FAVORITE RECIPES

COOKIES
White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
These are absolutely to die for! They makes LOTS and freeze well.
 1 cup Butter
 1 cup Brown Sugar
 1 cup White Sugar
 2 Eggs
 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
 3 cups Flour
 1 tsp Baking powder
 1 tsp Baking Soda
 1 tsp Salt
 1 ½ cups Oats
 2 cups White Chocolate Chips
 1 cup Pecans -- chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets.
2. Cream together butter, brown sugar, white sugar until smooth. Stir in egg and vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. (I don't sift - just mix) Stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the rolled oats, white chocolate chips and pecans. Drop by tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 10-12 minutes in preheated oven. Remove from baking sheets and allow to cool on wire racks.



SOUP
Basic Ham & Bean Soup
This is a great "staple" meal at our house. Especially in the winter!
 1 lbs Gread Northern Beans -- dry
 8 cups Water
 1/2 tsp Salt
 1-2 ea Ham Hock
 1 cup Carrots -- chopped
 1/2 cup Celery -- chopped
 1 cup Onion -- chopped
 1-2 ea Garlic -- minced
 1 tsp Mustard Powder
 2 ea Bay Leaves
 2 cups Ham -- chopped
 1/2 tsp White Pepper -- ground

1. Rinse beans. In large pot over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt and beans and remove from heat. Let beans sit in the not water to at least 60 minutes.
2. After the 60 minutes of soaking, return the pot to high heat and place the ham bone, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, mustard and bay leaves in the pot. Stir well, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer to 60 more minutes.
3. Remove ham bone and discard. Stir in the chopped ham and simmer for 30 more minutes. Season with ground white pepper to taste.



SALAD
Broccoli Salad
We LOVE this salad. It is easy and practically a meal in itself!
Ingredients

4 slices Slices Bacon -- Cooked and crumbled
 4 cups Broccoli -- small bite size pieces
 3/4 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese -- shredded
 1/4 cup Red Onion -- chopped
 1/8 cup Red Wine Vinegar
 2 1/2 Tbsp. White Sugar
 1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper -- Ground
 1/2 Tsp. Salt
 1/3 cup Mayonaise
 1/2 Tsp. Lemon Juice

1. In large bowl, combine broccoli, cheese, bacon and onion.
2. Prepare the dressing in small bowl by wisking together the red wine vinegar, sugar, pepper, salt, mayonnaise and lemon juice.
3. Combine dressing with salad.
4. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes
Add halved red grapes and toasted almonds or cashews.
Add craisins (dried cranberries) and sunflower seeds. (Our Favorite!)
For a light meal, add cooked and flaked chicken or tuna.