple cake is what makes it stand apart from other poppy seed cakes…Enjoy!! 1 pkg. Yellow Cake Mix 1 C Oil 1 C Sour Cream ½ C Sugar 4 Eggs, Beaten ¼ C Poppy Seed Beat together all ingredients; pour into a greased and floured Bundt cake pan; bake at 325 for about one hour. (I always start checking at about 50 minutes). Let cool in pan for 10 minutes – invert and pour glaze over top. Serves 8-10 Glaze: ½ C Sugar ¼ C Orange Juice ½ tsp. Almond Extract ½ tsp. Butter Extract ½ tsp. Vanilla Extract

Princess Diana’s Wedding Cake Recipe 3 eggs, beaten with mixer
 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 2 1/4 cups flour
 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
 1 teaspoon baking soda
 8 ounces crushed pineapple, with juice
 1 1/2 cup chopped bananas
 1 cup chopped apples
 3/4 cup coconut
 3/4 cup chopped nuts
 Frosting 8 ounces cream cheese
 1 Stick of Butter
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 3 cups powdered sugar PREPARATION: Grease and flour the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan. 

Mix together the oil, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract. Sift the dry ingredients; add to mixture. Add remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 48 minutes. 

 Frosting: 

Mix butter and vanilla extract into cream cheese. Add powdered sugar. Mix well. 1 1/4 cup oil


Chipped Beef Dip   Makes a great Appetizer for Easter This recipe is from Miss Spenser's Vol 1 Cookbook 1 1/3 C Mayonnaise 1 1/3 C Sour Cream 2 TBSP Onion, minced 2 TBSP Parsley 2 tsp. Dillweed 2 tsp. Bon Apetit Seasoning (Or Beau Monde) 1 pkg. (3 oz.) Dried Chip Beef Mix the first 7 items together; spread on toast points or fill hollowed round bread loaf.

Aunt Mary’s Irish Soda Bread If you can’t trust a Mary Catharine Gallagher for Irish Soda Bread…who can you trust? This is an old Irish Family’s recipe. 4 C Flour 1 C Sugar 1 tsp. Salt 1 TBSP Baking Powder 1 tsp. Baking Soda 1 tsp. Caraway Seeds Buttermilk (1 C, but may need more) 1 Egg ¼ C Butter 1 ½ C Golden Raisins ½ C Currants Aunt Mary used measuring methods such as, fill the sifter full of flour; a good chunk of butter; 2 fist fulls of raisins…(smile) Soak raisins and currants in hot water. Measure flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and caraway seeds into a large mixing bowl; cut in butter until resembles coarse crumbs. Drain water off of fruit; add to flour mixture. Mix egg with 1 C Buttermilk. Pour Buttermilk into the dry ingredients, mix well until everything is wet and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Add more milk if needed. Place onto floured counter; knead slightly to form a round loaf. Place in a HOT iron frying pan which has be...

Mardi Gras King Cake 1 Stick of Butter, melted 2/3 C Evaporated Milk ¾ C, plus 1 tsp. Sugar 1 tsp. salt 2 Envelopes of Active Dry Yeast, Regular or Rapid Rise 3 Eggs Grated Zest of 1 Lemon 6 C Flour 4 TBSP Butter, melted 1 Egg White, for glazing Cinnamon-Sugar Filling: ½ C Sugar 1 tsp. Cinnamon White Icing : 2 C Powder Sugar 2 TBSP Whole Milk Colored Sugars – ¼ Cup Each of yellow, green, red and blue Combine 1 stick of melted butter, evaporated milk, ¾ C Sugar and salt. Stir so that the sugar dissolves, allow to cool. Dissolve the yeast in ¼ C lukewarm water along with the teaspoon of sugar. Cover and allow to stand for up to 10 minutes or until foamy. (If the yeast does not foam up, it is no good, you will have to start over with yeast and sugar…be sure your water temp is lukewarm, not hot.) Add yeast mixture to the butter/milk mixture. Next add eggs and lemon zest; whisk together vigorously until well blended. Add one cup of flour at a time until you have a th...