Surprise Lemon Bars

I am not sure where I originally found this recipe. I know that we made it a few times in our travels for potlucks so I have had it for all -most?- of the time I have been married. I never tell what the secret ingredient is until people have tried this recipe and say they like it. Most think it is coconut, so why ruin it for them?

The recipe says it makes 2 pies, but we usually bake it in a 9×13 casserole dish and cut it into squares. For a gluten free crust, see notes.

Cookie Dough Truffles

I am not sure where we found this recipe, but it was one of the first truffle recipes we tried.

If you prefer not to eat “raw” flour, place flour on cookie sheet and bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool before using. The truffles will have a nuttish flavor.

Wishing Cookies

Aunt Bonnie made us these cookies for the first time nine years ago. She told us that “if you break them into three pieces without talking, your wish comes true”. It has never been proven, since my kids can’t stop talking long enough to break a cookie into three pieces 🙂

Peanut Butter Cookies

This is the first recipe that Megan learned to make on her own. She loves peanut butter, so she quickly memorized the recipe. This has turned into “her” specialty and she asks to make it often.

To make it different, Megan will sometimes add mini chocolate chips, or add melted chocolate to the top.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

August 4th is National chocolate chip cookie day.

For some reason, I did not bring a chocoate chip cookie recipe when we moved to Slovakia.  My friend, Joan Britton, gave me this recipe and told me the dough was really thick (her recipe called for one egg), but was the best recipe.  I could not find chocolate chips there, so I just cut up chocolate bars.

We took them to work to share and I often left out the chocolate for our friend who was allergic to it.  The cookies are still very good without chocolate!

When we moved overseas again, the eggs were smaller and we discovered two eggs worked very well.  We also could not find brown sugar, so we started using molasses instead.  Even though we can get brown sugar here, we prefer being able to adjust the molasses to our own personal tastes.

Chocolate Cake with Zucchini and Chocolate Chips

This is a moist, light chocolate cake. It is simple to make and tastes great plain or with whipped cream on top. While we usually serve it for dessert, the kids often ask for it for breakfast also.

The zucchini is well hidden in the cake and is a great way to use up some extra zucchini from your garden. We have been enjoying this recipe since Mom M. discovered it 2012.

Meringue

Audrey learned how to first make these when she was eleven. She continues to make them, usually with chocolate chips and occasionally with pecans.

Meringues are not super hard to make, but they will not set up on a humid day or if there is any yolk in the egg whites. Sometimes it feels as if you have to beat the whites “forever”. But these are well worth it

Grandma Bea’s Sour Milk Cupcakes

Grandma Bea gave me this recipe many years ago. I was in Boston at the time and must have asked how to use up some sour milk we had.

For some reason, these cupcakes stick to cupcake liners. You can use them if prefer, but it is better to bake these in unlined muffin pans that have been greased and floured with cocoa powder.

The cupcakes are good plain or lightly glazed.

Chocolate Cake

Aunt Bonnie made this cake for Dad McGuire’s birthday in 2011. It is simple, but very good. It also made a great cake for Adrian’s 14th birthday. Serve with ice cream, whipped cream or a glass of milk!

The recipes calls for a 9×13 pan. If you prefer use two round cake pans. Be sure to grease and flour the pans well.

Sugar Cookies

This is our favorite sugar cookie recipe. It is a flat, crisp cookie that is great for decorating. We usually use lemon extract (or 1/2 tsp lemon peel), but almond extract is good in these cookies also.