Here is a very good bean salad. This salad will keep for several days.

Bean Salad
1 can green beans
1 can yellow beans
1 can kidney beans
1 small onion, sliced
1/3 cup vegetable oil
? cup cider vinegar
3/4 cup sugar

Mix together and let stand over night in the refrigerator.

Benda IN

Dehydrator question: Several of you like using dehydrators...can you recommend the brand you are using, so I don't get stuck with a lemon! Thanks,
Gerry in MD

Today is for thanks. Thanks to the friend who sent in the hint that baby oil was good to clean shower doors. I'm off this week and cleaned the shower itself with a Magic Eraser (great!) and the doors with baby oil and it really took off accumulated hard water marks. Now I'm ready to use the Jet Dry idea. So thanks.

Also thanks to Donna in Illinois and Nancy from Indiana for the tuna melt ideas. I combined your ideas and added the olives and grilled on 12-grain bread and had a great supper when my husband was gone and it was just me.

And thanks Nancy for getting and keeping this sharing group together.

Butter Crunch Pretzels
16 c. small pretzel twists
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. light corn syrup
1 t. vanilla
1/2 ∙t. baking soda

Preheat oven to 200?F. Place pretzels in large, greased roasting pan. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Stirring constantly, cook over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and baking soda. Pour syrup over pretzels; stir until pretzels are well-coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on aluminum foil to coil. Store in an airtight container.
R

Here are some great sites for cooking for two recipes:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Taste-of-Home/
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/cooktwo/cooktwo.html
http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.co/cooking-for-2-recipes/

Many great recipes on these sites.
Roz in Indy

Tips and recipe for 1-2 servings - I have found that almost all recipes serving 4 people can be halved nicely to serve 2. I also buy the tin foil pans (8 inch square and biscuit size 7 by 11 inch) work very nicely for the smaller recipes. I stock my freezer with meat when it is on sale and then just buy the ingredients to go with the meat. I also buy alot of my frozen foods in my local dollar store since the packages seem to be smaller than the grocery store packages. Now on to my favorite hot dog recipe.

Frankfurters In A Loaf
4 frankfurters
4 strips of cheese OR 2 tablespoons mustard, ketchup or pickle relish
1 cup baking mix
1 teaspoon parsley flakes or any other spice you like (optional)
1 egg
1/4 cup milk

Heat oven to 400F. Grease 7 x 11 pan. Split frankfurters lengthwise not cutting completely through. Fill each with your choice of fillings. Beat remaining ingredients with fork for 30 seconds. Spread in pan. Arrange frankfurters crosswise on dough, pressing slightly into dough. Bake until bread is light brown, about 20 minutes. This serves 2 people or 4 light eaters.

The dough puffs around the frankfurters like a hot dog roll.

Sweet And Sour Pork Chops
2 boneless loin pork chops
1 teaspoon canola oil
About 5 oz prepared sweet and sour sauce (I use LaChoy)
1 8 oz container pineapple chunks (I use Del Monte found in produce section)
Hot cooked white rice

Brown pork chops in oil for about 7 minutes on each side. When you have finished frowning the meat, add the sweet and sour sauce and pineapple chunks (I drain half of the juice off) to the pan. Cover and cook about 3-5 minutes more or until sauce thickens and pineapple is warm. Serve over cooked rice.

Hope you enjoy these two recipes. I will send more later.
Millie in Baltimore

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Betty's Grilled Bologna Burgers
chunk bologna, cut in 1/2 inch thick slices
Butter, Melted
Hamburger buns, split and toasted

Score bologna slices lightly on both sides. Brush with melted butter. Grill over hot coals until browned. Serve on toasted buns. Add toppings of pickle relish; chopped onion and green pepper.

Amount of bologna depends on number of people to be served. In this recipe browning the bologna in a skillet will work too.
Nancy Rogers

Hi Nancy,
With a softening of the economy, we?re finding a resurgence of interest in food storage and emergency preparedness. But of course, it?s always prudent to be prepared.

We?re rebuilding a section on our site for food storage. But in the meantime, we thought our friends at Nancyland might be interested in this manual: ?The Emergency and Outdoor Bread Manual?. It will tell you how to make bread when the power goes off.

