Skip to content

Mrs. Orr’s chocolate crinkles

1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 oz (squares) unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour

  1. Mix oil, chocolate, and granulated sugar. Blend in one egg at a time until well mixed. Add vanilla.
  2. Measure flour by sifting. Stir flour, baking powder, and salt into oil mixture. Chill several hours or overnight.
  3. Heat oven to 350 F. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into confectioners’ sugar. Roll in sugar; shape into balls. Place about 2″ apart on greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake! (Makes 6 dozen cookies.)

Suzanne’s creamy chocolate frosting

4 Tbsp butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3 oz (squares) unsweetened chocolate, melted
dash salt
about 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup half and half
1 tsp vanilla extract

  1. Cream butter and cream cheese together. Mix in chocolate.
  2. Add salt and sugar alternately with cream, beating until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Frost cooled cake.

Smoked salmon dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp onion, grated
2 tsp horseradish
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups smoked salmon, flaked or chopped

1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

  1. Combine cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, onion, horseradish, and salt. Stir in salmon and mix thoroughly.
  2. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with chopped pecans and parsley.
  3. Serve with crackers. Can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and chilled. Take it out of the refrigerator an hour or so before serving; it is best served at room temperature.

Pumpkin bread

15 oz can pumpkin puree
1 stick butter, melted
3 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground
1/4 tsp ginger, ground
1/8 tsp cloves, ground
2 1/4 cups flour

1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter a 6-cup loaf pan.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs and sugar until smooth. Sprinkle baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinanmon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves over batter and whisk until well-combined. Add flour and stir until mixed. Scrape into prepared pan and smooth the top.
  3. Mix sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle over top of batter.
  4. Bake 65-75 minutes until a tester poked into all parts come out batter-free, turning the cake once during the baking time for even coloring. Let cool. (Keeps at room temperature.)

Pasta e ceci

4 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp tomato paste
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
1/2 cup small pasta (e.g., ditalini, macaroni)

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add the garlic and cook, stirring until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and salt, and fry for 30 seconds.
  2. Add chickpeas, pasta, and 2 cups water. Scrape up bottom of pot, lower heat, and simmer until pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Serve topped with olive oil and crushed red pepper flakes.

Pecan praline sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
6 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 Tbsp heavy cream
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

  1. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine brown sugar, butter, cream, and salt. Simmer 3-5 minutes until thick and bubbling.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and pecans. Serve over pumpkin pie.

Three-bean chili mac

1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp chili powder
15 oz diced tomatoes
15 oz tomato sauce
15 oz kidney beans, drained
15 oz black beans, drained
15 oz. can pinto beans, drained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups macaroni noodles
1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded

  1. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add flour and chili powder, and stir for 2 minutes.
  3. Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, corn, vegetable broth, and macaroni. Cover the pot and turn up the heat to reach a boil, while stirring frequently.
  4. Turn heat to low and let simmer 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender, stirring frequently.
  5. Turn off heat, stir in shredded cheddar, and serve.

Huevos rancheros quesadilla

1 12-inch tortilla
1/2 cup shredded cheese (for example, Monterey Jack)
4 eggs
1/2 cup black bean salsa
1 large avocado, sliced

  1. In a large skillet, heat up tortilla in 1 tsp oil, add cheese to one half, and fold. Cook on both sides until cheese is melted. Remove from pan, cut in half, and place on two plates.
  2. Fry eggs and place two on each quesadilla half.
  3. Warm salsa in skillet and spoon over eggs. Top with sliced avocado and hot sauce.

Gnocchi with tomato sauce

1/4 cup olive oil
fresh parsley, chopped
fresh basil, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz crushed tomatoes
16 oz gnocchi
6 oz mozzarella balls, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

  1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan. Add a portion of parsley and basil and cook 5 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook 5 minutes.
  2. Add tomatoes and salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. In the meantime, cook and drain gnocchi.
  4. Add gnocchi and mozzarella balls to tomato sauce, and simmer until cheese melts. Top with Parmesan, parsley, and basil.

Lentil salad

1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Tbsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup brown lentils, dry
1/2 bunch parsley, roughly chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 red onion, finely diced

  1. Cook lentils. (Boil 4 cups of water, add lentils, and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes.) Drain and rinse with cold water.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the lemon’s zest and juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper to taste. Add parsley, tomatoes, and onion.
  3. Add lentils and stir well. The salad improves if you let it sit in the refrigerator; stir before serving.