Mom's Cherry Pie

NOTE: Make filling the night before and refrigerate. 

INGREDIENTS

FILLING: 

2 cans cherry pie filling (remove a lot of the "jelly" so it's mostly cherries)
2 1/2 TBSP tapioca
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 tsp lemon juice
1 1/4 cup sugar butter
dot with butter when ready to cook

CRUMB TOPPING:
1 1/4 c flour
1 cup sugar
1 cube butter melted & cooled
1/4 tsp or less cinnamon

CRUST

SINGLE:
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup + 1 TBSP butter flavor shortening
2-2 1/2 TBSP cold (icy) water

DOUBLE:
3 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup + 3 TBSP butter flavor shortening
6-6 1/2 TBSP cold (icy) water

DIRECTIONS 

For the filling: 

1. Stir all ingredients in a bowl. 
2. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 

For the crust: 

1. Combine flour & salt
2. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender
3. Sprinkle water 1 TBSP at a time to the direst spot
4. Toss lightly with a fork
5. For an crust without a filling, bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes for an unbaked filling)
6. For a crust with a filling, bake at 400 for 30 minutes. Top with crumb topping or second pie crust.

For the crumb topping:

1. Mix dry
2. Add to top of pie
3. Foil on top after 15 minutes

Mashed Red Potatoes

INGREDIENTS

10 pounds small red potatoes, quartered
2 and 1/2 cups butter (5 sticks)
2 and 1/2 cup milk
1 and 1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste


DIRECTIONS

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm, about 10 minutes. Drain, and place in a large bowl.
2. Combine potatoes with butter, milk, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Mash together until smooth and creamy.

Molasses Crinkles

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (or 2 eggs)
1/2 cup molasses

4 1/2 cup flour
1 tablespoon + 1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cloves
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix together the first 4 ingredients
2. Stir in remaining ingredients
3. Chill dough for 2-3 hours.
4. Roll into cookie balls and cover with sugar.
5. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes or until cracked on top.

Eggless Eggnog

INGREDIENTS

Dry Ingredients
1 pkg vanilla pudding
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp allspice

Wet Ingredients
5 cups milk
3/4 cup heavy cream
4 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Optional
Whipped Cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix dry ingredients together.
2. Mix wet ingredients together.
3. Combine dry and wet ingredients.
4. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
5. Serve with whipped cream on top

Biscuits and Gravy

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs Jimmy Dean Regular sausage

3/4 cup flour
7 1/2 cups milk
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook sausage in large skillet over medium heat until thoroughly browned and cooked through.
2. Stir in flour until the sausage is well coated and no dry flour spots remain.
3. Gradually add milk; cook until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, stirring constantly.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 2 minutes, stirring constantly. 
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6. Split biscuits in half. Place 2 halves on each of 8 plates; top with about 1/3 cup gravy. Serve with Baking Powder Biscuits.