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.

Thanksgiving Menu - Whit

1. Cornucopia
2. Turkey - Alton Brown's recipe (Romancing the Bird)
3. Stuffing
4. Mashed Potatoes
5. Gravy
6. Corn on the cob
7. Maddox Rolls
8. Strawberry Jello Salad (with pretzel crust)
9. Baked Beans
10. Broccoli Salad
11. Sparkling Drinks
12. Banana Cream Pie
13. French Silk Pie
14. Stephen's Pear Gruyere Pie
15. Marie Callender's Dutch Apple Pie (yes, I buy this frozen)
16. Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream - Also an Alton Brown recipe - Churn Baby Churn
17. Cranberry something (changes)

Chicken Noodle Stoup

A very precise and exact recipe! (by Shauna)

In large kettle, melt three or four tablespoons of butter. Add three or four chopped stalks of celery (with leaves), about 1/3 of a yellow onion, chopped, four carrots, peeled and chopped, and three or four potatoes, peeled and diced. Stir and cook until the vegetables are mostly cooked - it’s okay if they brown a little. Add salt and pepper. Add two or three pieces of raw chicken that have been cubed. Add a dash or two of poultry seasoning. Stir and cook for a while. Stir in about 1/3 cup of flour and cook until quite browned. Add two or three chicken bouillon cubes....kind of mash them in. Add a couple of cans of chicken stock and then water to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil and add a couple of hands full of country style noodles. When liquid comes to a boil, again, turn the heat down and simmer until noodles are done. Entire process takes less than 30 minutes.