Rolled Sugar Cookies

These are a perennial favorite around our house. Every year in October we make a big batch of cut-out cookies shaped like pumpkins. When my kids were little they had great fun decorating with colored icing, sprinkles, candy corn ... whatever we had handy in the kitchen. Now I make and decorate and the kids enjoy them when they get home from work or are visiting from school!

OVEN: 350 degrees

3 cups flour
3/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon milk

Cream 1 cup of the flour and margarine. Add sugar and baking powder. Beat eggs in separate dish. Add eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining flour. Roll out on a flour board and cut out shapes.

Roll dough about 1/4" thick. Use favorite cookie cutter.











Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly brown around the edges.








Yummy!!

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Apple Butter

Apple time is upon us so I'm pulling out all my favorite apple recipes. We'll shortly be making our yearly supply of applesauce, and from some of that sauce we'll create apple butter. This all-purpose product makes a wonderful spread for toast or homemade bread, a great Christmas gift, and a good alternative to peanut butter!

8 cups unsweetened applesauce
4 cups sugar
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons Allspice
2 teaspoons ground cloves (this is the strongest spice, so adjust to preference)
**Combine all ingredients in a large crock pot. Leaving the top off, cook on high for 6-7 hours. Be sure to stir occasionally as a skin will form on top. Ladle hot into pint jars and process at 5 lbs for 10 minutes. Yields about 5 pints.

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Saucy Apple Cake

It was a beef stew kind of day today. Rainy and gray and very chilly. And nothing goes better with beef stew than apple cake with warm vanilla sauce. The rest of the family seemed to think so too as this was about all that was left after dinner this evening!

OVEN: 350 degrees

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups peeled, shredded tart apple
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a mixing bowl, cream sugar and shortening. Add egg and mix well. Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in the apples and walnuts. Spread in a greased 8 inch square baking pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done.

Vanilla Sauce:

1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup light cream (I use milk)
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine sugar, cornstarch and cream/milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add butter and vanilla; stir until butter is melted. Serve warm over warm cake.

Makes: 9 servings

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