Gramma Graesser’s Roman Apple Cake (One of my favorites as a child) 1 cup butter 1 1/2 cups cane sugar 1/4 cup cane brown sugar 2 1/2 cups flour 2 eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup sour milk or sour cream 2 cups diced apples (any baking type, such as Macintosh, Grannysmith, and Rome)   Topping: 1/2 cup cane sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional) 1.  Cream butter and sugar. 2.  Add eggs and vanilla. 3. Mix dry ingredients and add alternately with sour milk. 4.  Add apples and pour into a 9" x 13" pan. 5.  Sprinkle topping over mixture. 6.  Bake for 45 minutes at 350 deg.   To sour the milk: Place 1 tablespoon cider vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup and add milk to make 1cup.  Stir and let set a couple of minutes.

Fruit Cobbler 1 cup cane sugar or 1/2 cup cane sugar and 1/2 teaspoon powdered pure Stevia 1 cup flour or brown rice flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup melted butter 1 quart bottled or canned fruit (drain and reserve juice.  Use any fruit.)   1.  Melt butter in 9" x 9" pan. 2.  Mix dry ingredients and then whisk in milk. 3.  Pour batter onto butter in pan and lay fruit on batter. 4.  Pour juice over fruit and sprinkle with a little sugar (1 tablespoon).  Cinnamon may be sprinkled on too, if desired. 5.  Bake at 350 deg for 45 to 50 minutes.

Homemade Baking Powder

 Most brands contain cornstarch.  Some individuals may react to cream of tartar used in this recipe, since it is made from fermented grapes.  They may contain glutamate and/or sulfites.

Mix and store in a glass jar:  1/4 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cream of tartar, 1/2 cup powdered arrowroot or tapioca.  Measure as for regular baking powder.

Baking powder substitute: For every teaspoon of baking powder called for, substitute 1/2 teaspoon baking soda plus 1 1/2 teaspoons (3 to 1 ratio) lemon juice.  Corn free vitamin C crystals can also be used (Freeda Vitamins, 800-777-3737). The baking soda can be added to dry ingredients or mixed in 2 tablespoons of boiling water and added last. For every 2 teaspoons baking soda in a recipe, use 3/4 teaspoon vitamin C crystals dissolved in the liquid ingredients for 10 minutes.

                                                        Chicken Paprika (Paprikash)

One of my favorite, nostalgic dishes from my Austrian Grandmother Suzanne Gifford.  She was a gifted cook.

1.     Melt 2 tablespoons butter or use 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet.  Add 1 cut up chicken, chicken breasts, or thighs (you may skin) and 3 large sliced onions.  Cook until onions are soft and chicken is cooked.  Add more oil or water if too dry.

2.     Mix together 1 cup sour cream and 3 tablespoons flour.  Beat with whisk or fork until smooth.  Beat in 1 cup water.

3.     Remove chicken to a plate and pour sour cream mixture into pan with onions and drippings.  Stir constantly until thicker.  Add 2 teaspoons Hungarian style paprika.   Salt and pepper to taste.

4.     Put chicken back in pan and simmer 5 to 10 minutes on lowest heat.  Add water if dry or too thick.

5.     Meanwhile, boil up noodles or rice on which to ladle gravy and meat.

                                                             Praline Covered Nuts

                                                      (Almonds, pecans,or walnuts)

Spread 3 cups nuts in a shallow pan and roast for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 deg.  In large fry pan, melt 1/3 cup butter.  Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 1/2 cups brown sugar.  Melt together.  Should be like very thick cream and smooth.  Boil on low heat for 2 minutes.  Add nuts to pan and stir to coat.  Pour on greased plate and let cool.  Break up to eat.

Cocoa Mix Mix 2 parts sugar to 1 part cocoa and store in container.  Mix 2 tablespoons mix with hot or cold milk.  For cold milk, mix first with a little very hot water.  Then add cold milk or rice milk.   Variation: Spiced cocoa mix 1 cup sugar   1/2 cup cocoa 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice   *2 parts mixture with 1 part hot water to dissolve makes a good syrup for ice cream and sodas.

Zucchini and Rice Casserole 1 cup well rinsed white rice or couscous 1 medium onion, diced 1 small bell pepper, diced 1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced 1 tablespoon oil 4 cups chopped tomatoes 1 lb. zucchini, sliced 1/2 cup cashews 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon parsley 2 to 3 cups grated mozzarella cheese Cook rice in 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. In a skillet, saute onions and bell pepper in oil.  Blend in remaining ingredients except cheese.  Mix in rice, place in a greased casserole dish and bake at 350 deg for 20 minutes or until hot throughout. Can wait to put cheese on until last 10 minutes of cooking.