I?ve tried these methods. As a scout leader, we used these recipes and techniques to make bread products on the trail with no oven. I think you?ll like this.
https://www.preparedpantry.com/emergencybreadinfopage.htm

Dennis Weaver, Prepared Pantry
http://www.preparedpantry.com

Hi Nancy ? this is for Lisa (East Texas) in the Apr 12 newsletter who wants ideas for a 50th birthday. In a small flowerpot, place 50 suckers (stem down) with a sign that says

?50 SUCKS?. It usually gets quite a laugh. Have a great day.
Jan from (Can)ada

For June in Tn newsletter dated 4/14/08: Butter comes two ways: salted and unsalted. Salt is added to butter for flavor and as a preservative so it will have a longer shelf life. Salt, however, can sometimes overpower the sweet flavor of the butter and can also mask odors. The amount of salt added to salted butter varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, so you don't know how much extra salt your adding to a recipe. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt in your recipe.

The rule of thumb is to omit about 1/2 teaspoon salt per 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter. Hope this helps you.
Eleanor in Calif.

Thanks to Lisa in Central, Pa. for the Rivels recipe. I knew I could count on the group to come up with what I was looking for.
Jo in Indiana

This is in regards to the Carnita's Enchiladas
just a correction sorry if it upsets anyone did not mean to do that but I live in California where there is a lot of Mexican food served

Carnita's Is Pork
Carna Asda Is Beef
Blessings, Shirley

Recipe Message Board for NancyLanders (29,000 + Recipes, tips and messages. Thanks to Chris NM and all the others that help keep the message board going.  You all are appreciated.
Nancy Rogers

Hi Nancy, for Sylvia in Scotland, Aero garden folks sell empty pods that you can plant your own seeds in. It is a different top from what we have, it is really only a starter tray, you transplant after the seeds start to pop up. I will get the info for you.

Pam in Tibbie AL, your Cream Pie 4/11 letter sounds fabulous. I wanted to tell you that I think I will try it this weekend coming, and I am going to experiment with adding a tsp of coconut extract and not adding any lemon. I'll let you know how it comes out. Thanks for sending that.
Billie in Fl

For Nell in VA
Quinoa is a grain, which is wheat and gluten free. It is an important staple in South American cuisine and contains more protein that most other grains. It has delicate flavor and makes a great substitute for rice or couscous as a side dish. I bought mine at Trader Joe's but guess it is available elsewhere. By the way, Nancy, I have not seen my recipe for Taco Lasagna. Don't want anyone to miss this one and wondered if my corrected copy got lost to you. Thanks for all your very appreciated efforts.
Pat in MO.

Betty's Hot Dog Bake
1 pound frankfurters, sliced
2 cans pork and beans ( 1 pound each)
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup catsup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all ingredients in greased 2 quart casserole.
Bake, uncovered for 1 hour.
Nancy Rogers

Betty's Foil Packet Chicken Dinner
1 chicken breast
1 potato, peeled and sliced
2 carrots, pared and sliced
1 small onion, thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
Large pat of butter.

Place chicken, potato and carrots on square of foil with the dull side out. Arrange onion slices over all. Season with salt and pepper. Top with pat of butter. Wrap tighly in foil. Broil over hot coals for 30 to 40 minutes or until chicken is done and potatoes are tender.

Note. I like to separate the onion slices into rings rather than use the whole slice in one piece. This is a great meal for one person and can easily be adapted to two by just making two packets. I love a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce added to the packet. Another variation is to add a tablespoon of barbecue sauce.
Nancy Rogers

For Pat in VA, in regards to you angel food cake idea. I wouldn't add the fresh strawberries to the cake batter as they will release juice during the baking process. They would be better served over the cake with whipped cream.
Jane, No. Calif.

June in Tenn. As to the use of unsalted butter. This product is best used in baking. If you use salted butter and then the amount of salt called for in the recipe you may have an over salted product. You can use salted butter, but I recommend that you eliminate the salt called for. There is no control as to the amount of salt in butter.
Jane, No. Calf.

