Diva's Strawberry Salad

Diva’s Memories of Recipes

This was painted by Mr Kepart for my Dad, Glen Zemanek
This was the old location on East Overland by the sugar factory

⬗   Strawberry Salad ⬖

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Inspiration from:  This was made in my father's Deli at his grocery store, Alexander's Super Market, in Scottsbluff, NE.  The store is no longer there.  It closed in the early 90's.  My Grandma Margaret and I perfected the recipe.  My kids request Strawberry Sh**. LOL

Ingredients
16 oz tub of Cool Whip 1 8 oz of cream cheese, room temp 1 3 oz of strawberry jello	2 cups strawberries

Directions

In a large bowl, mix cream cheese til its broke up into curds with a mixer.  Add strawberries and mix a together.  Fold in cool whip and jello.  

Variations

This is a very simple recipe.  You can use a bag of frozen strawberries, drained.

Will Serve 8 people

Old Alexander's Super Market is now a car lot...Memories

Diva's Vegetable Stew

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Vegetable Stew
Inspiration: Nice for the winter cold months and a no meat recipe.
Ingredients: 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes 2 cups chopped celery 2 cups chopped carrots 1 cup chopped parsnips 1 med leek, cut into 1/2" pieces 1 14 oz can chicken broth 1/2 tsp thyme 1/2 tsp rosemary leaves 1/2 tsp salt 3 TB cornstarch 3 TB water	Instructions:  Add all ingredients except cornstarch and water to crock pot.  Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or until veggies are tender. Mix cornstarch and water and gradually add to crock pot until well blended.  Cover and cook and additional 20 minutes on high, stirring occasionally until thickened.
Variation: Yields 8 servings

Diva's Baked Apple dumplings

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Baked Apple dumplings
Inspiration:  I like tart apples to make these.  Always had plenty of apples growing up in Nebraska.
Ingredients: 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 2/3 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 6 apples, cored & halved SYRUP 2 cups brown sugar 4 TB butter 2 cups water cinnamon nutmeg	Instructions: Sift together first 3 ingredients and cut in butter.  Gradually add milk until dough is dry enough to roll out.  Roll to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut into 12 squares. Place a half apple on each and press to seal edges around the apple.  Place in shallow baking dish. SYRUP Cook the brown sugar, butter and water in a heavy saucepan. Boil 2 mins.  Pour over apples and top with cinnamon and nutmeg. Bake 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes.
Variation: Yields 12 servings Can be served warmed with a scoop of ice cream. Some people add raisins on top of the apple before sealing.

Diva's Crock Pot Pork Chops w/ apple cherry stuffing

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Crock Pot Pork Chops  w/ apple cherry stuffing
Inspiration:  Very tender pork chops and I love stuffing!
Ingredients: 1 pkg herb stuffing mix 1 cup celery, chopped 1 tart apple, peeled & chopped 1/2 cup onion 1 cup dried cherries 1/4 cup butter 1 cup chicken broth 6 boneless pork chop loins	Instructions: Spray the inside of crock pot with cooking spray.  Mix everything together except the pork chops.  Place half the stuffing mix in crock pot, top with pork chops and spoon remaining stuffing over the top. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours.
Variation:  Yields 6 servings 365 calories, 35g carbs

Diva's Apple Butter Cake with Caramel Icing

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Apple Butter Cake  with Caramel Icing
Inspiration:  Every year I like to can Apple Butter and Pumpkin Butter.  This is a great spice recipe to have for a snack or brunch.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup sugar 4 eggs, beaten 2~1/2 cups flour 1~1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup apple butter ICING 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup cream 1~1/2 TB butter 1/2 tsp vanilla	Instructions: Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs.  Sift dry ingredients and add to egg mixture alternately with buttermilk.  Blend well and add apple butter. Pour into 8 inch baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes.  Cool and frost. ICING in a heavy sauce pan, combine sugar and cream. Cook for several minutes with the lid on.  Remove lid and bring to a boil for 5 mins, stirring occasionally.   Add butter.  Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Add vanilla and beat til thick and creamy.  Spread on Cake.
Variation: Can use pumpkin butter also.  I have added nuts too.

