Clara's Christmas Cookies

Revised: December 13, 1990

First: The Cookies

1 cup Sugar
1 cup Butter Flavor Crisco
1 ea Egg
2 tsp Vanilla (real preferred)
3 1/2 to 4 cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 cup Milk
¼ tsp Salt

Mix as you would other cookies:
Cream the shortening with the sugar; add the egg and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, mix 3½ cups of flour with the baking powder and salt.
Add the flour and milk to the egg mixture one third at a time, alternating between the flour mixture and the milk. Stir after each addition.
Add the remaining ½ cup of flour only if needed to make the dough manageable.
Roll out about 3/8 inch thick and cut into desired shapes.
Bake at about 350ºF for 8 to 10 minutes. Be very careful when baking: bake only until the barest hint of brown. Brown edges mean these cookies are overcooked.
Frost and decorate.
Makes about 2½ dozen cookies. This recipe can be doubled.


Then: The Frosting

Sorry, this is an approximation; I never measure...
3 to 4 cups Powdered Sugar
1 stick Butter
1 tsp Vanilla (real preferred or almond or other flavoring)
1/8 to ¼ cup Milk
Several drops (Optional) Red or Green Food Coloring

First, mix powdered sugar with softened butter using a fork or beater.
Add vanilla (and food coloring if desired). I usually put almond flavoring in one of the colors of frosting.
Then, slowly add milk, a little at a time.
Mix the pwdered sugar butter and milk mixture very stiff at first to get out the lumps.
Then thin to easily spreadable consistency.
Sprinkle with decorations if desired, soon after the cookie is frosted. Otherwise decorations tend to roll off the cookies since the frosting surface dries very quickly.

Quick & Easy Rolls - aka "Clara Buns"

Recipe obtained from Lorraine Busch, Clara’s Aunt

2 cups Warm Water
1/3 cup Sugar
2 pkgs Yeast
2 tsp Salt
3 ea Eggs (or egg yolks)
1/3 cup Melted Shortening
6 ½ cups Flour

2 cups Warm water in pan
Add yeast
Add sugar
Let sit 10-15 minutes until it rises.
Stir in salt, and a couple of cups of flour and beat.
Then add 3 eggs.
Add melted shortening.
Stir in the rest of the flour.
Dough will be sticky.
Don’t grease.
Cover and let rise 1 hr.
Put in pans.
Let rise 45 – 60 minutes.

Bake 375°F, 20-30 minutes

Clara's Black Forestt Cake "Schwartzwaldekirschetorte"

Dark Chocolate Cake

1 ¾ cups unsifted all-purpose flour
2 cups Sugar
¾ cup Hershey’s Cocoa
1 ½ tsp Baking soda
1 ½ tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
2 ea Eggs
1 cup Milk
1/2 cup Vegetable oil
2 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Boiling water

Combine ingredients in large mixing bowl.
Add remaining ingredients except boiling water;
Beat at medium speed 2 minutes.
Remove from mixer;
Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).
Pour into two greased and floured 9”or three 8”layer pans, or one 13 x 9”pan.
Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes for layers, 35 to 40 minutes for 13 x 9” pan, or until cake tester (inserted in center) comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes on rack.
Remove from pans;
Cool completely.


One Bowl Frosting

8 Tbsp Butter or margarine (softened)
1/3 cup Hershey’s Cocoa, for light flavor
1/2 cup Hershey's Cocoa, for medium flavor
3/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa, for dark flavor
1/3 cup Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
2 2/3 cups Unsifted confectioners’ sugar

Cream butter or margarine in small mixer bowl.
Add cocoa and confectioners’ sugar alternatively with milk;
Beat to spreading consistency (aaditional tablespoon of milk may be needed).
Blend in vanilla.
About two cups frosting.


Putting it all together

Top with one large container of Lite Cool Whip.
The drop spoonsful of a can of cherry pie filling over this.
Cover with chocolate star candies.

Clara's Best Guess Turkey Andouille Sausage

1 lb Turkey Burger
¾ cup Cracked Wild Rice
Pre-soak the wild rice for 15 minutes in hot water. Or else, use any other filler...
½ tsp Black Pepper
½ tsp Thyme
¼ - ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper (To taste.)
½ tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Spanish Paprika
½ tsp Oregano
1½ - 2 tsp Liquid Smoke
¼ cup Water

Form into patties
Spray pan/tray such as a cookie sheet with Pam
Bake on tray in oven at 400ºF for 20-25 minutes

Important Disclaimer:
Since I don’t really have a recipe, this is my best guess and the results are not guaranteed. It is OK to call and yell at Ernie about what a failure it was.