Leon County Cooks: Barbara Hankins

Barbara Hankins (right) with her daughter Karen. Sherry's Shots How many women do you know who have sky dived on their seventieth birthday, just for fun? This week's cook, Barbara Hankins can boast of that experience. She said the best part was looking down and knowing in just a few seconds she would leave the plane and be jumping into space. Oh my!! Just thinking about it makes me hurt. Barbara said the thought had been in her mind since the 1960's when a skydiving club jumped at once and landed in a field next door to her farm. A year and a half ago she got to realize her dream.

Barbara can't claim to be a native Texan but grew up in Cadillac, Michigan where she attended school. All 12 grades had a total of 100 students. She and her husband moved to Leon County almost 18 years ago after spending a few months traveling around the state. They decided this is where they wanted to retire. Barbara says she worked harder after they retired because they bought a 220 acre ranch and raised cattle. They did all their own work.

Barbara is a widow now and has cut back on the amount of work she does, although she loves to be outside as much as possible working in her garden and yard. She has a few cows, horses and cats. While she doesn't bale her own hay anymore she still sells some each year. Barbara is active in AARP, the EE Club, a book reading group and she delivers meals on wheels.

With five children to raise it was easy for Barbara to learn to cook. Two families are still in Michigan, one in Florida, one in California and daughter Karen lives in Leon County. Michigan Chili Brown one pound of ground beef add salt and pepper add one onion chopped and half of a green pepper chopped cook about five minutes add two cans of kidney beans add one can of chili sauce add a tablespoon of chili powder add one tablespoon of sugar. Simmer low on the stove awhile to let the flavors blend. Poppy Seed Chicken Boil 5 chicken breasts and cut into chunks Place chicken in a 9x12 baking dish (sprayed with pam) Mix 1 cup sour cream and 1 can of mushroom soup (pour over chicken) Crush 2 round sleeves of Ritz crackers and mix with 2 sticks of butter Place cracker mixture on top of the sour cream/soup mixture Sprinkle with Poppy seed Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until bubbly.

Homemade noodles. (My mother's recipe)

Boil one small cut up chicken in salted water to cover. I add a little chicken bouillon for a stronger flavor and a little Yellow food coloring gives it a pretty color. While this cooks make the noodles. May take 30 minutes to cook Noodles: 1 egg and 2 tablespoons of milk mixed together 1 1/4 cup flour add 1/2 teaspoon salt add 1 teaspoon baking powder Mix dry ingredients with egg mixture. (use a fork) It will be very stiff. Form into two balls. If too dry add a few sprinkles of water. Roll very thin and cut in narrow two inch long strips. I use a pitza cutter. These can just dry on the counter until the chicken is done. Remove chicken from pan and drop the noodles in to cook Just a few at a time so the water keeps boiling. Boil 10 to 15 minutes until tender. Cut the chicken off the bone into chunks and add to the cooked noodles. Thicken if desired with flour like gravy. Good over mashed potatoes.

Lemon Meringue Pie

Make or buy a single pie crust. (I make my own) Follow directions on a box of lemon pie filling. This is the kind you cook (not instant) Separate yolks and whites. It will call for two egg yolks but put in three. After this is cooked and cooled a bit beat the three egg whites until stiff, again following the directions on the box because you will add sugar. In a big bowl add the egg whites gently with a whisk to the lemon pie filling and pour into the pie shell. Let it set to cool completely then cut and enjoy.

Raisin Filled cookies (from my childhood)

Batter: 1 egg 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup shortening 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla Cream shortening, add sugar and mix, add milk. Mix following dry ingredients 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon of soda 3 teaspoons of baking powder Add to liquid mixture. It will be very stiff. Form into baseball size balls and let set in the refrigerator while you make the filling. Filling: 1 cup ground raisins 1 orange ground (no peel) 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup hot water 1 Tablespoon flour 2 tablespoons vinegar Cook all ingredients until it thickens. Let mixture cool while you roll out the cookies (small pies) Roll out cookie dough on a floured surface. Roll out very thin and cut with a round cookie cutter. Place a tablespoon of filling on each cookie and cover them with another cookie with an x cut in the center. Press seams to seal each one Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.