Auntie Ann's Royal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 9 doz. cookies

Ingredients:
4 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. shortening (plain)
1 c. shortening (butter flavored)
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. squeezed orange juice
2 T. finely grated orange peel
4 eggs
2 c. pecans
1 pkg. chocolate chips (12 oz.)

Directions:
Combine flour, soda, and salt. Set aside. In separate bowl, combine sugars, shortening, vanilla and juice. Beat until mixture is creamy. Beat in eggs. Add flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips, nuts, and grated orange peel. Refrigerate dough several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly grease insulated cookie sheet (wipe off excess). Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool 2-3 minutes before removing from sheet.

Marcy Rice's Chicken Tortilla Soup

Makes about 8 servings. Great for a crowd.

Ingredients:
3 cans chicken broth (14 ½ oz. cans)
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 T uncooked rice
1 lg. tomato, chopped
½ c. chopped onion
¼ c. finely chopped cilantro
tortilla chips
½ c. shredded cheese

Directions:
Heat chicken broth to boiling.
Add chicken and cook until opaque.
Remove chicken and cut into bite-size pieces. (Marcy chops chicken before cooking) Add rice and cook 15 min. or until tender.
Return chicken to the broth.
Just before serving, stir in tomato, onion and cilantro.
2 ½ tsp. tobasco green pepper sauce (or 1 T chili powder)
Crush chips into bowl.
Pour soup over chips.
Top with cheese, avocado or guacamole, and sour cream.

Fresh Apple Cake

Submitted by Brittany Lyons (2009): This recipe belongs to my Grandma Faye who passed away last year - she was an amazing cook.

Cake

1 cup cooking oil
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups Granny Smith apples
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix all the ingredients except apples and nuts. Add apples and nuts last. Bake in a 9x13x2 oblong pan for 50 minutes at 325 degrees.

Topping*

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 stick butter

Mix together in a saucepan and boil for 3-4 minutes. Beat and cool. Add 1 tsp of vanilla. Pour over cake while still warm.

*special notes - 1. cook icing exactly right or it will be too thin or too thick

Brittany's Granola

Recipe provided by Brittany Lyons

Makes 16 cups

4 cups toasted whole grain cereal (such as Muesli)
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup dried blueberries
1/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 275. Mix cereal, oats, walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts in large bowl. Bring honey and oil just to boil in small saucepan; drizzle over cereal mixture and toss to coat evenly. Spread mixture onto large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and dry, stirring every 15 minutes, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Scatter dried fruit over. Sprinkle cinnamon over and toss to incorporate evenly. Cool granola completely in pan on rack, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping.