Shirley's Delicious Potato Bake

Ingredients:

5 lbs of potatoes, cooked until tender and mashed. (Beat until fluffy.)

1 cup of sour cream; 

6 oz. package of cream cheese;

2 tsp of onion salt; 

Pepper to taste;

1 tsp margarine; 

Grated cheese for the top.

Directions:

Beat together all of the ingredients and place in a baking casserole

dish. Sprinkle grated cheese over the top.

Bake 30 minutes at 350F.

Shirley's Banana Nut Bread (an all-time favorite!)

Ingredients:

1 stick of margarine; 2 T. Crisco;

1-1/2 cups of sugar; 1/4 tsp of baking powder;

1/2 tsp of salt; 3/4 tsp of baking soda;

Dash of cinnamon; 2 eggs;

1 cup of mashed bananas (ripe); 1/tsp vanilla;

1/3 cup of buttermilk; 1 cup of walnuts or pecans.

Directions:

Cream together 1 stick of margarine and 2 T. Crisco with 1-1/2 cups of sugar.

Sift together: 2 cups of flour, 1/4 tsp of baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp baking soda, and a dash of cinnamon.

After creaming the margarine, Crisco and sugar, add 2 eggs, alternating with the sifted ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

Add one cup of mashed bananas (they are best when very ripe).

At the end, add 1 tsp of vanilla flavoring and 1/3 cup of buttermilk.

Pecans or walnuts add a wonderful texture and flavor!!

Personal Notes: This was a signature recipe for my mom. One of our family's favorites!!

Beginning...

I just returned from a quick visit home with my dad and everything we did and everything in the house reminded me of my precious mom. It started when I was cleaning out the silverware drawer that holds all of the daily utensils like forks, knives, spoons, etc. The back of the drawer was absolutely filled to overflowing with recipes that mom had collected and tucked away for a special creation for just the perfect occasion. She was meticulous about tracking which recipes she liked and those that were just grand "one-time" experiments that didn't quite go as planned. This blog is going to be the home of her all-time favorite recipes that I would like to share with family and friends who remembered my mom and the many times she brought something over to a neighbor, friend or family member just to share a smile and a kind word with someone who needed that special smile and kind word. She had an incredible knack of knowing just when to do that.

My heart is full of the love I share with the incredible women in my life and I hope you enjoy Shirley's Favorite Recipes!