Homemade Buttercream Frosting

For this recipe you will need:

• 4 1/2 cups Powdered sugar...plus a little more depending on the desired spreading consistency of the frosting (I actually buy a large bag to have on hand, but you will not need that much)

• 1/2 cup Butter or margarine softened

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 3 Tablespoons of Milk or a little more depending on desired consistency

In a large bowl, hand mix together softened butter or margarine, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth, gradually add milk and stir it until smooth and creamy. You can add more powdered sugar or milk until you get it to the desired consistency for icing a cake.

Frost the cooled cake, decorate and enjoy!

Oatmeal Cookies

You will need:

• 1 cup butter (or 2 sticks) softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 cups Self-rising flour
• 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, Lightly grease baking sheets. In large bowl, cream butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until mixed and creamy. Add the eggs, on at a time and mix well. Stir in vanilla. In another bowl mix flour and salt together. Now, add and beat the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. I mixed everything by hand using a large spoon. Stir in the oats. Drop by heaping Tablespoons 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Use a spatula and remove the cookies from pan and set on wire racks to cool. 
Enjoy!

Fast and Easy Baked Ham Steak with Pineapples

This is an easy meat to serve if you are in the mood for some baked ham, but you don't want buy a big ham. It tastes good and it is inexpensive. I do buy the big spiral hams during the holidays and for times when I am having a lot of company over, but this little Ham Steak is great for any day of the year, especially if it's for serving a couple or a small family of 3 or 4.

I personally like this Country Ribbon brand, because it's boneless, but Cook's Brand, and Sam's Club Brand is also good.

All you do is line a baking sheet with foil and put the ham steak on it, pour the juices from the Ham on the pan too, (If you buy a bone in the Ham Steak such as Cook's Brand, I'd wash the Ham Steak first before cooking it, because with that brand, I've noticed that it has a gritty feel to it due to the bone being cut)  and pour a can of diced pineapples over the top...Bake in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes....that's it.

I like to serve it with dried lima beans and fried cornbread (recipes for these are in the sidebar of this blog) and I also like a baked sweet potatoe. By the way, for beginners on cooking I'd like to mention that Baking a sweet potatoe is simple too, just wash it good and rub olive oil on the outside of it, bake it on a foil lined baking sheet for 400 degrees for 1 hour or a little longer...until tender.

Enjoy!

Dried Lima Beans

For this recipe I used:

• 24 oz. bag of China Doll Large Dried Beans
• 2 Knorr chicken bouillon cubes
• Garlic Glove Chopped
• 1/2 Onion Chopped
• 9 Cups Water
• 2 Tablespoons Bacon Grease
• 1 teaspoons Salt
• Sprinled Black Pepper
• 4 Slices of Bacon

First Soak beans in a bowl of water overnight, then rinse them the next day and put them in a crock pot along with all of the ingredients above. Cook on High all day about 6-8 hours.

 I serve them with cornbread (my fried cornbread recipe can be found in my sidebar)  Ham steak with pineapples and Baked Sweet Potatoe.

Enjoy!