Easy cookie recipes, cooking basics, cooking conversions

Issue#008 August 5, 2009

Hello Friend,

The New York Times headline reads “Income loss persists long after layoffs”. This is a big problem that families are experiencing around the world.

Recently, I attended a business and economic conference in North Carolina. At this particular meeting, I picked up on two specific phrases. I will call them“slogans” for a better term. They apply to the trends I see developing in cooking. With the change in our economic status, changes are taking place in meal planning for our families. It is a time for more frugal cooking.

We are in a changing world! Jobs are being lost and food prices are soaring. We cannot do anything about the overall loss of wages and rising cost of food supplies. We CAN do something about how we let it affect us personally.

The first slogan “embrace the change” means for all of us to look at this problem in a positive light. It is a time to learn new ideas to buy and prepare food to make cheap meals for our loved ones. Learning to cook at home is much more sensible than eating out in these times. Making homemade foods is more sensible than buying prepackaged foods.

My fondest memories are of our family gatherings with all the wonderful homemade foods. For some reason those “comfort foods” really are comforting in our memories. You can create wonderful memories for your children by learning to prepare inexpensive foods in your kitchen.

This brings me back to our recent family reunion. After arriving in Ohio, my great nephew, Brody told me the details of how he makes this fruit pizza. When I asked his mother, she was surprised and replied that it is one of her quick and easy dessert recipes. Since Brody told me exactly how he makes it, I asked her to have him make one for our reunion so I could try it.

Brody age 9 and little brother, Bryce made my fruit pizza. Let me say, these two little boys are the cutest and sweetest little boys! Does that sound like it is coming from a great aunt? What a great picture of these two little boys working together.

This is how memories are made, as I was telling you! They are sharing their recipe with us. Their recipe is one of the best easy cookie recipes that I have tried.

FRUIT PIZZA

• 1 Package of favorite cookie dough
• 8 Ounces cream cheese
• ½ Cup powder sugar
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
• Selection of favorite fruits (strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, etc.)

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough out onto a pizza store or cookie sheet and shape round like a pizza. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until dough is done.

When pizza dough has cooled, mix the sauce; cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Spread over the cold pizza. Decorate the top of the sauce with all the fresh fruit.

In this recipe, you could also use a moist brownie recipe for the base. Prepared ahead of time this would be great to add to your list of camping desserts.

Kristie, their mother & my niece, always makes the best broccoli salad. I have tasted the same recipe by others and it is just not the same. I asked her to make her salad for our family reunion. I have concluded that the reason hers is so much better is that hubby, Brandon, has a part in it.

Brandon always gets the job of cutting up the broccoli and he does this in very small pieces. You might think what does that have to do with anything. Sometimes a very little thing will make a huge difference in the end result.

By cutting the broccoli so small the flavor blends through the salad better. This is what makes Kristie’s broccoli salad so much better tasting than others. Thank you Kristie for sharing your recipe with us.

BROCCOLI SALAD

• 12 slices crisp bacon, chopped
• 1 Head broccoli, chopped
• 1 Cup chopped celery or water chestnuts
• ½ Cup chopped onion
• ½ Cup seedless raisins
• ¾ Cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
• ¼ Cup sugar
• 1 Tablespoon vinegar
• ½ Teaspoon onion salt

Brown bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Mix together the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour in the mayonnaise mixture. Mix well. Flavor is better if refrigerated for a few hours.

Finally, I want to highlight the second slogan “just do it”! Don’t let anything stop you from trying your hand at cooking. Start with something simple. With each recipe you will gain confidence!

My purpose in painlesscooking.com is to help you along the way. Information is available on the cooking basics. There is everything from the cooking measurement to cooking conversion. Recipes are listed from how to cook chicken to icing recipes. Don’t hold back “just do it”! You will be happy you did!

Until later, have a happy cooking experience!

Your friend, Frances

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