Paula, Orlando, Perhaps the following ideas would be useful for you Cinco De Mayo celebration

Meat Pies ( Empanadas).
Use canned biscuits for the dough.for ease.
2 tubes of biscuits (10) biscuits each
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 large onion finely chopped
3 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
Black pepper to taste.
In a heavy skillet, brown beef and onions until onions begin to caramelize. Drain off the fat. Add tomato sauce, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook until mixture is just moist. Remove from heat and cool. Chopped olives, chopped spinach and other cooked vegetables, like whole kernel corn can be added. Roll out biscuits to 4 inch rounds, place a portion of meat mixture on each. moisten edges of biscuits and fold over and press edges with tines of a fork to seal. Fry in 2 to 3 inches of oil until golden brown. Drain and serve at room temperature.
Jane, No. Calif.

I have a comment or a tip if you will. For those of you who are making the Ritz cracker peanut butter cookie, covered in chocolate. I made bunches of them for gift trays at Christmas. Before you start cover your work area with wax paper. Spray lightly with Pam or other non stick spray, on the area where you want to lay the wet cookies, after dipping them in chocolate. They dry beautifully and the back side looks good also. You can dip in the white bark or the chocolate bark. I also did some in the red and green colored melts that you can get at Walmart in the bridal section. After dipping and drying, you can drizzle contrasting colored chocolate back and forth over the cookie. Everyone loved them and I learned a lot.

With my leftover melted chocolate, I put a marshmallow on an ice cream stick and rolled them in the melted chocolate and the while wet rolled the into colored sugar or any other small cake decorating candies. I found this hint on the internet and they called them sugar plums. Boy were they a hit with the kids.
Thank you Nancy for my hours of enjoyment reading the newsletter. You also increase my computer knowledge as well as make me into a better cook.
Thank You.  JAM

First off Thank you Emma for the coconut cake recipe I will definitely give this a try.

Next some one was talking about Topsy Turvy plants has anyone every done this with herbs if so let me know how this turns out I have the worse luck with herbs I love cilantro and can not grow it to save me from drowning lol I even tried seeds and plants that were paritally grown (seedlings) and they always die on me. So let me know if some one has already done this
Shirley, Calif

I am looking for a recipe for Italian Strawberry Shortcake. It is made with angel food cake (torn into pieces) mixed with fresh crushed strawberries. The topping is a combination of whipped cream and marscapone cheese. Does anyone have an idea on the measurements for the topping? it was light and fabulous. I would expect it would be beautiful in a trifle bowl for Mother's Day.
Nanette

In the April 14th newsletter, that I received yesterday, Cris, NC had a recipe for Flan Cake, which caught my eye. I did copy it down, and now looking over the directions, it says to bake at 350? in a WATER BATH, and I'm not sure what she means by that? Perhaps you put the bundt pan down into another pan that has water in it? I'm very curious about this recipe, as it is so different, and I wonder just how easy it is to
remove from the pan? I would grease the pan well, as I don't use cooking spray.
Judy (in Alaska)

Whipped Cream Frosting
a light creamy frosting with several variations, all you need is the cake...
1 frosting for one layer cake
1 pint heavy cream, well chilled
1 cup sifted icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Using both a chilled bowl and chilled beaters, beat the cream until frothy. Add the icing sugar and vanilla gradually while beating. Whip until light and a thick enough consistency to spread as an icing. Use immediately.

Variations
Chocolate
1/2 cup cocoa, sifted in with in the icing sugar

Coffee
1 tablespoon instant coffee, dissolved in the cream

Lemon
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1 finely grated lemon, rind of, in place of the vanilla

Orange
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
1 finely grated orange, rind of, in place of the vanilla

Nut
1 teaspoon almond extract, in place of the vanilla
3/4 cup minced nuts, of your choice, folded in

Tipsy
1-2 tablespoon brandy or rum or bourbon, in place of the vanilla (For extra tipsy, pierce the cake layers and dribble with more of the same type of liquor and let stand)

Made the plain vanilla version and added 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup more powdered sugar.
Noel

Hi Nancy, I am looking for a clone recipe for La Choy's chicken and beef chow mein. I have tried several chow mein recipes and none have been as good as La Chow's canned. My husband and I love this dish. Anyone?
Thanks, Linda in Indiana

