Master mix with cinnamon smells fantastic

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smcclanahan

The marvelous smell of cinnamon baking in the oven is like no other. It's spicy-sweet aroma wafts through your kitchen and through the rest of your house, causing family members to come and ask "Whatcha makin'?"

Our first recipe today starts with a master mix. The mix makes a large batch. It is to be kept on hand for future baking days, or can be jarred up and given as a gift. Read through the ingredients and the steps fully before starting to avoid any confusion.

This particular recipe smells so fantastic and tastes so good that the end result lasts only a short time.

Awesome Applesauce Loaf or Muffin Mix

For the master mix:

2 cups shortening

4 cups sugar

7 cups flour

4 teaspoons salt

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons nutmeg

The added ingredients to make the applesauce loaf:

2 eggs

1 cup applesauce

1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

To make the master mix:

In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix together well with a fork or whisk. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender, or use two butter knives, scissor-style. A wire whisk also works well. When shortening is completely cut in, the mixture will have a crumbly texture. Be sure to turn the mixture so that entire batch is mixed completely. Store in a tightly covered container for up to 4 months. Each batch of mix makes enough for 4 loaves or approximately 13 1/2 cups.

To make an awesome applesauce loaf:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour (do not use cooking spray) a loaf pan. In a large bowl, mix together 3 1/3 cups of master mix with 2 eggs and 1 cup applesauce. Mix together thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup nuts if desired and mix thoroughly. Pour into loaf pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until top crests and loaf is a dark golden brown.

To make awesome applesauce muffins:

Grease and flour muffin tins, or line them with paper muffin cups. Fill tins 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until light golden brown.

To give the mix as a gift:

This mix makes a wonderful gift for neighbors, family and friends. To make the presentation use an ordinary jelly jar, washed and dried, a dried apple, two short cinnamon sticks, some raffia, and a bit of twisted paper or cloth to decorate the lid.

Untwist the twisted paper and hot glue to the lid, trim excess. Glue cinnamon sticks together, crossing each other slightly, and tie with a bit of raffia. Glue sticks to the apple and glue the apple to the lid. You will need to tie the instructions on the jarred up master mix including the needed added ingredients and baking instructions.

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We have had several different Mexican recipes lately, and this soup sounds spicy and delicious. The crunchy tortilla chips served as garnish need to be added just at the last minute.

Farmer Bell Bottom's Hot Taco Soup

3 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 chopped onion

1 1/2 cans Mexican tomatoes with juice

1 can tomato sauce

1 can kidney beans

1 package taco seasoning

1 can drained olives

1 red and green pepper chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

1 to 2 cups water (delete if putting in a crockpot)

3 cups grated cheese

Tortilla chips

Brown beef in a large heavy skillet, drain and add onions. Cook until onions are tender. Add remaining ingredients, except the cheese and chips. Simmer for 45 minutes or place in a crockpot until ready to eat. Ladle into bowls and top with cheese and cilantro. Serve with the chips.

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The after-Christmas diets have all started, and this recipe may help you to stay within the cooking light category.

Low Fat-Home-Style Chicken and Gravy

6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

3/4 teaspoon paprika

3/4 teaspoon garlic-pepper blend

1 (12-ounce) jar home-style chicken gravy

2 tablespoons fat-free half-and-half or milk

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Spray large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray.

Heat over medium-high heat until hot. Sprinkle chicken with seasoned salt, paprika and garlic-pepper blend; add to skillet. Cook 4 to 6 minutes or until browned on both sides. In medium bowl, combine gravy, half-and-half and Worcestershire sauce; mix well. Pour gravy mixture over chicken. Cover; simmer over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken is fork-tender and juices run clear.

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The next recipe for Kentucky Hot Brown is rich. The recipe as shown is one serving, but can adjusted to the number you need.

Kentucky Hot Brown

1 1/2 cups cheese sauce (recipe following)

1 slice toast

1 slice turkey

1 slice country ham (regular ham works fine also)

2 slices cooked bacon

1/4 cup grated sharp cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Paprika to taste

For the cheese sauce:

2 tablespoons margarine

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

White pepper, to taste

Melt margarine in saucepan, over low heat. Blend in flour, salt and pepper.

Add milk slowly, stirring constantly. Put in cheese and cook until melted.

Hot Brown directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put 2 tablespoons cheese sauce on bottom of baking dish. Place toast on sauce and cover with 3 tablespoons of sauce. Put on ham, cover with 3 tablespoons of sauce, spoon 1/2 of Parmesan cheese then put turkey on. Cover with 3 tablespoons of sauce, top with tomatoes. Sprinkle sharp cheese on and top with bacon and finally rest of Parmesan and garnish with paprika.

Bake 15 minutes.

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Wouldn't it be wonderful if we lived ocean side and had access to daily fresh seafood? Well, we don't, so the deli crab meat in the store will do just fine for this recipe.

Hot Crab Dip

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

1 small onion, grated

2/3 cup mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoons garlic powder (if using fresh, use 1-2 cloves minced)

1/2 teaspoon salt/pepper combo or to taste

2 teaspoons prepared mustard

2 teaspoons horseradish, either the sauce or prepared can be used

2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

1/4 cup dry white wine or white grape juice

1 pound cleaned crabmeat (blue crab tastes best, but others will do.

Mix first nine ingredients in microwavable bowl. Cook 1 minute, stir, cook, stir, continue until creamy. Gently stir in white grape juice and crabmeat.

At this point, you can serve and eat or for variety, transfer to oven-proof dish, top with a little shredded mild Cheddar and Old Bay or paprika and broil a few minutes till top is slightly brown and bubbly. Serve with soft breadsticks. Will serve 2-10 people, depending on who you are feeding.

Who contributed all of today's recipes? Jodi Thompson of Jackson, Mo., has been surfing the Web and reading cookbooks while away on a trip. Welcome home, Jodi, and thanks for these recipes you've shared with us today.

Have a wonderful week, and happy cooking.