Turkey Brine

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1 cup Kosher salt

1 cup brown sugar

2 gallons cold water

2 oranges, quartered

2 lemons, quartered

6 sprigs thyme

4 sprigs rosemary

Directions:  Dissolve the salt and sugar in 2 gallons cold water.  Add the oranges, 

lemons, thyme, and rosemary.  If you have a big turkey and need more brine, use ½ 

cup salt and ½ cup sugar for every gallon of water.  Brine the turkey overnight.

Comment:  Option to add a beer to the brine.  Sometimes it helps to place a heavy 

plate on top of the turkey to keep it submerged.

German Potato Salad

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1 slice bacon

1 potato per person

1 onion per 3-4 potatoes

2 T. flour

2 T. vinegar

Directions:  Peel and slice potatoes.  Boil potatoes in salted water.  Fry bacon 

halfway.   Drain most of grease.  Add onion to grease and cook until translucent.  

Add “some” potato water to make a thick gravy.  Add vinegar.  Add drained 

potatoes.

Comment:  Grandma Ida Romer’s recipe.

Grape Salad

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4 lbs grapes (any color)

1 tsp. vanilla

8 oz cream cheese

2 T. brown sugar

8 oz sour cream

1 cup chopped pecans

½ cup white sugar

Directions:  Wash and dry grapes.  Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, white 

sugar and vanilla.  Add grapes until evenly incorporated.  Sprinkle with brown sugar 

and pecans.  Stir again and refrigerate.  

Comment:  This recipe makes a lot.  It could easily be cut in half.  I have used red 

and green grapes together and it is really pretty.

Manicotti & Sauce

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Sauce:

2 cans (1 lb.) crushed tomatoes

2 cans tomato soup

16 oz. tomato paste

2 large cans water

2 T. Basil

1 onion, chopped

1 tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. pepper

½ tsp. oregano

Crepes:

6 eggs

½ cup water

1 ½ cups flour

¼ tsp. salt

Filling:

2 lb. Ricotta cheese

12 oz. Mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

2 eggs

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

Directions:  Combine sauce ingredients in large pot.  Simmer.  To prepare crepes 

make sure eggs are room temperature.   Beat crepe ingredients together. Place a 

small amount of vegetable oil in small frying pan.  Prepare crepes as if making very 

thin pancakes.  Cool crepes.

Divide cheese filling amongst crepes.  Roll up.  Grease shallow baking pan and coat 

bottom with small amount of sauce.  Line filled crepes up in dish.  Pour some sauce 

over crepes.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  

Serve with more sauce.

Comment:  Feel free to use store bought manicotti noodles instead of crepes.  

Follow package instructions, then stuff with cheese filling.