Blair House Hot Fudge

2 cups heavy whipping cream....not half and half
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups (16 oz.) good quality semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can go half semi-sweet and half 60% dark chips. DO NOT USE MILK CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Bring cream and vanilla to a boil in 4 cup glass measuring cup. WATCH CAREFULLY!! Remove after it boils for a few seconds.....
Carefully add brown sugar to cream, it usually boils up when you add the sugar.
Stir in chocolate chips.
I use a wire whisk to blend together.

Store in covered container the refrigerator.

Heat only amount needed. Do not boil again, the chocolate will BURN.

Minestrone Soup

1/3 cup olive oil
1 sweet yellow onion , chopped in good size chunks
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
Brown in dutch oven on med-hi heat 8-10 minutes
Add generous pieces of ham, about 2 cups
Brown with onion mixture
Add
2 15 oz. cans white beans, DRAINED...may be cannellini beans, navy beans, great northern beans
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 14.5 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, with juice
1 14 oz. can chicken broth
salt/pepper
red pepper
1 tablespoon italian seasonings
1/3 cup parmesan cheese

cook slowly over low heat 1 hour.
dilute with more broth if necessary
feel free to add chopped celery, carrots, zuchini, green beans
top with fresh grated parmesan when you serve

Biscuits

These are biscuits that my kids love...an old family recipe.

2 cups self rising flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1/3 cup cold butter
1 cup buttermilk
Combine first 3 ingredients, mix well.
Cut in butter with pastry blender until it resembles coarse meal.
Add buttermilk until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead lightly 3 or 4 times. Dough will be soft.
Roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut with 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter. Place on greased baking sheet. Tops may be brushed with melted butter.
Bake at 375 for 18 to 20 minutes or lightly brown.