Chocolate Sugar Cookies

                                                                                

Soft Chocolatey Sugar Cookies! Makes 5 Dozen too!

2 Cups Sugar

1 Cup Shortening

2 Eggs

1 Cup Sour Milk

1 Tsp. Vanilla

3 And 1/2 Cups Flour

1/2 Cup Cocoa

2 Tsp. Baking Powder

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp. Salt

Colored Sugar to sprinkle

Oven Temperature is 350 Degrees

Cream shortening, add sugar and beat again. Add eggs and vanilla and beat again. Stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. In a large measuring cup measure 1 cup sour milk. Add to the milk the baking soda stir and allow it to foam. Now into the shortening alternate with the flour mixture then the sour milk about 1/3 of the mixtures at a time. Beat well until everything is incorporated and blended very well.  Chill dough for at least 4 hours or overnight. When ready to bake preheat the oven at 350 degrees . Drop dough onto cookie sheets no need to grease the pans. Drop by heaping tablespoon. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and bake for 15 minutes! Light soft chocolatey cookies! YUM! 

Beanie Wienie Stew

                                                                              

Beanie Wienie Stew is a hearty indulgence of comfort food and easiness. Kids of all ages will love it! Great for social gatherings, picnics, or cold weather days. 

2, 40 Ounce Cans of Baked Beans. I used Hanover Baked Beans

3 Packs of Hotdogs or Wieners which explains the name of this dish! Slice hotdogs into rings like shown above

1 Medium Onion peeled and chopped 

4 Large Potatoes peeled and diced into cubes

3/4 Cup Catsup

1/3 Cup Mustard

2/3 Cup Brown Sugar, I used Dark Brown Sugar

Place everything in your crock pot and stir well. Cook on low 8 hours until potatoes are soft. If cooking on high allow 5 to 6 hours. I gave this a stir about half way thru. It smells so good and my group gobbled this up and kept going back for more. I doubled the recipe and had 2 full crock pots. If you have a cookout and have leftover hotdogs just freeze them and then when you want to make the Beanie Wienie Stew just thaw the hotdogs and you are good to go! 

Baked Chicken Salad Casserole

                                                                           

Baked Chicken Salad my way. Everyone has their version but I keep mine very simple. This recipe makes a large deep casserole and serves 8 nice big servings. 

2 Pounds Cooked Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, cooled and cubed 

2 Cups  Raw White Rice, Cook rice according to package Directions

1 Onion Chopped

2 Ribs Celery Chopped

2 TBS Parsley Chopped or use Parsley Flakes

1 & 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise

2, 10.5 Ounce Cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup

2 Cups Cheddar Cheese Optional

2 Cups Thawed Frozen Peas Optional

Place Chicken, Cooked Rice, Chopped Vegetables, Thawed Frozen Peas if using them, and Parsley in your large casserole dish. Stir everything together. In a large bowl stir together Mayo and Cans of Soup. Blend well.  Add this mixture to your casserole dish & stir until mixed well. Cover and bake in a preheated 350 Degree Oven  Covered for 1 hour. Remove lid and sprinkle with the Cheddar Cheese if you desire. Bake another 10 minutes.  The picture above does not have the peas and cheese. I love this both ways. Other stir in ideas that many people use is 1 Cup Slivered Almonds, 1 Cup Water Chestnuts, and many people like this with 2 Cups of  Dry Bread Crumbs Sprinkled over the top and bake uncovered. I prefer my basic recipe, but jazz it up as you choose! ENJOY!