Mattie Beck Gore enjoys baking since there’s not much school work

With not having much school work right now, baking is something Mattie Beck Gore of Bruce is enjoying.
Brownies and cakes are two of the things she likes to make.
“I use different kinds of mix for my brownies. One kind has brownies mixed with cookie dough. My brother, Mose, really likes that one,” she said.
“I’ve also made a turtle brownie and a double chocolate chunk where I add more chocolate chips and when done, sprinkle with powdered sugar.”
She also loves to chop stuff.

“I started out first by helping my Granny Becky Mitchell making chicken salad, which is one of my favorites. I usually chop the grapes, pecans and eggs for it,” she said.
“For our holidays my mom, Holly, makes a broccoli and cauliflower salad that requires a lot of chopping, too. I always help her chop and then mix together.”
This Easter Mattie Beck made her first strawberry cake using her great-grandmother Allie Mae Mayhan’s recipe.
This year was also her first time helping her momma and Granny make chicken and dressing for Easter lunch.

Mattie Beck’s favorite foods are Granny’s chicken salad, and all kinds of fruit, especially strawberries.
She loves watching Rosanna Pansino, a well-known baker on YouTube.
And she loves kitchen gadgets. According to Holly, a Kitchen Aide stand mixer is on Mattie Beck’s wish list.
Besides cooking, she also now has more time for drawing, painting on canvas, planting flowers, riding her dirt bike and the Gator.

Strawberry Cake
(Allie Mae Mayhan)
1 pkg. white cake mix
1 small pkg. strawberry Jello
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup Wesson oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 pkg. frozen strawberries
Separate eggs and beat egg whites until stiff. Dissolve Jello in 1/2 cup water, add egg yolks and Wesson oil. Add cake mix and vanilla, and beat well. Fold in egg whites and half can of frozen strawberries and juice. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. This makes three 8” layers.
Icing: 1/2 pkg. strawberries, 1 stick butter, 1 box powdered sugar
Beat all of these together, divide into thirds, one for each layer, and put the cake together.

Chicken Salad
(Becky Mitchell)
4-12.5 oz. cans chunk chicken breast (I use Member’s Mart from Sam’s)
2 cups chopped grapes
2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts
4 boiled eggs chopped fine
1 cup sweet relish
1 cup or less Hellman’s mayonnaise
Pepper to taste
Shred chicken, add mayonnaise. Stir well. Add all other ingredients and refrigerate. Enjoy with crackers or make a sandwich.

Macaroni and Cheese
1 pkg. elbow Macaroni
3 Tbs. flour
2 cups milk
3 Tbs. butter or margarine
16 oz. Velveeta cheese
Make cream sauce of butter, flour and milk. (Cook in double boiler.) Add cubed cheese and stir until melted. Set aside. Cook macaroni and drain. Mix with sauce and pour into buttered dish. Cook in 300° oven until bubbly.

Broccoli & Cauliflower Salad
(Holly M. Gore)
Bunch of broccoli florets
Bunch of cauliflower florets
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 purple onion, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup nuts
Pound of bacon cooked and chopped
Mix together and refrigerate until cold.
Dressing: 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup mayo, 2 Tsp. apple cider vinegar
Mix well and just before serving, pour dressing over salad ingredients.