Mom's Clam Chowder

2 CUPS POTATOES DICED (SOMETIMES I USE MORE IF LOTS OF PEOPLE EATING
EASY WAY TO STRETCH THE MEAL--BUT DON'T DO TOOO MANY)
1 CUP CELERY CUT FINE
1 CUP CHOPPED ONION
COVER WITH JUST ENOUGH WATER TO COVER AND COOK TILL TENDER (I LIKE TO
ADD THE DRAINED CLAM JUICE TO THIS AND ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF CHICKEN
SOUP BASE--OR USE A CHICKEN BOUILLON CUBE BUT WATCH THE SALT YOU MAY
NEED LESS.) YOU MAY BE TEMPTED TO BROWN THE ONION IN BUTTER BUT IT
WILL MAKE YOUR CHOWDER LESS WHITE AND KIND OF A WEIRD BROWN
TINT...DON'T BOTHER IT TASTES GREAT WITHOUT DOING THE BROWNING. YOU
CAN ALSO ADD BACON BUT I USUALLY DON'T-- OH, IF YOU WANT TO BE REALLY
FANCY  & A STRONGER SEA FLAVOR YOU  CAN BUY EXTRA CLAM JUICE IN WHAT
LOOKS LIKE A SODA BOTTLE AND ADD THAT TO THE COOKING WATER BUT IT IS
FINE WITHOUT.

3/4 CUP BUTTER
3/4 CUP FLOUR
2 tsp SALT
 PEPPER
1 QUART HALF AND HALF
1 TBS SUGAR
1-2 CANS CLAMS IF YOU LIKE LOTS OF CLAMS OR THEY ARE ON SALE ;-) ADD 2
CANS IF NOT ONE CAN WORKS GREAT--SAVE JUICE--I  PREFER CHICKEN OF THE
SEA BRAND WHOLE BABY CLAMS

MELT BUTTER, ADD SALT  AND FLOUR COOK UNTIL BUBBLY AND SMOOTH--BE
CAREFUL NOT TO LET GET BROWN. SLOWLY ADD IN THE 1/2 &1/2 STIRRING
CONSTANTLY UNTIL THICK.  DO NOT BOIL.

ADD THE VEGETABLES, SOME OF THE WATER THEY COOKED IN (DEPENDING ON HOW
THICK YOU WOULD LIKE CHOWDER--I TRY TO ADD ALL), ADD SUGAR, PEPPER (I
PREFER TO USE WHITE IF YOU HAVE IT, CLAMS, A SPLASH OF TABASCO AND A
PINCH OF CHEYENNE  (RED)  PEPPER AND SOME FRESH CHOPPED PARSLEY.WARM
BUT DO NOT BOIL IT WILL CAUSE THE SOUP TO SEPARATE AND TOUGHENS THE
CLAMS. IF YOU NEED TO THIN IT JUST ADD A LITTLE MILK. THIS ALWAYS
TASTES BETTER THE NEXT DAY.

Grandma Robinson's Caramel Popcorn

2 c. light brown sugar
1/2 c. light karo corn syrup
1/2 lb. (2 cubes) butter or margarine
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt (Grandma says she uses a little less)
1 tsp. baking soda
6 quarts of fresh unsalted popped popcorn

In a 2 1/2 quart saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, cream of tartar, and salt (don't add the soda yet!). Heat to boiling; stir rapidly over medium-high heat. Do a hard boil: 260 degrees. Have soda ready; remove sugar mixture from heat and quickly and thoroughly stir in baking soda. Pour mixture over popcorn in a large roasting pan; stir gently. Bake at 200 degrees for one hour. Stir 2 to 3 times while baking. Remove popcorn from oven; turn out onto wax paper and pull it apart a little bit.

Grandma Prigmore's Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 c. soft butter or margarine

1 c. sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

3 Tbs. cream or evaporated milk

3 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp. double acting baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream together butter and sugar. Mix in egg, vanilla, and cream/evaporated milk. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Roll out and bake at 400 degrees for 8 min. Do not over-bake! Cookies are white on top when done.

Ye Officiale Yuletide Exchange

Ok, we finally nailed down the Christmas gift rotation. Here is who has who this year:

Bryan and Anna are gifting to Caitlin

Matt and Janice are gifting to Chad

Megan is gifting to Adam

Caitlin is gifting to Bryan and Anna

Chad is gifting to Matt and Janice

Adam is gifting to Megan