Dad's Lone Ranger Cookies

(makes 5 dozen)

1 1/6 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs (1 at a time)

Cream above ingredients together, than add below.

2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts
7 oz flaked coconut

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

Dad's Thanksgiving Dressing

4 cups onion, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
2 packages breakfast sausage
4 cups mushrooms, chopped
4 cups granny smith apples, cubed
1 package bread crumbs
1/2 cup butter or margarine
chicken or turkey broth
salt
pepper
seasoning salt
parsley
sage
thyme

*Cook sausage in large skillet, then set sausage aside.

*Discard grease and saute onion and celery in 1/2 cup butter.

*Combine all ingredients and season to taste.

*Add broth to slightly moisten.

*Cover baking dish with foil and bake at 350* for 30-40 minutes until heated through.

Chicken Savory Squares

This was one of my favorite things to make when we were first married.

3 oz cream cheese w/ chives
2 Tbsp milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
1 8-oz can Pillsbury croissants
3 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted
3/4 cup bread crumbs

*Cook and cube chicken.

* In a small bowl, combine: cream cheese, milk, salt, pepper.  Mix until creamy.

*Lay croissants on greased cooking sheet in 4 squares.

*Add chicken cubes to creamy mixture and spoon onto squares.

*Fold up the corners of squares and seal edges, then brush melted butter on top.

*Sprinkle with bread crumbs.

*Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Chicken, Artichoke & Mushroom Casserole

1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 Tbsp butter

1 can (14 oz) chicken broth

4 chicken breasts (3 lbs)

1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/4 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

3/4 cup Half & Half

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed

*Saute mushrooms in 2 Tbsp butter until golden brown.  Set aside.

*Place chicken breasts in simmering chicken broth (single layer) in a skillet. Cover and cook for 20 min.

*Remove chicken from broth, reserving 3/4 cup broth.  Cool, skin and bone chicken (if not boneless).  

*Arrange chicken slightly overlapping in 9x13 casserole dish.  Top with artichoke hearts and set aside.

*Melt 1/4 cup butter.  Stir in flour, salt, pepper until smooth. Gradually stir in 3/4 cup chicken broth and light cream. Cook and stir as mixture boils and thickens. Blend in parmesan cheese and rosemary. 

*Pour sauce over chicken and artichokes, then sprinkle the mushrooms on top. Bake at 325* for 30 minutes.  If you make this dish ahead of time, cover, refrigerate, and add 10 minutes to baking time.

Paradise Bakery Sugar Cookies

If you haven't been to Paradise Bakery when in the West, you are missing out!  I get one of these sugar cookies every time I get the chance.  I made these today and decided to add them here, since they are one of my favorites.  Typing this made me realize that I accidentally doubled the salt in today's batch.  I actually noticed they tasted 'salty,' but not so bad as to ruin them.  3 dozen 'salty' frozen dough balls now in the freezer for quick baking.  Oops!

This recipe was printed in the Arizona Republic on July 31, 2001.

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg, beaten
4 1/3 cups cake flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
sugar, for decorating

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375*.
2) In a medium bowl, cream together the sugars and shortening using an electric mixer.
3) Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula.
4) Increase speed to Medium and mix for 3 minutes.
5) Slowly add vanilla and beaten egg while mixing.
6) In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixtures to the mixing bowl, mixing on slow speed just until blended. Do not over mix.
7) Scoop with a cookie scooper, roll into balls, then roll in sugar.
8) Place directly on cookie sheet.  Flatten slightly with palm of hand.
9) Bake at 375* 8-9 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, edges do not brown.