By Staff
A LITTLE HELP Donna McDonald and her granddaughter, Alyssa, mix some of the ingredients for some fruit muffins. Alyssa, 4, likes to help out in the kitchen whenever she can. Photo by Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
Dec. 26, 2001
Healthy eating doesn't take a backseat in Donna McDonald's kitchen. Our "cook of the week" says it is possible to prepare meals that are good for you, and taste good, too.
For example, anyone sampling her veggie lasagna recipe probably wouldn't miss the meat unless they just knew it wasn't there.
Family birthdays are celebrated with special dinners at her house.
She advises that healthy eating and exercise are very important to a person's health.
She has been cooking for more than 37 years.
And she's passing her cooking skills on to her four-year-old granddaughter, Alyssa.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor of The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3217, or e-mail him at sswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.
This week's recipes:
Mama Kerby's Lemon Chess Pie
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 Tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter ( melted)
1/4 cup evaporated milk
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
4 large eggs
Make or buy a 9 inch pie crust.
Combine first 3 ingredients in medium bowl, stirring well, add butter, milk and lemon juice, stir well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Fit piecrust into 9 inch pie plate, flute edges. Pour filling mixture into pie crust. Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until pie is just set. Let cool on wire rack. Chill. Yields 1 nine inch pie.
Marcy's Old Time Sugar Cookies
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup salad oil
Cream above together then add
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon cream of tarter.
Sift together 21/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon soda
Add to mixture. Mix in
1 teaspoon vanilla
Roll into balls and put on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork dipped in sugar.
Bake at 375 degrees until lightly brown about 10-12 minutes.
Easy Chocolate Sheet Cake
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
4 Tablespoons cocoa
Melt 2 sticks margarine and 1 cup water over heat to boiling point and pour over dry mix.
Add the following
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon soda
2 beaten eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix well. Batter will be unusually thin for a cake. Bake 25 minutes at 375 degrees in a 13x9x2.
Frosting
1 stick margarine melted
3-6 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 box powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons cocoa
Mix well and pour over hot cake.
Fruit Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
In large bowl combine:
11/2 cup all- purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup oatmeal or all-bran cereal or1/2 cup oatmeal/1/2 cup cereal.
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 egg whites
1/2 cup Smuckers Baking healthy oil and shortening substitute
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup craisins
1 mashed banana
1 apple ( not peeled) chopped finely
3/4 cup applesauce
Add1/2 cup orange juice and stir well- don't over mix.
Spray muffin tins with Pam. Cook at 375 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until done.