Master Mixes Biscuit Mix, Pastry Mix, Oatmeal Cookie Mix, Cake Mix, Moon Glow Cake, Plain Cake, Cornmeal Muffin Mix, Chocolate Pudding Mix

Editor's Note: As a Christmas I am publishing Trudy's Master Mixes.

Biscuit Mix

8 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. baking flour
4 t. salt
1 1/4 c. shortening

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture resembles cornmeal. Store in covered jar. Refrigeration is not necessary.

To Make Biscuits:

2 c. of biscuit mix and 2/3 c. of milk will make 12 biscuits. Bake at 450 degrees F. 10 - 12 minutes.

Pastry Mix

8 c. all-purpose flour
1 T. salt
1 lb. vegetable shortening or lard

Sift flour and salt together. Add half of shortening and cut in until mixture is as fine as meal. Add rest of shortening and cut in until particles are the size of peas. Store mix in covered container IN REFRIGERATOR.

To Make Pie Crusts:

For 1 crust pie, use 1 1/2 c. pastry mix and 3 T. cold water. For 2 crust pie, use 2 1/2 c. pastry mix and 5 T. cold water.

Oatmeal Cookie Mix

 3 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 c. sugar
1 t. soda
1 t. baking powder
2 t. salt
1 c. shortening
3 c. quick-cooking oatmeal, uncooked

Sift flour, sugar, soda, baking powder and salt together. Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles corn meal. Add uncooked oatmeal and mix well. Store in covered container at room temperature. This recipe makes 8 dozen cookies.

To make 2 dozen cookies:

1 egg
1 T. milk
1 t. vanilla
2 c. oatmeal cookie mix

Beat egg and add to milk and vanilla. Add to mix and beat until well blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet to cake cutter immediately after baking.

Cake Mix

2 c. shortening (1 pound)
6 1/2 c. cake flour
4 c. sugar
1/4 c. baking powder
1 T. salt

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture is fine, dry and powdery. Store in covered container at room temperature. 

Moon Glow Cake

3 1/4 c. cake mix (do not pack in cup)
1 c. milk
1 t. vanilla
2 egg whites

Place mix in a bowl. Add 1/2 c. milk. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed on electric mixer or 300 strokes by hand. Throughout mixing time keep batter scraped from sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula. Scrape bowl and beaters. Ad remaining milk, vanilla, and egg whites (unbeaten). Beat 2 additional minutes or 300 strokes by hand. Scrape bowl and beaters. Pour into 2 greased and floured 8" layer cake pans. Bake at 375 degrees 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Plain Cake

3 1/4 c. cake mix (do not pack in cup)
3/4 c. milk
1 t. vanilla
2 eggs

Place mix in bowl. Add 1/2 c. milk. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed or 300 strokes by hand. Throughout  mixing time keep batter scraped from sides and bottom of bowl with rubber scraper. Scrape bowl and beaters. Add remaining milk, vanilla and eggs. Beat 2 additional minutes at medium speeed on electric mixer or 300 strokes by hand. Scrape bowl and beaters. Pout batter into 2 greased and floured  8" layer cake pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Cornmeal Muffin Mix

3 c. all-purpose flour
3 c. cornmeal
3/4 brown sugar
3 T. baking powder
3 t. salt
1/2 c. plus 1 T. shortening

Sift flour and measure, add cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Sift together twice, cut shortening in as fine as possible. Store covered at room temperature.

To Make Muffins:

1 egg
1 c. milk
2 1/2 c. cornmeal mix

Beat egg slightly, add milk. Stir liquid into ingredients. Mix only to dampen. Fill muffin pans 2/3 full. Bake 425 for 20-25 minutes.

Chocolate Pudding Mix

6 T. cocoa
1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt

Mix cocoa, flour, sugar and salt. Store in covered container until ready to use.

To Make Pudding:

2 1/2 c. boiling water
2 c. evaporated milk
1 t. vanilla

Add boiling water. Stir until smooth. Cook slowly until it begins to thicken, then add milk. Bring slowly to boil, boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add vanilla and chill. Serves 6 to 8.

February 24, 1955 Pastry Mix, Pecan Squares, Special Meat Loaf, French Fried Potatoes in the Oven

Pastry Mix

8 c. flour
1 T. salt
1 pound lard or vegetable shortening

Sift flour and salt, cut in lard or shortening as for pie crust until mixture resembles fine meal and some pieces of fat are the size of peas. Pack into tightly closed jar or can. Store in cool place or refrigerator.

To use pastry mix:

For 1 crust pie use 1 1/4 c. pastry mix and about 3 T. cold water.
For 2 crust pie use 2 1/2 c. pastry mix and about 5 T. cold water.

Note: If you are using vegetable shortening such as Fluffo you may have a richer pastry by using 7 c. of flour instead of 8 c.

Pecan Squares

2 1/2 c. pastry mix
5 T. water
1/4 c. sugar
1 c. dark corn syrup
3 eggs, well beaten
1/4 c. butter
1 t. vanilla
1 c. pecans, broken

Combine pastry mix with water. Turn out onto floured pastry cloth or board and roll to 1/8 inch thickness. Line a 9 x 9 x 1 1/2 inch pan with pastry, let pastry come up sides of pan. Flute the top edge. Combine sugar and syrup and cook to 230 degrees or until syrup spins a thread. Pour hot syrup slowly on eggs, beating constantly. Add butter, vanilla and nuts. Pour into pastry lined pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Cut into squares; serve warm or cold, topped with whipped cream. These may be made a day ahead of time. Store in a cool place.

Special Meat Loaf

1/2 c. onion, chopped
3/4 c. celery, diced
1/4 c. butter
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 T. salt
2 eggs
3 c. soft bread crumbs
1/2 c. water
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 c. tomato juice
2 T. butter, melted

Brown onions and celery in 1/4 c. butter or shortening. Combine with green pepper, salt, eggs, bread crumbs and water to make a stuffing. Add 1 1/2 c. of the stuffing to meat, mixing well. Pat out 1/2 of the meat mixture in loaf pan. Cover with remaining stuffing, then top with remaining meat mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Baste two or three times during baking with tomato juice and butter which have been mixed together. Serves 10 to 12.

French Fried Potatoes in the Oven

Select one medium or large potato for each person to be served. Pare potatoes and cut them into strips. Place the strips in single layers in shallow pan, sprinkle with salt; pour 1/4 c. melted shortening over 8 prepared potatoes. Bake at 375 degrees (with meat loaf) for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown. Serve piping hot.