Plain Pound Cake

Mimi has done it again!  She has given up her pound cake recipe to the benefit of all the family who have tasted this wonderful treat at past family gatherings.  Nothing and I mean nothing beats the taste of Mimi's pound cake fresh and still warm from the oven.  It is a slice of heaven on earth.

Plain Pound Cake
3 cups           sugar
3 sticks          butter (salted)
5 each            eggs (large)
3 cups            flour plain
1 cup              milk
½ tsp              salt
1 tsp               lemon extract
1 tsp               vanilla extract


*Oil and flour a large Bundt cake pan (remove the excess flour)
*Blend sugar and butter (softened) together with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl
*Add eggs one at a time to the blended sugar and butter while continuing to mix the first two ingredients
*Add flour and milk slowly alternating each until integrated with the other ingredients to form a batter
*Add salt, lemon extract and vanilla extract to batter and mix thoroughly
*Pour batter into the Bundt cake pan
*Place the Bundt cake pan into a cold oven on the middle shelf
*Turn the oven on and set the temperature a 325*F
*Bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes or until done


Comments from Mimi:
  "Always start with a cold oven and do not open the oven door for at least an hour as you risk the cake falling."


Comments from Chase Goode:
  "This is a Win-Win dessert.  If it comes out perfect from the oven, I am a happy camper.  And if the cake falls while in the oven, I am still a happy camper.  The fallen cake is a little more dense in its texture, but it is still great."

Chicken Stew

One of the culinary delights of the entire spectrum of food is chicken stew.  It is a concoction that once eaten is never far from one's mind when hungry.  If chicken soup is good for the soul, then chicken stew is better for the soul.  Throw in a few hush-puppies on a cold, fall/winter day and you have one of the great gifts to mankind.  My father-in-law has what I consider to be one of the best chicken stew recipes ever created and now I am sharing it with you.

Chicken Stew
5 each      large chicken breasts with bone-in
5 each      large baking potatoes
3 each      large sweet onions
1 can       tomato soup
2 cans      creamed corn
1 can       cream of mushroom soup
1 can       crushed tomatoes (without bell pepper)
1 stick      salted butter
1 quart     whole milk

*Place chicken in a large soup pot and cover with water
*Boil chicken in a large soup pot until done
*Remove chicken from pot (and retain chicken broth in the pot)
*Chop the chicken breast to a shredded consistency
*Return chopped chicken to the large soup pot retaining the chicken broth
*Peel and cube uncooked potatoes (cubes should be about 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch)
*Place cubed potatoes into soup pot with shredded chicken
*Peel and finely chop onions
*Place chopped onions into pot with other ingredients
*Add can of tomato soup to the pot
*Add cans of creamed corn to the pot
*Add can of crushed tomatoes to the pot
*Add stick of butter to the pot
*Add can of cream of mushroom soup to the pot
*Stir all ingredients together and simmer until potatoes are done
*Add salt and pepper to taste
*When potatoes are done slowly add milk and bring to a low boil
*Serve hot with homemade hush-puppies (or cornbread)

Comments by my Father-In-Law:
  "This is quick and easy recipe that the entire family loves."


Comments from Chase Goode:
  "If you placed some of this chicken stew on top of your head, your tongue will beat your brains out trying to taste it.  It is REALLY that good!"