DaraDarans (A Molasses Sugar Cookie)

Submitted by Dara Singleton

When I was a teenager my Neighbor Daran and I created this recipe. His mom was my music teacher and we made cookies quite often after school. These won't last long in your cookie jar!

3/4 cup. Shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup Molasses
2 1/3 cup flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
1/2 t. salt
granulated sugar

Cream Shortening, Sugar, Egg, and Molasses. Mix in remaining ingredients, except for the extra granulated sugar. Roll in balls, and then into the granulated sugar. Heat the oven to 375. Place cookies 3 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake 8 minutes. Yield 4 dozen - depending on size.

Peaches and Cream Cake

submitted by Dara Singleton

1 yellow cake mix
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg
1 (29 oz peaches, drained) Reserve liquid for topping.
1 cup sugar
1 ts. cinnamon
2 8 oz. pkg cream cheese

Reserve 1-3 T juice for top and set aside.
Combine cake mix, egg, and mix in melted butter. Press dough in bottom and halfway up sides of a 9x13 pan. Cover with drained peaches. Mix cream cheese, sugar, and juice til creamy. Spread over peaches. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes, til golden brown.

Cranberry Punch

submitted by Dara Singleton
from the kitchen of Carol Pilcher

4 cups fresh cranberries
3 1/2 quarts water
12 whole cloves
4 sticks cinnamon
3/4 cup orange juice
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cup sugar

In a large kettle or crock pot combine cranberries, water, cloves, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 12 - 15 minutes. Strain the cooked cranberries through a fine sieve or cheese cloth. (discard pulp) add orange juice, lemon juice, and sugar. Serve piping hot! Yield 25 1/2 cup servings

Roasted Veggies

Submitted by Dara Singleton

For a quick Daniel Diet side item we often just slice up various veggies, and roast them in the oven with a little olive oil, fresh cracked black pepper, and kosher salt!
I have done this with Potatoes and Onions and a bit of Emeril's Southwest Essence in place of the salt and pepper. Its Delicious, Healthy, and best of all EASY!!!

Grandma Branham's Banana Pound Cake

Submitted by Dara Singleton
from my late Grandma's kitchen

1 1/2 cup oil
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
3 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 T vanilla
1 1/2 half cups Bananas - about 4
Optional:
1/2 cup pecans
1 cup coconut

Cream the oil and sugar, add eggs and beat well. Add dry ingredients except for baking soda. Mix the Baking soda with buttermilk and add to mixture along with vanilla. Fold in banana's nuts, and coconut.
Bake in a bundt pan at 325 for 90 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean!

Icing:
1/2 stick of butter
powdered sugar
vanilla
make into a thin consistency (glaze)
You can also add cream cheese to this.
The note in my cookbook from Grandma says, "Just do your thing Honey!"

Mandarin Orange Tropical Cake

Submitted by Dara Singleton
from the kitchen of Lanora Krenc

1 Yellow Cake Mix
4 eggs
1 sm instant vanilla pudding mix

Beat for 4 minutes. Then add:

1 sm can crushed pineapple
1 can mandarin oranges - drained

Beat well.

Grease and flour 9x13 pan
Spread in pan
Bake Approx - 35 minutes - golden brown.

Test with pick, - it will sink a little in the middle while cooling.

Frosting:
1 regular size cool whip
1 sm instant vanilla pudding pkg
1 sm can crushed pineapple - drained
Mix well and Frost!
Sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Easy Almond Coffee Cake

Submitted by Dara Singleton
from the kitchen of Barb Soutter (Mitchelville IA)

1 cup sugar
1 pkg yellow cake mix
1 lb. almond paste

Crumble together the sugar and almond paste. Prepare cake mix according to the directions on package. Into a greased 9x13 pan sprinkle half of the almond sugar mixture. Cover with batter plus lastof the almond sugar mixture. Bake according to cake mix instructions. While warm drizzle with a powdered sugar icing. Serve warm with coffee!