Does any one know of a Clone Recipe for Hamburger Helper's Rice Oriental...They have discontinued making it and I'm a BIG fan.
Thanks, Fran Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

For Gloria in Indiana 4/11 request
I gave this recipe to a co-worker and she entered it as her own in a contest and won. I was pretty mad at the time, because it was my own recipe. Feel free to use it if you like the recipe!
Pat

Apple Bundt Cake
1 cup butter or margarine (softened)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
3 cups chopped tart apples
2 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

Grease and flour bundt pan, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder salt, ginger and cinnamon. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, add eggs one at a time beating well. Add vanilla and mix. Add flour mixture mixing all dry ingredients, then add apples and walnuts. pour into bundt pan and bake until toothpick comes out clean. (approx 90 min). Cool 30 min then remove from pan and sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

May be frosted with your favorite cream cheese frosting but we like just a dusting of sugar.
Pat

This message is for Kathy Clark in SW Kansas,

Please do not use old tires for planting, they are very dangerous. Planting flowers in them is great, but never never vegetables. You can build a raised garden or use 5 gallon buckets. I can get you in touch with a gardening coordinator where I live.
Thank you, Jamie in Maine

For Tammy in Jamestown NY, sorry the PB Sandies didn't come out quite well. They are kind of sensitive in that they break easily when removing from your cookie sheet. I did notice, if this helps you, that I needed to let them sit on the cookie sheet at least 15 minutes before removing. Plus I used a non-stick cookie sheet. They also baked really fast. And if they stick to your fingers when rolling them, try putting the dough in the fridge for 20 minutes or wetting your hands before you roll. If you want, here is another recipe for PB Sandies that you can try. I haven't tried this one, yet...
Dawn - Cape Cod, MA

Peanut Butter Sandies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
7/8 cup (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup confectioners? sugar, sifted
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanuts

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and brown sugar; beat on medium speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla extract and egg. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in reserved flour mixture. Fold in peanuts by hand. Form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place balls, 2 inches apart, on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using your lightly floured palm, flatten each ball into a disk about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cookies cool slightly on baking sheet, then use a spatula to transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container up to one week.
Dawn - Cape Cod, MA

Thank you to Barb S in Omaha, NE, for taking the time to share your jerky recipe with me. My kids will love you for it I'm sure.
Mariann in Michigan

Nancy to Scooch in Florida in 4/13 newsletter you just might be surprised at how many families have gone through the something. In 1985 my father died of a massive heart attach in March, and my brother-in-law the end of June, he was more like a brother, was a suicide death. Even 23 years later thinking about this brings me to tears. Then that same year my DH last his job and at that time we had 2 teenage girls. I was really glad to see that year end. Some way and some how we got through the next few years. I have more happy days now think of him than sad. My sister never told me why he did what he did and I think that it would have made things easier for me. My DH and I feel we discovered what might have lead him to it. My prayers are with you and in time hopefully you will find an answer. Just remember things such as this take time. God Bless!

In the 4/13 newsletter to Hudson Valley Kathleen I have a quick Candied Dills. I use both of these 2 all the time.

Candied Dills
Drain 1 quart sliced dill pickles. Combine 2? cups sugar and 2/3 cup vinegar. Tie 2 tablespoons mixed pickling spices in a bog. Add all together in a bowl. Let stand at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Return to jar with spice bag. Keep refrigerated. After 3-4 days, take out bag. Throw away. Ready to serve.

Candied Dill
1 quart dill pickles
3 cups sugar
2/3 cup vinegar
2 tablespoon pickling spices

Combine sugar, vinegar and spices in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil 1 minutes. Cool slightly. Drain pickles, discarding the juice in which they were packed. Cut pickles lengthwise into quarters. Repack in quart jar. Pour warm syrup over pickles. Store in refrigerator for 1 week before using.

