Recipes from sister-in-law guaranteed delish

By Peggy Walker, R.D.

Delish \dē’- lish\ adj   1. Really tasty  2. Appealing to the taste buds  3.  Better than most   4. Walker family word used to describe good cooking.
I learned very early on that the Walker family liked good food and that the ladies of the family were all good cooks and that food was always on the stove top for whoever came in through the back door.   Sister-in-law Charlene is a cook’s cook you’d say.  She has never let anyone get out of her house with an empty stomach, well at least by no fault of her own.  Shame on any who ever left hungry.
Char, as she is known by her family and friends, is the family photographer, historian, helper, pea sheller, corn put-er-up-er, nephew entertainer, hair roller-upper (the first time I met Char, DW’s mom and grandmother, all three had rollers in their hair and caramel pie on the stove).
And, she is the official keeper of the family recipes.   Even though she loves good country cooking the best, she also loves new recipes and doesn’t mind trying them out on the diners at her table, or on the TV trays, or those eating on a truck tailgate.  But, no one would ever complain.
The lucky ones.  I do imagine that she’s fed thousands:  hungry boys and their friends, brothers and their friends, cowboys, hunters, nephews, dear friends, new friends, cousins, neighbors, church members, co-workers, old folks, passers through, in-laws and out-laws, grandchildren and friends, and now great grands.
And there are probably a few hundred I’ve left out.  That sister knows her way around the kitchen and into hearts.  She didn’t hesitate when I asked her to make her famous cheesecake for Zachary’s rehearsal supper.   Plates of food have been shared but so have good times, jokes, laughter, love, advice, kindness, compassion, and a listening ear to so many.
Luckily she compiled The Walker Family & Friends Recipes and shared with me.  So thank you Aunt Sissy (as she is and was called by our two who spent hours eating, playing and just hanging out with Aunt Char.)   Don’t be afraid to try these recipes out on your friends and family.  They are guaranteed delish!

Almost Cheesecake Cookies
½ cup butter
¼ teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1 egg
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 box butter flavored cake mix
1 cup powdered sugar

Beat butter, vanilla, egg, and cream cheese until light and fluffy.  Mix in dry cake mix.  Dough will be slightly sticky.  Chill at least 30 minutes.  Spray cookie sheet with pan spray.  Roll about one teaspoon dough into balls, roll in powdered sugar, coating well. Place at least 2 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake 10 to 12 minutes. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven. Cookies should not actually get brown.   Makes 2 – 4 dozen cookies.

Congo Squares
1 ½ sticks butter, melted
1 box light brown sugar
3 eggs
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces chocolate chips
½ – ¾ cup chopped pecans
Add melted butter to brown sugar, mix and add eggs, mix well. Stir in flour and baking powder. Spread in 9×13 inch pan or jelly roll pan.  Sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped nuts over top of batter. Bake at 350 degrees about 25 minutes.  Do not over bake or it will be dry.   Cut in squares.

Lemon Rotel Mold
(“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it”)
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes, undrained
¼ cup milk
1  3-ounce package lemon gelatin
8 ounces cream cheese
½ chopped bell pepper
¼ cup finely chopped onion
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup finely chopped pecans
½ cup Miracle Whip salad dressing
Combine rotel tomatoes, milk, gelatin and cream cheese in saucepan. Heat and stir until melted.  Fold in remaining ingredients.  Pour into mold that has been lined with plastic wrap.  Chill overnight.  Unmold to serve as salad or as a dip with crackers.

Those Things Kids Like
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
½ cup milk
¾ cup butter
1 Tablespoons vanilla flavoring
2 ½ cups quick oats, uncooked
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
½ cup chopped nuts
Mix sugar, cocoa, milk and butter together. Boil for 1½ minute. Remove from heat, add other ingredients; mix well.  Drop by spoon onto waxed paper.  Let set for about 30 minutes to one hour until firm.

Recipe of the Week
Hobo Soup
This one will just hit the spot!  Delish!

2 pounds ground chuck
¼ cup olive oil
1 large onion chopped
1 bell pepper chopped
3 cans red beans or kidney beans
1 can whole kernel corn or Mexicorn
2 cans Mexican stewed tomatoes
2 small cans tomato sauce
1 14-ounce can Rotel Tomatoes
1 teaspoon basil
½ teaspoon dry mustard
Garlic salt or powder to your taste

Brown meat; drain.  Sauté onion and bell pepper in olive oil.  Mix all ingredients in large soup pot. Bring to a very gentle boil, reduce heat and let simmer for about 1 hour.  Season to taste.