Amy Salter Whitford's Whole Wheat Brownies

2 C minus 2 T butter or margarine
1 C cocoa
3 C sugar
6 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 C whole wheat flour (fresh ground is the best - slightly coarse setting on the grinder)
1 C  chopped nuts (optional)

In medium saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Blend in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. Stir in flour and nuts and mix well. Pour into a 9x13 inch greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Be careful not to over bake. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

While visiting my sister in Idaho, we get to see my cousins who live nearby. Amy is married to my cousin, so she's MY cousin now! Amy said these were her mom's brownies...I love retro recipes the best sometimes, don't you?!

Zucchini­ Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 11­-12 minutes
Yield: About 2 dozen

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all-­purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1//4 c butter, softened, 1/4 c butter-­flavored Crisco
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini (I grated as small as possible) ­ from about 1 medium
1 cup quick oats
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional
1 2/3 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and
salt for 20 seconds, set aside.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment whip together butter,
granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Mix in egg and vanilla extract. Add zucchini and
with mixer set on low speed, slowly add in flour mixture. Stir in oats, walnuts and chocolate
chips (I reserved 1/3 cup of the chocolate chips to press into the tops of dough balls before
baking, just for looks which is totally optional).

Shape dough into balls, 2 Tbsp each, then transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheets,
spacing cookies 2­inches apart. Bake in preheated oven 11 ­ 12 minutes until edges are lightly
golden. Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in
an airtight container.

Recipe Source: adapted with slight changes from Nestle

Yams a la Lucy / a la Karen

350 degrees F

3 cups yams/sweet potato

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 C. sugar

2 Beaten eggs

1/4 C. Milk

Make mashed potatoes (microwave not optimum) mix all above ingredients and put in med. size baking dish.

Topping:

1/3 C. Butter

1 C. brown sugar

1/2 C. flour

1 C. chopped pecans (almonds ok)

Spread over mashed mix and bake for 350 degrees for 25-30 mins.

My sister Karen makes this fabulous sweet potato dish - it's SO YUMMY, even for someone who doesn't like yams!!

Homemade Deoderant

For original recipe* link I found on Pinterest, click on this pic from their site

I'm huge on prevention, and I've heard rumors about aluminum in deodorant, and the health problems being linked to it...so when I saw this recipe I decided to give it a try. I have been using this for several months now and I totally love it!

5-6 Tbsp coconut oil, in liquid form (warmed to below 76 degrees)
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder
Optional - a few drops of essential oil of choice for scent (I have a rose oil...ahh!)

Mix together the dry ingredients, then stir in coconut oil until well blended, and kind of like a pomade. Store at room temperature in a lidded container.

When coconut oil warms below 76 degrees it becomes a liquid so in the summertime this deodorant will be a liquid so then I just dip my fingers into it and apply; but when it's cold, it's solid and I use a spoon to scrape some out. With my fingers I rub it into my arm pits where it melts on contact, then I rub the rest into my hands like a lotion. I have NEVER known it to stain anything!

*My original source made reference to another "original." I combined them both.

Homemade Magic Shell

Got this recipe off of Pinterest from 52 Kitchen Adventures

7 oz chocolate chips
2 T coconut oil

Heat in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until fully melted.

This recipe really works, and has none of the other ingredients we want to avoid.  You can even make it dairy free if you use dairy free chocolate chips.

I found another recipe online that recommends 1 C chocolate chips to 1 T coconut oil.

What we do most frequently with this is make our EASY ice cream cakes. How? Take ice cream out of it's carton or container, put it on a serving tray. Drizzle magic shell all over and especially down the edges and sides. Sprinkle cake sprinkles or other decorations for added color. Freeze. If you want to have birthday candles on it, put them on the "ice cream cake" BEFORE adding the magic shell. YUM!!

Hot Fudge Sauce

(From DeLonne Hucks?)

1/2 C light corn syrup
1 C chocolate chips

Microwave one minute at a time, stir until chocolate is melted. Mix in 1/4 C cream/milk, 2 tsp vanilla and 1 T butter.