Orange Tea Muffins Recipe

The Orange Juice added to this muffin recipe along with orange zest brings forth a bright flavor, yet these muffins are super fluffy, and light for breakfast and brunch, easy to freeze and keep well, take out a few when you need them. My Grandma Nelle would make these often enough. – a family fave.

Ingredients:

Preheat oven 400 degrees – These will bake for 20-25 minutes
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening (4 tablespoons butter)
1/4 to 1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure orange or lemon extract (vanilla ok if you don’t have the others)
1/2 cup whole milk (prefer whole vs. skim)
1/2 cup orange juice (with pulp is best)(go for broke as make fresh for that extra oh my factor)
2 tablespoons grated orange rind (avoid the pith, which is super bitter – the white stuff, only the skin of the orange)
Hand mixer, electric mixer.
You can do this by hand, as I have done with other muffins, but the extra fluffy factor is created in this case and recipe with using my mixmaster.

Directions:

Grease muffin pans, this recipe will make between 12-15 muffins (the normal size muffin pans)
Preheat that oven at 400 degrees if you haven’t done so already.
Sift flour, measure, add baking powder, salt and sift again. Set aside.
If you are using pre-sifted flour, then measure once, add other dry ingredients and sift once with dry ingredients all together.
Cream shortening, adding sugar slowly, mix until light and fluffy.
Add egg and beat, then add milk, orange juice and extract and beat one minute.
Slowly add dry ingredients (flour, etc.) just until the ingredients come together – Do not over beat! Literally takes maybe 2 minutes on slow with an electric mixer – ok to have some lumps – they will bake out, I promise.
Fill greased muffin pans two-thirds full, sprinkle tops with a little sugar if you wish.
Place on middle rack in preheated oven and allow to bake for 20-25 minutes.
Enjoy! – Image is from simcooks.com but recipe is my Grandma Nelle’s.

Leahs Scalloped Peaches Dessert

Warm succulent baked peaches with a different twist, since it is made in layers. A crowd favorite and super easy to prepare – a fun different dessert to make now that peaches are coming into season. Serve up with a dollop of whipped cream – and you got that ‘oh my – and oh yes some more please’ factor going on at your dining room table.

Ingredients:

Preheat oven 400 degrees
1 greased casserole dish with lid.
3 cups peeled and sliced fresh peaches (frozen ok, but…)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon almond flavoring
1/2 cup water
***2 cups of buttered crumbs:
2 cups fine dry bread crumbs (plain, unseasoned, ok to use stale bread or italian bread)
1 stick of melted butter – 1/4 cup shortening

Directions:

Great recipe to bring in the kids with since its that easy.
Melt butter for bread crumbs, sprinkler over bread crumbs and stir, set aside.
Add almond extract to your water and set aside.
My mother always taught me to use some almond flavoring when doing anything with peaches, since the inside nut of the peach pit resembles the almond, and it truly brings out the peach flavor big time! – Same with cherries too people.
Layer in your greased casserole dish, buttered crumbs, peaches.
With each peach layer, sprinkle a little of the brown sugar, then repeat until finished with the ingredients, ending with a layer of your buttered bread crumbs.
Pour the water and almond extract over all and put lid on your casserole.
Place on middle rack in your oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove lid and bake for another 15 minutes without the lid.
Spoon out and serve up with fresh whipped cream, add a sprig of mint to be extra fancy. Enjoy!

Leah’s Cozy Cottage Eggs Recipe

Crazy for comfort food? This quick dish my grandma used to make on cold winter mornings made me feel all cozy inside. The added dried chipped beef reminds people the days of “old” and is a nice change from your usual bacon or sausage.

Ingredients:

1 package of dried chipped beef (you can usually find it near the bacon isle at your grocery store)
2 stalks scallions, diced
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup cottage cheese – plain – size curd – your preference
6 eggs
****Equipment needed:
skillet, bowl, whisk, hungry people wanting their breakfast fast!

Directions:

Taking dried chipped beef out of its package, quickly rinse it under water. Some of them can be salty, and this takes out some of the salt that may be strong for some.
Chop chipped beef into large pieces and add to skillet with butter along with diced scallions.
While that’s cooking, break eggs into bowl and add cottage cheese. Mix with hand mixer or whisk till well combined.
Cook the scallions and chipped beef until edges of dried chipped beef are curling and starting to get brown.
Add egg mixture to skillet and over low heat, cook and stir till thick and soft.
Serve it up with toast or english muffins and enjoy!