Marian's English Toffee

My kids and Bryan love this recipe that I originally got from Bryan's mother. Warning: it is addictive.


1/2 lb. (1-1/2 C) almonds
2 large (8 oz. each) Hershey milk chocolate bars

Chop the almonds in a blender. Grate the chocolate (I use a Cuisinart). Prepare a jelly roll pan by lightly greasing then spreading with half of the almonds followed by a layer of half of the chocolate.
Reserve the other half of each for spreading on the top.

2-1/2 C sugar
2 C (1 lb.) butter
1 cup water
4 Tbsp light corn syrup
1/3 lb. (1 C) slivered almonds

In heavy pan melt butter. Mix in all the other ingredients. Cook over high heat until 290* or hard crack, stirring constantly. Immediately pour into pan and spread. Sprinkle chocolate in a layer and let melt so you can spread. Follow with the rest of the almonds. Let cool. Break into pieces.

Sloppy Joes

A recipe from Marian that has always been a family favorite.  Who doesn't like a sloppy joe - and they are so easy to make, too.

Sloppy Joes

 2 lbs. ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
3-4 stalks celery, chopped
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
3/4 bottle ketchup (how much is this when it comes in all sizes? I usually put in 12-16 oz. I think but just go for the consistency you like)
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. Vinegar
Salt & Pepper

Brown beef, onions and celery. Drain off grease.  Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer 1-2 hours.
Serve on hamburger buns.

I think it serves about 8 big buns or 12 smaller ones but that is a guess.

Zucchini Bread

     It is that season.  Thanks to Dan and Alyssa we have been enjoying zucchini.  I love pretty much anything made with zucchini.  This recipe for bread from Bryan's mom is a good one. The best part is when it comes out of the oven and has that nice caramely crust.  If I don't watch myself I could just keep eating it. Sometime I am going to try making it with 1/2 cup applesauce substituted for a 1/2 cup of the oil, splenda and replacing some of the white flour with wheat.  It would probably still be really good and better for the diet.

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups grated zucchini

2 cups flour

¼ tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. vanilla

Set oven to 325* and grease 2 loaf plans.

Beat eggs and add sugar and oil. Add zucchini and mix well.  Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Mix into wet ingredients. Add in vanilla. Pour into the loaf pans and bake for 1 hour until toothpick comes out clean.