Marlena's Recipes
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The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey

Put some butter on the turkey.  Next pour one can of chicken broth over turkey.   Pour a few Tablespoons of Kitchen Bouquet Seasoning over turkey.  And now, for the most important part, COOK TURKEY UPSIDE DOWN.  This will allow the juices to run towards the white meat and keep it tender and full of flavor.  Continue to baste turkey while cooking.  The turkey will have a nice carmel color.  "Happy Turkey Day!"

 

Grandma Eleanore's Cranberry Bread (This is the BEST)
Note:  I found a new variation this year:  add 1/4 c. apricot preserves

2 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 c. Sugar
1 egg, well beaten
2 T. butter or margarine (melted)
2 T. hot water
1/2 c. orange juice (1 orange)
1/4 c. grated orange rind (from 1 orange)
2 c. cranberries, rinsed & cut in halves
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, & sugar.  Combine melted butter, hot water, orange juice, & grated rind to make 3/4 c. of juice.  Stir in beaten egg into juice.  Pour juice into dry ingredients mixing until moistened.  Fold in berries & nuts.  [Cut apricots in the preserves into small pieces; spoon preserves over batter.  Cut through batter with a knife to swirl in apricot preserves.] Bake 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees in 2 well-greased 9X5X3 loaf pans or until tooth pick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.  Chill, wrap & refrigerate or freeze.  Makes two, 1 lb. loaves.

 

Marlena's Homemade French Onion Soup


3 large onions, thinly sliced
1/2 c. butter  (1 stick)
4 beef bouillon cubes
6 c. hot water
1 or 2 cans of beef broth
1 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
toasted French Bread
grated parmesan or provolone cheese

In a very large skillet, cook onions in butter until lightly browned.  (Onions will cook down & will eventually fit in the pan).   In large pot, combine browned onions with buillon cubes, water, beef broth, worcestershire sauce, and salt.  Cover & cook on low 4-6 hours, stirring every 1/2 hour or so.  Ladle into bowls or crocks & top each bowl with a slice of toasted french bread and cheese.  Place bowl in oven or microwave to heat gently until cheese melts.  Bon Appetit!!

 

J.W. Renfroe's Pecan Pie Bars             (From the Kitchen of: Marlena Trevino, 2004)

1 1/2 c. flour
2 T packed brown sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine
2 eggs
1/2 c. dark corn syrup
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. chopped Pecans
1 tsp. vanilla
2 T. butter, melted

Mix flour & 2 T. brown sugar.  Cut in � c. of butter.  Pat into ungreased 11 X 7” pan.  Bake @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, beat eggs slightly, stir in remaining ingredients into eggs.  Pour over baked layer.  Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until bars are set (not runny).  Cool before cutting.  Makes 32 bars.

 **NOTE:  Marlena uses a 9 X 13” pan & doubles the whole recipe.  The bars come out thicker.

 

Margarita Fruit Dip                 (From the Kitchen of: Marlena Trevino, 2004)

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup frozen margarita drink mix, thawed
2 Tbsp. orange juice
1 tsp. grated lime or lemon peel, if desired
1
(8oz container)
cool whip

Add some sugar

In a medium bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, margarita mix, orange juice and lime peel until smooth. Fold cool whip & sugar into mixture until well blended. Cover and chill 1 hour to blend flavors. Serve dip with strawberries, cherries, peach slices and other fresh fruit. 12 servings

Calories: 85
Fat: 7 grams
Sodium: 50 mg

Source: Betty Crocker's Summer Get-Togethers

 

Best Chocolate Covered Cherries


Maraschino cherries with stems are rolled in a sweet coating, then dipped in chocolate. These candies are best left 1-2 weeks before eating. Prep Time: approx. 45 Minutes.    Ready in: approx. 4 Hours 45 Minutes. Makes 2 cups (16 servings).
   

2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup margarine
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 (4 ounce) jars maraschino
   cherries, drained
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening

Directions
1 In a medium bowl, mix together confectioner's sugar, margarine, milk and almond extract.
2 On a lightly floured surface, knead the mixture into a large ball. Roll into 1 inch balls. Flatten the balls into 2
   inch circles. Leaving the stems sticking out, wrap the cherries in the circles by lightly rolling in hands. Place the
   wrapped cherries on wax paper and chill in the refrigerator or freezer at least 4 hours.
3 In a medium saucepan (or double boiler) over medium heat, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Holding by the stem (or use a toothpick), dip the chilled cherries into the chocolate chip mixture. Chill until serving.

Hello Dolly Bars

1 c. butter, melted
2 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 c. coconut
2 c. (1 bag) semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 c. nuts, broken (pecans)
1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 F.  In a 9 X 13 pan, combine butter with graham crackers.  Smooth evenly in bottom of pan.   Layer each of the additional ingredients in the order listed above.  Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.

 

Toffee Squares:

1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar, packed
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 lb. sweet chocolate, melted (I used 8 oz. of semi-sweet chocolate chips, you could actually use the whole 12 oz. bag, but I was running out of chocolate....I used the same chocolate for the cherries)

1/2 to 1 c. chopped nuts (I use pecans)

Cream butter, add sugar gradually.   Blend in egg yolk, vanilla, and flour.  Spread in a greased jelly roll pan (10 X 15 X 1).  Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven.  While the pan is still hot, place the chocolate chips on top of the bars.  After a few minutes, the chocolate chips will melt and then spread them evenly with a knife.  Sprinkle w/ chopped nuts.   Cool and cut into squares.

 

Mexican Wedding Cakes (cookies)

1 c. butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. sifted flour
additional powdered sugar

Cream butter, add sugar gradually.   Blend in vanilla and flour.  Mixture will be stiff.  Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll with your hands in the shapes of balls or ovals.  Place on greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 400 F for 12 minutes.  Remove from oven and immediately roll each cookie in powdered sugar while they are still hot.  Makes 4 dozen.

 
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