Palouse Soup Mix

2 1/2 cups green split peas (1 pound)
2 1/2 cups lentils (1 pound)
2 1/2 cups pearl barley (1 pound)
2 cups alphabet macaroni (8 ounce pkg.)
1 cup dried onion flakes (2 3/8 ounce pkgs.)
/2 cup celery flakes (1 3/8 ounce pkg.)
1/2 cup parsley flakes (1 1/4 ounce pkg.)
Optional:1 1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Mix all ingredients together.
Store in a jar with a tight- fitting lid.
Stir before using. Makes 10 cup of mix.

To cook: Combine 1 cup of soup mix with 4 cup of water or seasoned stock in large pan. Add 1 cup of cooked chopped meat, if desired. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover pan. Simmer gently for 45 to 60 minutes, or until peas are tender. (for me...I simmered a lot longer) Add 1/2 teaspoon salt if desired.

Minestrone Variation
Combine 1 cup of soup mix with a 16-oz. can of stewed tomatoes, 2 to 3 cup water or stock, 1 chopped carrot, 1 to 2 chopped potatoes, and 1/2 teaspoon basil. (Optional: 1 clove minced garlic). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover pan. Simmer 45 to 60 minutes or until peas are tender. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, if desired.

Personal notes: I made the mix without the celery flakes. They looked gross dried and I don’t really like celery in my soup. The second time I made this we left out the alphabet noodles. I thought they just got soggy when the soup was cooked long enough to make the peas tender. When I made this for dinner, I used 2c. mix, chicken broth, and 1# browned ground turkey. It was just enough for us for dinner and left-overs for M and I for lunch today. We ate the soup with toast, and M liked his with a bit of shredded pepper-jack.

Lucy Miller's Frosting

½ c. Crisco
1 stick margarine
2T flour
a dash of salt
1 t vanilla (it’s supposed to be clear vanilla or butter vanilla. In a pinch you could use regular vanilla, but your frosting won’t be as white. Not bad if you’re coloring the whole batch…but it does affect some colors too.)
1 box powdered sugar
½ c whipping cream (put ½ cup in measuring cup, but you likely won’t need it all. Add gradually until you get the right consistency.)

You really need a good stand mixer to make this (Kitchen-Aid) or it will be difficult. Mix together all ingredients except the cream. Now add the cream gradually. Letting it mix in thoroughly, then add a bit more. When you’ve added the necessary cream, whip on high for 10 minutes. (I have a professional series mixer…so I don’t have to use speed 10…but really pretty high)

Becky's Pancakes

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
2 1/4 cups buttermilk (she uses milk plus 3 t. vinegar, I use the buttermilk)
3/4 cup milk
3 eggs
2 T. honey
4-6 T. oil
3 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. salt

Just now as I was coppying this from my email, I saw the 3 eggs in the recipe. I've never put the eggs in. We love the pancakes...but I'll have to try them withthe eggs now. =0)

**ETA: They're much fluffier with the eggs. Too funny.

Gram's Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes.

1/2# chedder cheese shredded.
1/4 c. margarine
5T flour
2 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. minced onion ( I use about 1/2 Maui sweet onion diced and sauted)
1 1/2 t salt
3/4 t. pepper
7 1/2 cups sliced potatoes (1/8" thick...too thick and they won't cook well)

Make white sauce, turn off heat, add cheese, stir until melted.In a 9x13 pyrex layer sauce, potatoes, onions, potatoes, then top with remaining sauce.Bake at 350 covered for the first 45 min, then uncover for an additional 15 min.(The times here are aprox. Every cook/oven is different. And here we use recipes as guidelines not the law. When it's done, the potatoes will be tender to fork, and the cheese will be bubbly goodness.)

Mexican Lasagna

There is no “real” recipe, and feel free to add and change.

The basic:
9x13 Pyrex
6 Flour tortillas (I use soft taco size)
Enchilada sauce
Refried beans 30oz can
1# Ground beef (browned)
Taco seasoning packet (I use about ½ packet to 1# meat…but my kids don’t like spicy…and you can always add heat later but you can’t take it out)
Shredded Cheese (2c. shredded pkg…or more if you like)

In the bottom of the Pyrex, pour a little enchilada sauce.
Layer 2 tortillas to cover the bottom.
½ can of beans
½ seasoned meat
2 fistfuls of cheese
some more E. sauce
repeat
top with 2 tortillas and some E. sauce

Bake covered until heated through…maybe 20-30 min at 350
Then uncover…sprinkle with cheese and bake until cheese melts.

Variations…
Use chicken, use different beans, I’ve even used whole wheat tortillas (you could use corn…I just don’t like them) sometimes I’ll serve with olives, avocado, cilantro, or cotija cheese on top.