Cherry Coke Salad

1 can dark sweet cherries, pitted
1 large can crushed pineapple
2 small pkgs cherry jello
12 oz can Coca-Cola
1 c chopped pecans

Drain fruit, saving juice. Combine juice and enough water to make 2 cups of liquid. In a small saucepan, bring liquid to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in jello until dissolved.  Add Coca-Cola. Chill in refrigerator until jello just begins to thicken. Add cherries, pineapple and nuts. Pour into a mold or bowl and chill in refrigerator until completely jelled. Makes 8 servings.

Avocado Salad

3 Avocados
1 Tomato
1 Onion, minced
1/8 t vinegar
1 T Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
1/8 t Garlic Salt
Salt and Pepper to taste

Peel and mash avocados.  Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Never Fail Gingerbread

We made this Gingerbread Recipe all the time when I was a kid.  It's very easy, doesn't take many ingredients, and tastes delicious.

1/2 c sugar
1/2 c oil
1/2 c molasses or Ribbon Cane Syrup
1/3 c raisins
2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1 t ginger
1 c hot water

Combine sugar, flour, soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger in small mixing bowl. Set aside. Combine oil and molasses in large mixing bowl. Add flour mixture alternately with hot water, to molasses and oil. Stir until smooth. Pour into a greased 8"x10" baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm. Makes 12 squares.

Banana Tea Bread

My sister used to make this Banana Tea Bread when we were kids and it was so good!

1 3/4 c flour, sifted
2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/3 c shortening
2 eggs, well beaten
2/3 c sugar
2-3 bananas, mashed

Sift together flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Set aside.  Beat shortening with electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add flour mixture alternately with bananas. Beat well after each addition until smooth. Pour into a well-greased bread pan (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 inches), and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Makes 1 loaf of Banana Tea Bread.

Double Corn Pudding

2 eggs, beaten
2 c cream style corn
3/4 c milk
1/4 c corn meal
1/4 c finely chopped onion
1/4 c chopped celery
1/2 t salt
Dash of Pepper
2 T butter



Combine eggs, corn, milk, corn meal, onion, celery, salt and pepper in a medium mixing bowl.  Pour into a buttered 8-inch square baking dish.  Dot with butter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted 1-inch from edge comes out clean.  Makes 6 servings.

Champagne Punch

3 c sugar
2 1/2 c water
2 large cans pineapple juice
2 large cans orange juice
2 small cans lemon juice
1 quart Gingerale
2 pints frozen crushed strawberries
1 to 2 trays ice cubes

Combine sugar and water to make syrup; pour in juices.  Chill.  An hour before serving, pour over ginger ale, crushed strawberries and ice cubes.  Mix well.

Yield:  50 servings

Orange Pecan Pie

3 eggs, beaten
1 c dark corn syrup
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/3 c orange juice
1 T grated orange rind
1 T flour
1/4 t salt
1 1/4 c chopped pecans
1 unbaked 9-inch pastry shell
3/4 c pecan halves
whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, corn syrup, sugar, orange juice, orange rind, flour and salt. Beat at medium speed on an electric mixer until blended. Stir in chopped pecans. Pour filling into unbaked pastry shell, top with pecan halves, and bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes to 1 hour. Place on a wire rack to cool. Serve with whipped cream. Makes one 9-inch pie.