On the 11th day of Christmas, NellBell gave to me....

....11 cookies crumbling! So irresistable! Yum! Brown Sugar Cookies 2/3 c. shortening 2/3 c. butter, softened 1 c. granulated sugar 1 c. brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla 3 1/2 c. flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt Mix shortening, sugars, eggs & vanilla thoroughly. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bake @ 375 for 9-11 minutes. Variations: Choc. chip - add 1 cup semi-sweet choc chips & 1 c. chopped nuts with the flour Oatmeal - reduce flour to 2 3/4 c. Add 1 c. quick cook oats with the flour Peanut Butter - Add 1 cup with the shortening Chocolate Nut - Add 1 cup chopped nuts & 1/2 cup cocoa with the flour Fruit Slices - Add 1 c whole candied cherries, 1/2 c chopped nuts & 1/2 c. cutup mixed candied fruit with the flour Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies 1 c. each butter, peanut butter, white sugar, brown sugar 2 eggs 2 c. flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 c. semi-sweet choc. chips 1 c. peanut butter/chocolate swirl chips Cream together butter & p. butter until smooth; gradually add sugars & beat until smooth. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Add flour, salt & b. soda; mix well. Stir in chips. Bake @ 325 for 10-15 minutes. Pecan Toffee Cookies 1 c. each butter, white sugar, brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp salt 3 eggs 3 1/2 c. flour 2 tsp baking soda 2 tsp cream of tartar 1 c. each toffee bits, chopped pecans, milk choc.chips Beat butter, sugars, vanilla & salt in large bowl; add eggs & beat well. Stir tigether flour, b. soda & tartar; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in toffee chips, pecans, & choc. chips. Bake @ 350 for 8-10 minutes. Peanut Butter Brownies 1 box brownie mix 1 - 1 1/2 c. melted peanut butter 1/2 c. melted peanut butter for top Mix brownies according to box directions. Pour half of batter into 8 x 8 pan. Pour melted p. butter over batter. Add rest of brownie batter. Bake according to directions. While still warm, drizzle rest of peanut butter over top. Cool. Lemon Squares 1 c. flour 1/2 c. butter, softened 1/4 c. powdered sugar 1 c. granulated sugar 2 tsp. grated lemon peel 2 T. lemon juice 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 2 large eggs powdered sugar Mix flour, margarine & powdered sugar. Press in ungreased square pan, building up 1/2" edges. Bake crust 20 minutes. Beat remaining ingredients with electric mixer on high speed about 3 minutes or until light & fluffy. Pour over hot crust. Bake 25-30 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched lightly in center. Cool in pan on wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar. Cut into 1 1/2 " squares. Grandma's Soft Peanut Butter Cookies 1 1/2 c. each white sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, margarine 1 T. vanilla 3 eggs 3 1/2 c. flour 1 T. baking soda 1/2 tsp salt Cream sugars, peanut butter & margarine. Add vanilla & eggs, beat well, then add remaining ingredients. Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Caramelized Brownies 1 pkg chewy brownie mix 4 T. butter 1 c. chopped pecans 1 c. firmly packed light brown sugar Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Pour batter into greased 9 x 13 pan. Melt butter in small saucepan. Add the pecans & sugar & cook over medium heat, strring frequently until the sugar dissolves. Drizzle the caramel mixture over brownie batter & bake @ 350 for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Original Tollhouse Cookie Bars 2 1/4 c. flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 c. butter 3/4 c. granulated sugar 3/4 c. packed brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 pkg. chocolate chips 1 c. nuts Combine flour, b. soda & salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat butter sugars & vanilla until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips & nuts. Pour into 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 greased baking dish. Bake @ 375 for 20-25 minutes or until just set. Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies 1 box fudge brownie mix 1/4 c. buter, melted 4 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 egg 1 c. powdered sugar 1 c. creamy peanut butter 1/2 container chocolate fudge, ready to spread frosting In medium bowl, beat brownie mix, butter, cream cheese & egg 50 strokes until well blended (dough will be sticky). Drop by rounded T. full onto cookie sheet. Smooth edges to form round cookie. In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar & peanut butter until mixture forms a ball. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls into 24 balls. Lightly press 1 ball into center of each ball of dough. Bake @ 350 for 10-14 minutes or until edges are set. Cool at least 30 minutes. Remove from pans. Spread thin layer of frosting over p. butter portion of each cookie.

Chewy Granola Bars

1 (10.5 oz) pkg. large marshmallows

2/3 c. chunky peanut butter

1/2 c. butter, cubed

1/4 c. corn syrup

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 c. quick cooking oats

1 c. rice krispies

1 c. mini semi-sweet choc. chips

1/2 c. each flaked cocnut, sunflower kernels, chopped peanuts, raisins

2 T. toasted wheat germ

2 T. sesame seeds

In a large bowl, microwave @ 70% power the marshmallows, p. butter, butter, corn syrup & vanilla for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spread into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake @ 350 for 15-20 minutes or until set. Cool & cut into bars.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

1/2 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. light brown sugar, packed

1 c. flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 T. vanilla extract

1 c. semi-sweet choc. chips

4-6 T. water

Cream together the butter & sugar in a large bowl. Stir in flour, salt, vanilla & chips. Add the water, one T. at a time, until you have reached cookie dough consistency. This eggless version is made to eat unbaked.

Recipe of the Day - casseroles

Green Pepper Casserole - from my mom! Brianne

2 lbs. hamburger

1 onion, chopped

garlic salt to taste

2 (8-oz.) cans tomato paste

2 cans water

2 c cooked rice

3 large green peppers, diced

American cheese

Brown hamburger with onion and drain. Season to taste with garlic salt. Add tomato paste and water, mix. Stir in rice. Layer in casserole dish half of the peppers, then meat mixture, the rest of the peppers and the remaining meat mixture. Top with american cheese. Bake at 350 about an hour.