Sweets and Treats

Cowboy Cake

This is one of my grandmother's (Nana's) recipes, and my Dad's birthday cake every year as long as I can remember. It is also truly wonderful and guaranteed to become a favorite among people of taste. Makes 1 sheet cake (9"x13")--no frosting needed.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2 1/2 c. flour
2 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. shortening
Rub together w/up to 1/2 t. salt, to produce a fine crumbly texture (you'll want your pastry blender for this). Set aside 1/2 c. of it to use for topping later.

2 t. baking *powder*
1/2 t. ea. cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking *soda*
Stir in to the flour/sugar/shortening.

2 eggs, well beaten
1 c. sour milk or buttermilk [to produce "instant sour milk": add 1 T lemon juice or vinegar to 1 c. milk]
Mix together and stir in. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9"x13" baking pan.

1 t. cinnamon
14-1/2 c. chopped nuts, optional
Add to the 1/2 c. crumbs mixture you set aside earlier, and sprinkle over top of batter. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. This is one of those treats (like pudding and home-made bread) that is universe-restoring when eaten while still warm. Also lovely with ice cream (wink).

Anderson Magna Brownies

Bill's Mom gave me this recipe; I made up the name. Can you say, "fabulous"?

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

4 eggs
Beat to lemon-colored foam.

2 c. sugar
Beat in gradually.

2 sticks butter (or 1 stick margarine + 1/2 c. shortening)
3-4 squared unsweetened baking chocolate
Melt over hot water or in the microwave, & mix into egg-sugar mixture with 1 t. vanilla.

1 1/3 c. sifted flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
Sift together. Add 1 c. chopped nuts, if desired, and mix in to batter (do not overbeat). Spread batter in greased 9"x13" baking pan, and bake at 300-325 degrees (depending on how hot your oven runs) for 20-25 min. Let cool before cutting. If you have a truly vindictive sweet tooth, while the brownies are still warm you can frost these babies with the following:

Chocolate Frosting (for brownies)

1 stick margarine
1 1/2 squares unsweetened baking chocolate
Melt together (or mix melted margarine or butter w/ 1/4 c. baking cocoa).

1 whole box powdered sugar Beat in to melted mixture w/up to 6 T milk, adding the milk 1 T at a time to get a spreadable consistency.

Aunt Flora's Lacy Ginger Cookies

This is an old family recipe from my Mom.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

3/4 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
4 t. molasses
 Cream together.

1 t. ginger
2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 c. flour
Sift together & mix in to the shortening/sugar. Roll in tiny balls & roll balls in granulated sugar. Place 1/4-1/2" apart on greased cookie sheets and bake 375 degrees for 15 min.

Roly Polies

A.k.a. snickerdoodles. I got this recipe from Bill's Mom.

1 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
Cream together.

2 eggs
Beat in one at a time.

2 3/4 c. flour
2 t. cream of tartar
1 t. baking soda
1/8 t. salt
Sift together and mix in thoroughly. Chill dough 2 hrs. for easier handling. Roll dough into small balls & roll balls in a mixture of 2 T ea. sugar and cinnamon. Place balls 1/2" apart on greased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 min.

Mrs. Levy's Vietnam Cookies

My Mom clipped this recipe out of the Seattle Times when I was a kid; the idea was to send these cookies to the soldiers. Mom was against the war, but I guess she wasn't against chocolate-chip banana-nut oatmeal-raisin spice cookies! These became my "signature goodie" when I was in High School. Makes about 75 cookies.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

3/4 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
Cream together.

1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
Sift together & add.

1/2 c. each chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, shredded coconut, and raisins (or your favorite combination of solid goodies that adds up to about 2 c.)
1 c. mashed bananas (about 2-3 bananas)
Add, mixing well.

1 3/4 c. rolled oats
Stir in. Drop dough onto lightly greased cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees for about 12 min.

Naomi Turk's Chocolate Chip Cookies

This one comes from my best friend Wendy's college roommate's Mom. Good cookie recipes get around!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

3/4 c. corn-oil margarine
1c. dark brown sugar
2 extra-large eggs (use 5 large eggs if you double the recipe)
2 T light corn syrup
2 T water
2 t. vanilla
Cream together, beating well.

2 1/2 c. unsifted flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. raw sunflower seeds
Stir in. Drop cookie dough onto greased sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 10 min.

Oatmeal-Wheat Cookies

I'm no longer sure where I got this recipe, but it's my favorite cookie dough ever. :) Makes about 3 dozen (depending on how much actually makes it to the cookie sheet).

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1 egg
1/2 t. vanilla
Cream together.

1 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. ea. baking powder & salt
Combine & stir in. I also like to add some cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger & a little allspice, when I'm in a spice-cookie mood.

1 c. quick-cooking oats
1 c. Wheaties or any other flake cereal (I like cornflakes)
1/2 c. shredded coconut, optional (I usually leave this out)
You can also add chocolate chips and/or nuts to taste. Mix in; dough will be stiff. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 min. ('til set but not hard). Let cool abt. 3 min. before removing from cookie sheets.

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Abbie Anderson
Last updated 4/2/2000