Today is...

National Grape Popsicle Day!

PURPLE COW POPSICLES

1 envelope plain gelatin
2/3 c. cold water
2 2/3 c. reconstituted dry milk
2 c. concentrated grape juice

Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water in a small saucepan and let stand 5 minutes. Cook over low heat about 1 minute until gelatin is dissolved. Add milk and stir in grape juice. Pour into molds or ice tray, add popsicle sticks, and freeze.
You can also freeze these in small paper cups.

Whoopie Pies

Today is National Eskimo Pie day, so to celebrate, here is my recipe for Whoopie Pies.

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup butter

1/2 cup unsweetend cocoa powder

1 egg

1/2 cup hot water

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Cream together 1 cup of the butter and the egg. Add 1 cup white sugar, vanilla, and hot water. Stir in the flour, cocoa, and baking soda and mix well.

2. Drop by the teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Sandwich cookies together with Peanut Butter Filling.

3. Peanut Butter Filling: Blend 1 tablespoon butter with peanut butter. Stir in confectioners' sugar and add enough milk to make the filling soft enough to spread. Spread between the flat sides of two cookies and sandwich together.

Homemade Marshmallows

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons gelatin

1/2 cup cold water

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

cornstarch

confectioners' sugar

Mix 2 cups granulated sugar, 3/4 cup water. Simmer over medium heat until mixture reaches the soft ball stage (on a candy thermometer). Remove from heat.
Soften 2 tablespoons gelatin in 1/2 cup of cold water. Place in a large bowl. Pour the hot syrup over the softened gelatin. Stir until dissolved. Let stand until partially cooled. Then whip until thick and white, and until mixture will nearly hold its shape. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Pour into straight-sided pans lined with equal parts of cornstarch and confectioners' sugar, mixed together. Let stand in a cool place until firm (not in the refrigerator.) Cut into squares with scissors and dust with confectioners' sugar. Store in an air-tight container in a cool place.

Deep Fried Twinkies

6 Twinkies
Popsicle sticks
4 cups vegetable oil
Flour for dusting
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 Tablespoon oil
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt





Directions





1. Chill or freeze Twinkies for several hours or overnight.


2. Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in deep fryer to about 375 degrees.


3. Mix together milk, vinegar and oil.


4. In another bowl, blend flour, baking powder and salt.


5. Whisk wet ingredients into dry and continue mixing until smooth. Refrigerate while oil heats.


6. Push stick into Twinkie lengthwise, leaving about 2 inches to use as a handle, dust with flour and dip into the batter. Rotate Twinkie until batter covers entire cake.


7. Place carefully in hot oil. The Twinkie will float, so hold it under with a utensil to ensure even browning. It should turn golden in 3 to 4 minutes. Depending on the size of your deep fryer, you might be able to fry only one at a time, two at the most.


8. Remove Twinkie to paper towel and let drain. Remove stick and allow Twinkie to sit for about 5 minutes before serving.


Makes 6.

Whoopie Pies

WHOOPIE PIES

1 c. butter

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

4 c. flour

1 c. cocoa

3 tsp. soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2 c. milk

Cream the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Add milk to the creamed mixture and mix well. Add the blended dry ingredients and mix well again. Drop by teaspoonsful on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes. Cool, then fill.

WHOOPIE PIE FILLING:

1 c. shortening

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Sm. amount of milk

1 sm. jar marshmallow creme

1 (1 lb.) box confectioners' sugar

Cream the shortening and sugar and vanilla. Add the marshmallow creme and cream again, adding milk as necessary. This makes enough filling to generously fill approximately 50 whoopie pies (3 inch size).