Pineapple Muffins

Aunt Marjie

1/3 cup shortening
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup nuts/ or coconut
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained

Sift dry ingredients and add raisins. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and beat til fluffy. Stir in pineapple. Stir in dry ingredients. Bake at 375 in muffin tins 2/3 full, 20-25 minutes.

Green Pepper Meatloaf

Aunt Deborah

1-1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 small onion, chopped
1 egg
salt and pepper
(I add ketchup)

Mix together well, then form into rolls (or balls). In a greased baking dish, place a layer of sliced green peppers. Place rolls on top of green bell peppers. Over all, pour 1 large can tomato sauce (15 oz) then grate a generous amount of Mozzarella cheese (8 oz) over it. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes at 350. Serve over cooked rice. Serves 6-8 people.

Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps

Paula Deen

1 1/4 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 breasts)
1 lb. package sliced bacon
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder

Preheat oven to 350. Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Cut each bacon slice into thirds. Wrap each chicken cube with bacon and secure with a wooden toothpick. Stir together brown sugar and chili powder. Dredge wrapped chicken in mixture. Coat a rack and broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place chicken wrap on rack in broiler pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

When we lived in San Jose, one of my good friends made this cake for my birthday. It's moist and delicious and has a bright lemon flavor.

-Melissa Rideout

1 (18.5 oz) package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 cup plain or lemon yogurt
4 extra large eggs, or 1 cup egg whites
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Zest of one lemon

1-2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Combine cake mix and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add vegetable oil, water, yogurt and eggs. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 4 minutes. Stir in lemon zest and poppy seeds.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 10 cup bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Invert on cake plate and drizzle with lemon glaze.

LEMON GLAZE
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

Chimichangas

Chimichangas are one of those Mexican foods that aren't technically Mexican; however, I categorize them as such and they have always been one of my favorites. This is a version that my family enjoys.

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

El Pato or salsa
Tortillas
Shredded Cheese
Sour Cream
Guacamole

Pan fry chicken breasts in a non-stick skillet with a little oil. After frying, I put the chicken in a bowl, put a couple tablespoons of El Pato on top and cover the bowl with foil. Let the chicken cool and then shred the chicken, letting it soak in the sauce and drippings from the chicken.

Place a couple tablespoons full of chicken in the center of a tortilla, sprinkle with some cheese and roll up burrito-style and secure with a toothpick. Deep fry until golden brown and remove to drain on some paper towels. Garnish with sour cream and guacamole.

Navajo Tacos

Navajo Tacos are definitely one of my childhood favorites, and something my family enjoys now. While in high school, the majority of our games and meets were played on the Indian reservations in northeast Arizona. Fry bread and these tacos are a staple there and are often found among nachos and other game-time fare at the concessions. I'll never forget the kindness shown to us by some sweet women who made our whole volleyball team a dinner of these delicious tacos, knowing that there wasn't any fast food close, and we would be hungry after our games. I use a white bread dough to fry, but it doesn't even come close to their light and tender fry bread.

Bread dough, after one rise, roll into small ovals and deef fry
Pinto beans

Browned ground beef seasoned with onion, taco seasoning/chili powder & cumin
Cheese
Lettuce
Tomato
Onion
Sour Cream
Salsa

Meatloaf

Hamburger
Ketchup
Egg
Bread Crumbs
Chopped Onion
Salt & Pepper