Everyone have a great day. Nancy and 4 legged associates take care and stay safe.
Susie Indy

To Millie in Baltimore (4-12 newsletter)
I too would appreciate your sending your recipes for 1 or 2. My husband and I are together, I have a brother who lives alone and an elderly lady that I assist from time to time who is always looking for things that she can prepare without cooking large quantities.
Debbie

This is for June in TN from today's newsletter (Tuesday).
She asked about using unsalted butter in a recipe. My son is a trained chef in Portland, OR and I asked him the same question. His reply is that when they are not sure of the salt/sodium content in items being used in a certain recipe they recommend using unsalted butter. You can always add salt to anything but you cannot take it out and over salted food is usually ruined. Also I heard Emeril say the same thing on one of his shows. I like the taste of unsalted butter on crackers.
Marti in Alabama

For Debbie in SC - Family Reunion Door Prizes
Several years ago, at a reunion of my dad's family, we made copies of 'old' family pictures, laminated them, and put on 'picks' in flower pots. The pots were actually galvanized buckets, with Easter grass, and the picks were the type florists use for putting the cards on in arrangements. The pics were either 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 - and 2 or 3 pics were put in each pot. These were not only great table decorations, but wonderful memorabilia of our ancestors!
Pam in Tibbie, AL

Betty's Marinated Sweet and Sour Beets
1 can tiny whole (14-15 ounces) beets
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cooking oil
1 teaspoon salt

Place drained beets in a quart jar. Combine remaining ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Pour over beets. Cover and shake well. Marinate in refrigerator for 2 days, shaking jar at least once a day. Heat thoroughly before serving.
Nancy Rogers

Orange French Toast
2 eggs
2/3 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
10 slices French bread
1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
Butter

Beat eggs, orange juice and salt together. Dip bread slices into egg mixture; then in crumbs, coating evenly. Brown on both sides in butter. Serve immediately with orange syrup.

Orange Syrup
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange peel

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat 5 minutes.
Nancy Rogers

Quinoa for Nell (4/14):
Quinoa is an ancient crop that grows in poor soil, dry climates and mountain altitudes. It is native to the Andes, but is also grown in South America and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It thrives best in well-drained soil. It was a staple of the ancient Incas. It t is flat and has a pointed oval shape. There are 4 colorations, red, yellow, brown and black. When cooked it expands to about 3-4 times its size. It is not technically a grain, but can substitute for nearly any grain in cooking. The texture is smooth and creamy, but the tail has a crunchy texture.

It is rich in protein, iron, potassium & other vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of fiber and is easily digested. When preparing, it should be rinsed first to remove powdery residue. Simplest way is to put in strainer & rinse until water runs clear. To roast, toast in dry skillet for about 5 min.

Basic Quinoa
1 box (12 oz) quinoa
4 c. bouillon
Bring bouillon to a boil, stir in quinoa & return to boiling. Reduce
heat, cover & simmer 10-15 min. or until liquid absorbed &
quinoa transparent & tender. 4 cups

Quinoa w/ Eggplant
1 large eggplant
2 T. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
3 oz. tomato paste (1/2 small can)
1/2 t. ground cumin
1/2 t. ground coriander
1/2 t. allspice
pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 16 oz. can chickpeas, undrained
2 T pinenuts
3 c. cooked quinoa

Optional garnishes: lemon wedges, chopped Italian parsley, freshly
ground pepper & salt to taste

Select shiny, firm eggplant, Cut off stem end. Pierce skin in several places w/ sharp knife. Set plate on micro-safe dish & cook on hi for 7-10 min., or until collapses. When cool, cut into small pieces.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in large pot. Stir in onions & garlic & cook until softened, about 5 min. Stir in tomato paste & spices k& continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is ready. Add eggplant, chickpeas, pinenuts & quinoa & cook 5 min. more. If desired, Sprinkle w/ chopped parsley & pass lemon wedges, salt & pepper.
6 servings.
Athena in DE

I'm looking for a copycat recipe for the sweet peppers you get on your subway sandwich. Not the banana ones, the green and red ones that are sweet and sour.
Marlene Fl.

Debbie in SC
One of our family favorite dishes is Marinated veggies. Take any mixture of veggies and place them in a large plastic bag and cover with Italian dressing. I let them sit for a few hours or overnight. You can also add chunks of cheese, black olive, onions ham or salami. Cooked pasta can be added also. It is a good way to clean out your fridge! Anything you add will be good it's fool proof.
Have a wonderful reunion!
Barbara in Wentzville, Mo

Ladies, I have to go to a picnic, I live in Florida, I want to bring a pie that is sugar free , we have a few people that can't eat sweets, and they never get a dessert that is good. Something different but simple, that will hold up to heat ... out side.
Marlene Fl.

