Grandma Cook's Vanilla Cream Pie

3/4 c sugar

1/3 c flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 c milk

2 slightly beaten eggs

2 tbls butter

1 tsp vanilla

combine flour, sugar, and salt in saucepan.

gradually stir in milk with a whisk.

cook and stir over medium heat until bubbly. cook and stir for 2 min.

remove from heat. temper the eggs. (stir small amount of hot mixture into beaten eggs).

add eggs into hot mixture, cook 2 minutes longer.

remove from heat, add butter and vanilla.

cool slightly then pour into baked cool pie shell. to cool pudding, lay saran wrap on surface and refrigerate.

to make chocolate pie: add 3 tbls of cocoa and 1/4 c sugar to dry ingredients in saucepan.

to make banana cream pie: slice 3 bananas into pie shell, pour pudding over.

to make coconut cream pie: add 1 c coconut flakes to warm pudding

THANKSGIVING!

Here's something fun ... let's all say what we are making for Thanksgiving (and doing) ... since it really is "eat or die" on Thanksgiving day. I'm always interested. I'm sure nobody will participate, but I'm trying this anyway.

We are going to a friend's house and she is pretty much doing everything. But I'm making a turkey breast (bone in) brined in this; she's doing a whole turkey. Gonna cook it in a roasting bag. Also taking a veggie tray and sour cream lemon pie. Yep, that's all I'm responsible for. Kind of nice.

What are YOU making/doing this Thanksgiving?

Pesto

Stop what you are doing and drive straight to Costco and buy this pesto.

 It is so so good. I want to drink it.

Caramel in a Crockpot

Take an unopened can of Sweet and Condensed Milk (regular or non fat),
Put it in the crockpot,
Fill the crockpot with water until the can is completely submerged,
Turn it on low for 8 hours,
Open and use for dippin.

Warning! When you open the can, contents will be under pressure, so keep your face/eyes out of the way of any "spitting". I learned that the hard way.

Meatballs with Sauce on Them

Put a bunch of meatballs in the crockpot (I like the Costco ones),
a cup and a half of salsa,
a cup and a half of grape jelly,
cook on low for a few hours.
I'm not saying this is the most gourmet meal you will ever eat, but it's easy and tasty.

You can serve them over rice, but I've come to realize I don't like rice. It's so weird. I think it has to do with throwing it up while pregnant. (I'm not pregnant).

Emily you could add this to your "grease fest" spread come Christmas.

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

I know everyone has this recipe, but I want to record it here, so I know where it is.

I. 

    1 cup diced onion

    1 cup diced celery

    2-3 TB butter

        Saute onion and celery in butter using a heavy soup pot.

II.

    Add 1 large can Swanson Chicken Broth (49.5 oz.)

            1 small can Swanson Chicken Broth (14 oz.)

        Bring to a low boil and add 1 cup diced carrots

III.

    Add:  Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice (1 - 6 oz. package).  Rice and seasoning packet

        Simmer on low for 20-25 minutes

IV.

    dissolve 2 chicken boullion cubes in 2 cups water.

    Mix in 1 pt. heavy whipping cream

    Add 3/4 cups Wondra Flour

        Add above mixture to soup pot with:

    2 TB flat leaf parsley (or dried parsley)

    1 tsp. ground sage

    a shake of cloves

    2 pinches coarse ground pepper

V.

    Simmer on low until soup thickens - stir often.

VI.

    Add 3 1/2 - 4 cups bite-sized chicken chunks - DO NOT BOIL  AFTER THIS.