RECIPE SWAP: TIME ON YOUR HANDS? WHY NOT TRY SOME NEW READER RECIPES

As I look over the recipes that were sent in this week I am trying to decide which one I'm going to try first. You see, I have a little extra time on my hands this week. I am home from my job at the Cape Senior Center with my 4 1/2 year old Ross, who has the chicken pox.

This is our first go-round with the chicken pox, and everyone tells me it is inevitable that our 2-year-old Lexie will be next. I tried a new layered ground beef casserole for dinner tonight and I'm planning to try a new Swiss Steak recipe tomorrow. I decided to make the best of a bad situation and cook! The only thing is, I'm afraid that my husband, Scott, will get used to all of this extra cooking and grow to expect it.

In response to a molasses popcorn ball recipe we have two to share with you. The first was called in to me by a delightful woman from Farrar. She shares a recipe that she uses out of an old Washington County, Ill. cookbook. I quickly realized that after visiting with her that the best part of this column for me is the wonderful people that I get to meet.

Popcorn Balls

3 qts. popped popcorn, unsalted

1 cup molasses

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup water

2 tablespoons vinegar

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Boil without stirring molasses, sugar, water, vinegar and butter in a large heavy pan to the click ball stage (when a very firm ball forms when dropped into cold water). Add baking soda. Mix well. While still foaming, pour over popped corn. Mix thoroughly together. When cool enough to handle, take up in hands and press together into balls. Wrap in waxed paper and keep in warm dry place. Makes 18 balls.

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Another recipe was sent in my Marje Engleman of Cape Girardeau. I have known Marje most of my life and I have no doubt that her recipe is delicious, too. She noted that the recipes she shares with us this week have been in their family for many years. When she was in youth group in church she remembers making popcorn balls with this recipe.

Popcorn Balls

1/2 cup sorghum

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Mix in heavy saucepan and cook until it forms a soft ball, at 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat source and add:

1/2 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon sugar

Stir well, return to stove and continue to cook until brittle when dropped in cold water, 280 degrees. Stir and watch carefully to keep the mixture from scorching. Pour over 3 qts. of popped popcorn. Stir. Oil hands and make balls as the mixture cools enough to handle.

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Marje also replied to the request we had for a spice cake recipe. This cake has no eggs in the recipe.

Hillybilly Spice Cake

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1/2 cup nuts

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

Boil together the above ingredients for 1 minute and let cool. Sift together 2 cup flour and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Add flour mixture to mixture that has been cooling. Spread in greased and floured 9x13-inch pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Prepare icing while cake bakes.

Broiled Icing

1/3 cup butter

2/3 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoon cream or milk

1 cup coconut

Blend above and spread on hot cake. Place under broiler until slightly browned. Watch closely not to burn.

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Recently we had a request for Amish Friendship Bread or Friendship Bread. We have a recipe to give to you from Sandy Riehn who is on staff with the Southeast Missourian.

Amish Friendship Bread

Day 1- pour starter into 3 containers, (1 cup each), cover tightly and give to friends.

Do Not Refrigerate!

Day 2, 3 and 4- stir and cover.

Day 5- add 1 cup each of flour, sugar and milk, stir and cover in large bowl.

Day 6, 7, 8 and 9- stir and cover.

Day 10- add 1 cup each flour, sugar and milk, stir and pour 1 cup of mixture into 3 containers, cover tightly. These are the starters to give away.

To the remaining mixture add:

2/3 cup oil

2 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3 eggs

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix all ingredients well. Bake in greased and sugared pans at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes. Makes 3 small or 2 large loaves. You can also add fruit, nuts, raisins, dates, pie filling, etc. for a moist cake.

I have another Friendship Bread recipe to share that comes out of a church cookbook in Parker, Colo. The contributor adds that while the bread is baking, read about some real friends in the Bible, starting with Mark 2:1-5.

Amish Friendship Bread

1 cup starter (recipe follows)

2/3 cup oil

2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 cup flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

3 tablespoon brown sugar

3 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix starter, oil, vanilla and sugar. Add eggs. Stir well. Add flour, salt, baking powder; stir well. In separate bowl mix sugar and cinnamon. Pour half the batter in greased and sugared tube pan. Sprinkle sugar-cinnamon mixture on top. Pour in rest of batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Super Starter for Friendship Bread

3 cup milk

3 cup flour

2 cup sugar

1 pkg. yeast

Mix 2 cup milk, 2 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and yeast in plastic or glasscontainer, cover. Let stand in warm place overnight. Next day stir starter and place in the refrigerator. Leave for four days, stirring once a day. **5th day: add remaining milk, flour and sugar. Let stand overnight in warm place. Next day put back in refrigerator for 5 more days, stirring once a day. On the 10th day make Friendship Bread. Begin again at ** for next loaf. Have Fun!!

We had a request for pasta recipes from Amber Larson and I was surprised that there weren't more recipes sent in to help her out. If you have time, send them in. It's not too late.

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My mother-in-law, Barbara McClanahan, did share an old favorite that she got from her friend, Helen Hammonds, years ago.

Yum Yum Casserole

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. macaroni

1 large onion, chopped

1 large green pepper, chopped

1 large can sliced mushrooms

1 large can black olives, sliced

1 #2 can tomatoes, chopped

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup milk

Cheddar cheese

Cook macaroni. Brown ground beef with onions. Mix all ingredients together and place in casserole dish. Top with grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes.

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We have one request from Tina Colyott of Cape Girardeau for a recipe for Pumpkin Butter. She has eaten it several times and would like to make it herself. This will be a challenge for someone to find. Good luck!

~Susan McClanahan is administrator at Cape Senior Center. Her cookbook collection tops 2,000 books.