Diva's Apple History & how to choose your Apple Guide

Apples have always been eaten fresh, dried, stewed, baked or fried in a variety of dishes.  Apples can be turned into apple butter, apple sauce and cider & vinegar.  They not only provide a vital source of food and drink, but also preserve for food and supplies, just like our pioneer ancestor' did.  Apples can be used medicinally as anesthetics, antiseptics, and sedatives and stimulants.

History shows the first colonists to bring apple seeds from Europe to New England.  From there, apples spread across the North American continent.  Thousands of varieties were developed in different regions of the country and the world.  

Here are some interesting tidbits about how our ancestors knew to use apples:

• An apple in your bag of potatoes will help to keep the potatoes from sprouting.

• An apple in your brown sugar container will help keep the sugar moist.

• An apple in your cookie container will help to keep the cookies moist.

• Add lemon juice to an apple recipe if the apples you are using lack tartness or need flavor.

• If you can't brush your teeth after a meal, eat an apple.  Eating a raw apple will cleanse the mouth of more that 95% of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Maybe an apple day does keep the doctor away?  Both of my Grandma's had Apple Tree's in their yard's so they were always plentiful for eating and cooking.  My Grandma Margret kept them stored in a room we always slept in when we would come to visit.  What an awesome memory when I smell apples.  My Grandma Sarah also had crab apples and made the most incredible jelly.  She passed away at the ripe ole age of 85 and 2 weeks before she passed, she was found up in her crab apple tree picking them.  I will share my recipe soon of her jelly, it is delicious!

Nebraska where i grew up, is known greatly for Arbor Day and having awesome apples

Here is an apple guide on how to choose your APPLES, and I don't mean a computer:)

Diva's Cream cheese chocolate chip Cannoli dip

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Cream cheese chocolate chip Cannoli dip
Inspiration: This dip can be served with my cinnamon & sugar tortilla chips, fruit, or waffle cones.
Ingredients: 2 8oz pkgs cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup + 1 TB cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1/4 tsp vanilla 1 8oz cool whip, thawed	Instructions:  In a food processors, add cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Process til smooth.  (Can also use a mixer)  Fold in 1/4 cup chocolate chips and cool whip.  Top with remaining chocolate chips.
Variation: Yields 4 cups, 16 servings

Diva's Cinnamon & Sugar Tortilla chips

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Cinnamon & Sugar Tortilla chips
Inspiration: these can be served alone or with a chocolate dip or even a chocolate chip dip I will post soon. :)  They are baked not fried!
Ingredients: 1 pkg 7inch flour tortillas cooking spray cinnamon sugar	Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray tortillas with cooking spray.  Sprinkle tortillas with cinnamon and sugar and cut into 8 wedges using a pizza cutter.  Arrange the wedges on a cooking sheet and bake 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp. Remove from baking dish and cool completely.
Variation: Yields 64 chips or 16 servings per 4 chips is 45 calories, 1.5 g fat, 8g carbs

Diva's Sheet Cake Cinnamon Brownies

Diva’s Memories of Recipes

Sheet Cake Brownies 

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Inspiration from:  This recipe was passed down to me by my step-mom Judi.  If you like cinnamon and chocolate, you will enjoy!

Ingredients
1 Cup water 1/2 Cup butter 1/4 Cup shortening 1/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa 2 Cups flour 2 Cups sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt	1/2 Cup buttermilk 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla Icing ingredients 1/2 Cup butter 6 TB buttermilk 1/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa 16oz powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla

Directions

In a saucepan, combine water, butter, shortening and cocoa. Cook and stir until boiling.  Remove from heat.


In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Make a well and add hot cocoa mixture and mix until smooth.


Add buttermilk, eggs and vanilla.  Beat well.
Pour into a greased 15 1/2x 10 1/2 inch cookie sheet.


While that bakes, make the icing in a medium saucepan.  Combine butter, buttermilk and cocoa til butter is melted.  Remove from heat and add powdered sugar and vanilla.  Stir well.


When brownies are done cool 10 mins and pour icing over the top.

Variations

Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 20 minutes