To Wendy in WI,
Tonight I made a very good Casserole type dish I think would go great! I made it up as I went along, So hopefully you will understand this!

Chicken BBQ Baked Beans
4-5 chicken breasts, Boiled in chicken stock and shredded,
2 cans of baked beans (can be any flavor, I used Onion and Hickory Bacon)
about 1/2 cup (or more depending on your preferences) of BBQ sauce
1/2 to 1 sleeve of ritz crackers, crushed

combine the Chicken, Baked beans, and BBQ sauce and place in a 9X13 inch pan, place crushed ritz on top, put in oven for 20-30 minutes at 350.

Hope you enjoy, You should be able to put this mixture on Hamburger buns, its thick enough. It would be a nice change from hamburgers or sloppy joes. Let me know if you try it and like it!
Chrissy in Middle Ga

Rich's Coconut Cake
Adapted from source: The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, 12/29/04
Makes 15 servings

FOR THE WHITE CAKE:
1 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups granulated sugar
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract, optional
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 coconut, milk extracted and coconut meat grated (for frosting), optional

FOR THE LEMON CURD:
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup granulated sugar
6 egg yolks, lightly beaten
4 teaspoons freshly grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon salt
FOR THE FROSTING:
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

TO PREPARE THE CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.

With an electric mixer, cream shortening. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy.

Sift together flour and baking powder and add to shortening mixture, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in lemon and vanilla extracts. Fold in beaten egg whites. Pour into pans.

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn onto a rack and cool completely.
When layers have cooled, brush generously with coconut milk (if using fresh coconut).

MEANWHILE, PREPARE THE LEMON CURD:
In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and cornstarch and stir until smooth.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter and stir in sugar. Whisking constantly, add egg yolks until combined. Add lemon juice mixture, lemon peel and salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. (If any bits of egg cook through, remove them or pass mixture through a sieve.) Remove from heat and cool completely.

TO PREPARE THE FROSTING:
In a double boiler or large bowl over simmering water, place sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, salt and water; beat and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until peaks form and hold.

Remove from heat; add vanilla and beat for 1 minute.

TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE:
Place one layer on a plate. Top with half the lemon curd. Top with next layer and remaining curd. Top with next layer and frost with icing (there will be some extra). Press coconut into the frosting.

Per serving: 594 calories (percent of calories from fat, 47), 5 grams protein, 75 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 31 grams fat (16 grams saturated), 119 milligrams cholesterol, 244 milligrams sodium.
MSG URL: http://www.recipelink.com/msgid/0220874
Emma

this is for Debbie:
I will be one of your prayer warriors, Debbie in Lubbock and am praying for you as well as the others with special needs. Hold on to your faith tightly and don't let go. God is still on his throne and in control, not the doctors. May God surround you with serenity in this turbulent time in your life.

And thank you to all who have been praying for my husband Sammy just had his prostate removed because of prostate cancer, but thanks be to God that it was found early. Please keep praying for him because he also has an aorta aneurysm in his stomach.

I love each and every one of you and especially you, Nancy. God Bless.
Kay in western N.C.

To Sylvia in Scotland: I, too, trace my ancestry--on my mother's side--to Scotland. A few weeks ago, I became curious to see if I could find out anything about my grandfather. I was able to find some info because he'd held office in Albany. Along with the listings, etc., I also found a copy of an early history of the Hogg (changed to Hogue) family. If you think you'd be interested, send me an email jeanlock@cox.net and I'll send it on. jeanlock in McLean VA.

Nancy, I have been told this works very well if you would care to post it.
bill Alb. NM

Natural Ant Killer:
3 parts peanut butter
2 parts honey or powdered sugar
1 part boric acid.
It mixes into a paste, and you just put it where the ants are trailing.

They really swarm it for a few days take it back to the colony, and eventually it kills 'em

Email Address to respond to replies, requests and tips. Please include the date of the recipe, name of recipe and number of servings.  Remember to include your name within the message as well.
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