Rum Balls

This recipe is from Aunt Nancy's cookbook. Actually she was my Great-grandmother's sister, so that means she was a great-grand aunt.  I never knew Aunt Nancy Bouffard, she died back in 1957. Born Nancy Osborn in 1897, she was one of 17 children in a blended family. She kept a little recipe book that I now have. When I can decipher her writing I'll post a few recipes here.

Rum Balls - the ones Alice Colman makes. (marked  very good)

1 cup crushed vanilla wafers
1 cup confectionary sugar
1 & 1/2 cups chopped pecans
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 cup brandy or sherry

Mix all ingredients together. Roll into small balls. Roll in granulated sugar.

Chicken Gone Nuts

To make 4 servings of Chicken Gone Nuts:

3 and 1/2 tablespoons shelled pecans or walnuts
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 1 and 1/4 pound boneless thighs)
2 tablespoons oil
nonfat cooking spray
milk

Preheat broiler or grill. combine nuts and breadcrumbs and grind in blender or food processor until fine. put nuts/breading mix in plastic baggie.

Separately, dip each piece of chicken into milk, then place into plastic bag and shake until well covered with mixture.

Heat oil in skillet, brown chicken over medium heat a few minutes on each side. Transfer chcken to spray coated broiler pan, or grill. cook another 4 minutes or so on each side, until chicken is done all the way through.

Prairie Beer Cake

Makes one 10 inch tube cake.

3 c. sifted all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda                             

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. allspice                                   

1/2 tsp. cloves

1 c. shortening

2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. finely chopped nuts

2 c. beer

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Sift flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and cloves into a bowl.   Set aside.

Cream shortening, gradually add sugar.   Beat until light.   Add eggs, beating until light and fluffy.   Reserve 2 tablespoons of the flour mixture.   Gradually add remaining flour to sugar mixture.   Mix well.   Add beer and beat until blended.

Add reserved flour to nuts.   Mix well.   Fold into batter.   Spoon into a greased 10 inch tube pan.   Bake for one hour or until done.