Nana's Brownie Cake

Nana's Brownie Cake

*this is my mother's favorite cake... VERY chocolate, very moist, and, for us, none better!

we will do this for Nana's birthday every year!!! as long as I can remember!

melt and boil (I use the microwave these days :)

1 stk butter

1/2 c shortening

4 T cocoa

1 C water

pour into: 2 C flour

2 C sugar

pinch of salt

mix and add: 2 eggs

1/2 C buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk on hand... today I didn't... use 1/2 c milk and add 1 T lemon juice... let it sit for 5 minute and use as buttermilk... works great!)
1 t soda

Mix and pour into Pyrex sheet cake pan (I use the med. size one)
cook 30 minutes at 350 degrees (until toothpick comes out clean)
Icing:
melt: 1 stick butter
4T cocoa
6 T milk
mix into above liquid: 1 box powdered sugar
1 T vanilla
1 C chopped nuts (notice hint at bottom of recipe)

pour over warm (NOT HOT) cake....

hint: 1/2 our family likes nuts, 1/2 don't!

hence.... we pour 1/2 icing over cake and then mix nuts into the other 1/2 and pour over remainder of cake.... gotta please the crowd!

*** this is even better if you can make it a day ahead... only gets better as it sits a while!

Canadian Cheese Soup

Helen Corbitt's Canadian Cheese Soup

*this is one of Nana's best!!!

(I think she got the recipe from a cafeteria we frequented EVERY Sunday after church)

(recipe for 8 servings... so we usually doubled the recipe)

1/4 C butter

1/2 C finely diced onion

1/2 C finely diced carrots

1/2 C finely diced celery

1/4 C flour

1 1/2 T cornstarch

1 QT chicken stock (use organic free range best!.. )

1 QT milk

1/8 t soda

1 C shredded cheddar cheese (I use a bit more)

salt and pepper to taste

2 T parsley (chopped fine)

Melt butter in the pot in which you will cook soup.
(to chop veggies, I pour 1/2 stock in blender and then veggies... pulse on chop... then scoop the veggies out of stock from blender into the melted butter in pan, reserve the stock in blender)

Saute veggies in butter over low heat until soft.

Add flour and cornstarch and cook until bubbly.

Add stock and milk to make a smooth sauce.

Add soda and the grated cheese.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add parsley a few minutes before you serve.

hint: if you cook this at too high a temp, it will separate instead of being smooth.

After you've added the soda and cheese.... just let it melt into a smooth hearty soup.

*we like to serve with Sister Shubert rolls and a fruit salad.... Enjoy one of our family favorites!