Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe is from my sister-in-law, Merrilee.  She is a great cook and I can guarantee any recipe from her is going to be a winner!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 lb butter
2 1/2 cups brown sugar

Cream butter and sugar until smooth.  Add:

3 eggs

Beat well and then add:

6 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix thoroughly, but not too much.

You can add any of the follow to make them even better!

2 cups nuts
2 cups chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
2 cups raisins
1 1/2 cups toffee chips

Make one inch balls of dough or use an ice cream scoop to put on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes. Look for a little golden color on the bottom of the cookie.  If it is golden, take them out of the oven.  If you want the cookie flatter, you will need to flatten them with your hand or a spoon before you bake them.  Let them sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes after you take them out of the oven to finish baking.

Crosscut Pickles

This recipe is an easy but wonderful pickle recipe that my family has enjoyed.  They are not too sweet, but also, not tart or too briny.  It also makes 7 pints and I put down amounts for just 2 pints (that will be the measurements in parenthesis)

Crosscut Pickles

You will need about 6 pounds, that equals about 4 quarts of cucumbers, sliced (2 pounds or 4 cups for a smaller batch).  Wash the cucumbers with a vegetable brush.  Slice unpeeled cucumbers 1/8 to 1/4 thickness.  Place in a large bowl or tub and add:

12 to 15 small white Onions.  I have also used sliced large onions and it works well, the small onions are just cute.  (1/3 cup of sliced onions).

2 large cloves of garlic. (1 clove, slice in half)

1/3 cup Salt (1 Tablespoon)

Mix these all together and add 2 quarts of ice cubes (1 quart).  Let it stand for 3 hours.  Drain the cucumbers and remove the garlic cloves.

Combine in a large pan:
4 to 4 1/2 cups sugar, depending on how sweet a pickle you want. (1 to 1 1/4 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons tumeric (1/3 teaspoon)
1 1/2 teaspoons Celery seed (1/3 teaspoon)
2 Tablespoons Mustard seed (2 teaspoons)
3 cups White distilled Vinegar (1 cup)

Stir and bring just to a boil and then add the drained cucumber and onion slices.  Heat for 5 minutes, stirring to make sure that all the cucumbers get heated.

Pack loosely in pint jars to 1/2 inch of the top.  Put on jar lids.

Process for 5 minutes once it starts to steam.