Old Soul, Young Heart

Cracker Jack Cookies Recipe from: Mary Dunn Ingredients:  1 cup butter (softened) 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 ½ cups flour 2 cups oatmeal 2 cups Rice Krispies 1 cup coconut Directions: Cream butter and add sugars gradually Add eggs and vanilla Add baking powder, baking soda, and flour Mix well an dadd the remaining ingredients Drop by teaspoon onto well greased cookie sheet Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until light brown The name of these cookies sounded familiar to me, but I couldn't remember ever having them based on the ingredient. Then, when I sunk my teeth into one, I knew right away that I'd had them before and, I'd say, with relative regularity throughout my childhood. I'm not sure if Mom made them at a certain time of year (Christmas?). They are slightly crunchy and definitely chewy with the oatmeal and coconut. The coconut is not overpowering if you're not into that. It

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies Recipe from: Janice Ferguson Ingredients for cookies: 1 cup butter 1 cup cocoa 2 cups milk 4 cups flour 2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons vanilla Mix above and chill. Drop by rounded teaspoons on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400° for 7 minutes. Cool and make into sandwiches using the following filling. Ingredients for filling: 1 cup shortening 6-8 tablespoons milk 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 cups powdered sugar 2 cups marshmallow creme Ahh the chocolate sandwich cookies were such a treat as kids. Mom hardly ever made them, so they were special. I knew as a kid that this recipe came from Mom's best friend, Janice. They were probably a rare treat because they are kind of time consuming. The recipe actually makes a lot of cookies and the assembly takes some time. Mom always wrapped them individually in saran wrap and kept them in the fridge, which is the way I like them. They are soft, kind of like a whoopie pie.

Three Layer Cookies Recipe from: Norma Collins Ingredients: 1 box Club crackers 1 stick butter 1 cup crushed graham crackers ¾ cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar ¼ cup milk ⅔ cup p eanut butter ½ cup chocolate chips ½ cup butterscotch chips Directions: Line a greased 13 x 9 pan with Club crackers Boil sugars, graham cracker crumbs, milk, and butter for 2 minutes Pour over crackers and add another layer of crackers Melt peanut butter and chips together Spread on top of crackers Cool in fridge Cut into squares This recipe came from my "adopted grandma" -- Norma Collins. She died in 2016 and was the sweetest lady. We would visit Grandma and Grandpa Collins at least once a year at Christmastime when we were kids. I'm surprised we didn't see them more often since they only lived on Jersey Avenue; virtually a few blocks from our house on Irving Street. I always looked forward to and enjoyed our visits with them. Look at how cute Grandpa & Grandma Collins were! Norma was the mo

Chocolate Chip Cookies Directions: Mix together dry ingredients: 2¼ cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt Combine and beat until creamy: ½ cup softened butter ½ cup Crisco ¾ cup white sugar ¾ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon water 2 eggs Add dry ingredients Stir in 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes I should probably go back to taking photos of my food instead of just using stock photos. Ahh well. As per usual, I added way more chocolate chips -- perhaps double. I did a mixture of semi-sweet and milk chips for funsies. I also went with 10 minutes because then the cookies are softer after they cool. A classic cookie!

  Easy Strawberry Pie Recipe from: Rose Kehoe Directions: Blend: 1 cup flour 1 stick butter 2 tablespoons sugar Put into a 13x9 pan and bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until light brown Mix: 1 cup sugar 3 tablespoons corn starch 1 ½ cups water Cook until clear Add 3 ounce package wild strawberry Jell-O Pour over 3 cups sliced strawberries Mix and pour over baked crust Chill overnight Serve with Cool Whip on top Can use peach Jell-O and peaches, but add ½ teaspoon almond flavoring to fruit. So I had to look up if the butter should be cold, softened, or melted in a pie crust. Softened seemed to be the ticket, so I put it in the micro for 30 seconds. Then to blend it to a sand-like texture, I put in a food processor and that was so much easier than using a stand mixer. Don't judge -- I am new to this! I always feel fancy when I make a pie because it is beyond my capabilities, but this one truly is so easy. Even a novice like me can be successful at it. Be sure to put as much Cool Whip

Delicious Cookies Recipe from: Lori Sutton Ingredients: 1 egg 3 ½ cups flour 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1 cup oil 1 cup softened butter 1 cup oatmeal 1 cup Rice Krispies 6 ounces chocolate chips 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 teaspoon cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt Directions: Mix and bake at 350° for 12 minutes. Will look light even when done! These are, indeed, delicious. I would describe them as a mix between a sugar cookie and a chocolate chip cookie, with some nice texture from the oatmeal and Rice Krispies. I added more chocolate chips than it called for, because that's what I do. 👍