Butter Rich Spritz Butter Cookies
Wonderful cookie-press cookies, rich in flavor. My mom has made these cookies for years for all of the holidays. The kids love to decorate them as much as they love to eat them.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Sift together the flour and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl cream together the butter and sugar.

Stir in the egg yolks almond extract and vanilla extract.

Gradually blend in the sifted ingredients.

Fill a cookie press with dough and shoot cookies about 1 1/2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

If you like decorate with sugar or sprinkles at this time.

Air Fryer Okra “Fries”
If you enjoy the flavor of deep-fried okra, try this deliciously crispy, lower-calorie alternative made in an air fryer.

Achieve a 400°F air fryer temperature (200 degrees C).

Okra should be washed, dried, and then cut in half lengthwise, trimming stems and tips.

Put in a bowl and toss with salt and olive oil.

Slices of okra should be placed cut-sides down in the basket of an air fryer and cooked for 12 to 15 minutes, or until crispy, in batches if necessary.

Lemon Ice-Box Cake I
A light, fluffy cake that tastes like cheesecake.

To Prepare Crust: mix graham crackers 1/2 cup sugar and melted butter and press into 9 x 13 inch pan.

Mix lemon gelatin with 1 cup boiling water and let cool.

Meanwhile whip the chilled evaporated milk add the 1 cup sugar and lemon juice.

Whip until sugar is dissolved.

Whip in the cooled gelatin into the milk mixture then stir in pineapple.

Pour lemon mixture over crust in pan.

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers and chopped maraschino cherries if desired.

Chill several hours or overnight.

Variation: Mix one 8 ounce package of cream cheese with the 1 cup sugar; add this to the whipped milk gelatin and lemon juice mixture.

Stir in pineapple then proceed as above.

Savory Rosemary Bread Pudding
The dish’s flavors are infused with great bread, cheese, olive oil, and fresh rosemary. Before assembling the dish, toss the bread with olive oil to make the top crunchy and delicious, which is exactly what it is—good, homemade croutons.

Set oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees C).

Onion and rosemary are cooked in hot olive oil in a cast iron pan until the onion is soft.

Combine onions and olive oil with the bread cubes.

It is not necessary to measure the bread precisely.

Put in a deep 9-inch square pan that has been well-oiled.

Add half the cheese, toss, then top with the remaining cheese.

Combine milk, cream, and eggs in a bowl.

Pour over the pan of bread.

The bread poking out of the custard is acceptable.

Baking should be done for one hour, or until golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean (except for melted cheese)

Balah el Sham (Egyptian Choux Pastry)
Made with sugar, flour, lime, and vanilla and deep-fried, this crispy Egyptian dessert, called balah el sham, is a delightful finger food.

Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan over high heat.

Bring to a boil; stir until sugar dissolves.

Reduce heat to medium; add lime juice.

Simmer until flavors combine about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat.

Stir 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the syrup; let cool.

Stir 2 cups water 1 cup sugar vegetable oil and salt together in a pot over medium-high heat; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium.

Add flour; stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until batter forms into a ball.

Cook until batter is shiny about 1 minute.

Transfer to a bowl; allow to cool about 5 minutes.

Baking Powder Biscuits
These drop biscuits with Crisco are made with basic ingredients, then dropped by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and baked. These golden biscuits are so simple you will be surprised by the lovely texture and taste.

Set the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees C).

Grease a baking sheet very lightly.

In a bowl, combine salt, baking powder, and flour.

Cut in shortening until mixture contains only pea-sized lumps.

As the dry mixture is absorbed, add the milk and stir.

Drop dough onto the preheated baking sheet in heaping spoonfuls.

Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Mexican-Inspired Spaghetti Squash
Use cheese, beans, and seasonings to quickly turn your spaghetti squash into a casserole with a Mexican flavor.

Set the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees C).

Use aluminum foil to line a baking pan.

Squash should be split lengthwise.

Get rid of the seeds.

Apply a pastry brush to each half and spread a 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil over it.

Add a small amount of salt and pepper.

Place the prepared baking pan with the cut side up.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the meat is tender and a steak knife can be easily inserted into the flesh.

In the meantime, warm a skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.

In hot oil, cook onion, bell pepper, and garlic for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they are soft.

removing the heat

Baked Spoon Bread
Baked spoon bread made with cream and cornmeal is an old southern dish served on special occasions or holidays.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Butter a casserole or souffle dish.

Combine cream butter sugar honey and salt in a saucepan over low heat; cook and stir until butter melts 2 to 3 minutes.

Slowly stir cornmeal into cream mixture until thickened but not boiling 3 to 5 minutes.

Pour cornmeal mixture into a large bowl.

Beat egg yolks 1 at a time into cornmeal mixture ensuring egg yolk is fully incorporated before adding the next.

Stir baking powder and white pepper into cornmeal-egg yolk mixture.

Cheesy Skillet Chickpeas
These cheesy skillet chickpeas are a great side dish with any meat or fish or taste great on their own with some crusty bread,

Large pot with medium-high heat for heating oil.

Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes, or until soft and translucent.

Italian seasoning and garlic are added.

Cook for another minute.

Drain one chickpea can, leaving liquid in the other.

Salt and pepper the skillet after adding the marinara sauce and all of the chickpea liquid from one can.

Medium-low heat should be used to simmer for 8 minutes.

Set the broiler on high and place an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.

Put the chickpea mixture in a skillet that can go in the oven.

Olives and mozzarella cheese should be added on top.

Eight Treasure Porridge Dessert
The eight ingredients that make up the Eight Treasure Dessert are simmered together to produce a warm and comforting dessert porridge.

Place red beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 3 hours to overnight.

Drain and rinse.

Combine red beans and barley in a pot; add enough water to fill 1/2 the pot.

Bring to a boil reduce heat to low cover pot and simmer until beans and barley are tender about 1 hour.

Mix rice into bean-barley mixture; add more water if it has all been absorbed.

Cook rice mixture for 20 minutes.

Add mung beans; cook for 20 minutes.