Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

1 c buttermilk (or 1 c milk with 1 T white vinegar added and allowed to sit 5 mins)

1/2 c melted butter or margarine

2 eggs, beaten

2 1/2 c flour

1 c sugar

2 1/2 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

1 1/2 c blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Preheat over to 400.  Grease or spray 18 muffin cups.  In small bowl, combine buttermilk, butter, and eggs u tnil blended.  In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Make well in center.  Add buttermilk mixture, stirring just until flour in moistened.  Fold in berries.  Spoon into greased muffin cups until 2/3 full.  Bake for 20 minutes or until tops are golden and toothpick in center is clean.  Remove right away from pans.  Makes 18.

Mom's Homemade Granola

15 cups oats (can do quick or regular or a combo)
1 c coconut
1 c nuts
1 c oil
1 c honey

Combine oats, coconut and nuts in a bowl.  Heat oil and honey until warm.  Stir them together well, then pour over other ingredients.  Stir until all the oat mixture is coated.  Bake in a shallow layer (I do two cookie sheets) for 30-40 minutes at 250 until lightly browned.  Stir at least once about halfway through the cooking time.

*you can vary the type of  nuts, seeds, etc that you want to add.  Some should be added after cooking, however, so they don't scorch.  Dried fruit is always a nice addition, as well.

Biscuits and Gravy

A family favorite.

On a hurried day, just use toast instead of biscuits.

These recipes are from my mom.

Biscuits:

2 c flour

4 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1/4 t cream of tartar

2 t sugar

1/2 c shortening

2/3 c milk

Combine dry ingredients.  Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add milk all at once. Stir only until dough follows fork around the bowl.  Turn out on lightly floured surface and knead gently for 1/2 minute.  Pat or roll 1/4 inch thick.  Cut with biscuit cutter (or jar lid ring).  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 450 for 10-12 minutes. 

Gravy:

1 cube margarine or butter

1/2 c flour

4 cups milk

salt and pepper to taste

cooked sausage, chopped ham, or hard boiled egg as desired

Melt butter in saucepan.  Whisk in flour.  Add milk and stir frequently until sauce thickens or begins to bubble.  Season to taste and add desired stir-in.   The higher the temp, the more often you have to stir.  It will burn on the bottom easily.

Orange Banana Syrup and Variations

We found this one many years ago in the "Where's Mom Now That I Need Her" book.

Still good.

1/2 c orange juice (can be sneaky and use the juice drained from the oranges)

1/4 c sugar

1 1/2 t cornstarch

1 sliced banana

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

Combine orange juice, sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan.  Stir until cornstarch in completely dissolved.  Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer until thickened, stirring constantly.  Add banana and oranges.  Serve hot.

*To vary this syrup, substitute orange juice for water or juice of choice.  Mix with sugar and cornstarch as instructed above.  Add 1 cup of fruit or berries of choice in place of oranges and banana.

Johnson "Regular" Syrup

It's the one I have been making for years.  

Slightly more sugar than my moms, slightly less than the package recipe.

3 c sugar

2 c water

1/2 tsp mapleine

Combine sugar and water in pan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally so it doesn't scorch on the bottom.   Allow to boil for 3-5 minutes.  Stir in mapleine and serve.

Michell's Cinnamon Syrup

We were served this tasty topping one Christmas by my sister-in-law.

It's been years and we are still using it.

2 c sugar

1 c karo (or corn syrup)

1/2 c water (optional for consistency)

1 t cinnamon

1 c evaporated milk

Add first four ingredients, (not milk), in a pan and bring to a boil stirring constantly.  Boil for 1 minute and 45 seconds.  Set aside and allow to cool for 5 minutes.  Add evaporated milk and serve over your favorite breakfast pancakes, waffles or french toast.

Oatmeal Breakfast Cake

Another version of breakfast cake.

Credit for this to Linda West Eckhardt

Cake:

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil or shortening

1 egg

1/2 c milk

1 1/2 c flour

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

Streusel Top & Bottom:

2 T melted margarine

1/2 c brown sugar

2 T flour

2 t cinnamon

1/2 c oatmeal

1/2 c nuts, dried or chopped fruit

Preheat oven to 400. Grease or spray an 8x8 pan.

Combine all streusel ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Combine sugar, shortening and egg.  Then add remaining cake ingredients.  Mix until smooth.

Put 1/2 streusel mixture in the bottom of the pan.  Pour cake mixture over the top and sprinkle with the remainder of the streusel.  Bake aboaut 20 minutes or until center is done.

*Note:  If recipe is doubled, cook at 375 in 9x13 for 35-40 mins.