Thankful Thursday - "Grand" Mothers

Big Granny, Mom, Aunt Gayle (Clockwise from Top)

My Papa and "Little Granny" - Aren't they sweet?

As we celebrated Mother's Day this week, I am so thankful for 3 GRAND Mothers - my grandmothers, Maggie Teal McKnight (1906-1978) and Annie Bell Heath McLendon (1900-1986) and my Mother, Nell McKnight McLendon who is pretty grand herself!  I called both of my grandmothers "Granny". When I referred to them I used "Big Granny" and "Little Granny" to distinguish between them. Daddy's mother, "Little Granny" was short and Mother's mother "Big Granny" was very tall! When my girls were born, Mother decided she wanted to be "Granny" as well. I remember her saying that she just hoped she could live up to the name! And, indeed, she has! I have such sweet memories of my "Granny's" who were both wonderful examples to me - sweet, Christian ladies, who were kind to everyone, hard working and loved their family with all their heart! I am so thankful for my Mom who is a blessing to me every day!

One of my favorite memories of my "Big Granny" is that she would make  "Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats" especially for me. The Ice Box Fruit Cake Recipe above was one of her specialties, but I have just never been a fruit cake kind of girl! The rice krispy treats were always yummy!!

My favorite "sweet" that my "Little Granny" made was Peach Pie. I found a recipe and made it for my "Cousin's Day" a while back. It was not quite like hers, but it was very close!

My Mother can cook anything! Everybody loves her banana pudding and her "little layer" chocolate cake but my all time favorite is her "German Chocolate Cake" which she makes for me for special occasions!

In honor of these special women, I am sharing with you these favorite recipes from each of them and hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!

Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats

3 T. butter or margarine

4 cups miniature marshmallows (or 1 jar marshmallow creme)

1/2 cup peanut butter

6 cups Rice Krispy cereal

In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until melted. Add cereal and stir until well coated. Press mixture evenly into a 13 X 9 inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool and cut into squares.

Peach Pie

1 cup self rising flour

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup sugar

3 T. melted butter

1/2 cup milk

2 T. unmelted butter

1 1/2 cups canned peaches)

Blend flour, 1 cup sugar, 3 T. melted butter and milk until smooth. Pour into greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Pour fruit on top of batter. Sprinkle remaining sugar on top. Dot with remaining butter.

Bake on 375 for 45 minutes or until golden brown on top.

German Chocolate Cake

2 1/2 cups cake flour

2 cups sugar

1 cup shortening (2 sticks butter)

1 bar German Sweet Chocolate

1 cup buttermilk

4 eggs

1 t. soda

 1/4 t. salt

1 t. vanilla

Beat egg whites, until stiff and set aside. Cream sugar and shortening. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each. Add flour, alternating with 1/2 cup of milk. Dissolve soda in remaining 1/2 cup milk and add to mixture. Add melted chocolate, salt and vanilla. Last, fold in well beaten egg whites. Cook in 3 layers at 350 for 40 minutes.

Filling

1 large can PET milk

3 egg yolks

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter

1 cup coconut

1 cup pecans

1 t. vanilla

Mix milk, yolks, sugar, butter. Cook until think, beat until partially cool. Add flavoring, coconut and pecans and spread on cake.