Mom's Broccoli Salad

2 bunches fresh raw broccoli

1 cup sunflower seeds
½ cup chopped red onion
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1 pound bacon, cooked crisp, cooled, and drained

Mix all ingredients together in large mixing bowl. (Either cut the bacon in small pieces before cooking or crumble before adding to mixture.)

Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar

Mix together with wire whisk and pour over vegetable mixture, stirring to coat thoroughly. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Joan's Pie Crust

2 C flour

2/3 C butter-flavored shortening

1 t salt

(up to) 6 T cold water

Combine salt & flour. Cut in shortening (can do in food processor). Sprinkle on water lightly and toss with fork until begins to stick together and make a ball. Roll between two pieces of wax paper. Roll to 1/8 inch thick. Peel off one side of wax paper. Place paper back on crust and flip over. Peel off other side. Put crust in pan.

To pre-bake - preheat oven to 425* and bake 8-12 minutes (poke with fork or use pie weights).

PS - THANK YOU to Joan Justis for teaching me how to make this pie crust. My husband will be forever grateful.

Whit's Cinnamon Pie

1 c. sugar

2 Tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. cornstarch
Dash salt
1 c. evaporated milk

1 c. water
4 egg yolks
1/2 stick (1/4 c.) butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 baked pie shell (9-inch)

In double boiler (I make my own) combine evaporated milk and water. Mix together the 1 cup sugar, cinnamon, flour, cornstarch and salt. Stir into milk/water, then very gradually blend in slightly beaten egg yolks. Cut the half stick butter into several pieces and add to milk mixture. Cook in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring constantly, until thick (consistency of pudding). Stir in vanilla. Cool.

Pour cream mixture into pie crust. Delicious!

Mom's Banana Bread (aka Betty Crocker)

1 ¼ C sugar
½ C butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 ½ C mashed ripe bananas (3-4 medium)
½ C buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ C gold medal all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 C chopped nuts (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans.


2. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.


3. Bake loaves about 1 hour - until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.