PFEFFERNUSSE

This recipe also comes from my cousin-in-law Dana Burnson.

Pfeffernusse

1-1/2 cups brown sugar

1-1/2 granulated sugar

3/4 cup butter (soften)

3 eggs

6 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon soda

3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon each of black pepper, nutmeg, ground cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamon

2 teaspoon anise extract

1/2 cup milk

1 cup ground almonds

*If you make a larger cookie(1-inch) you may add a couple extra minutes to the baking time

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and beat well after each one. Stir together dry ingredients. Add flour alternately with milk until dough is stif. Add nuts. (Dana uses almond extract) Chill overnight. Roll inot 1/2 inch balls. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

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I made half the recipe because I wasn't sure if we were going to like them. I was surprised at how nice they came out and not to spicy either . The anise flavor is much like a Springerle but spicy like a gingersnap (no lemon). I think you could bake them right away or chill only for an hour or two if you want. The difference might be they flatten out a little instead of holding the round shape. I used a 1 inch cookie scoop, the 1/2 inch was to small for me. My company also thought they were great a different kind of cookie and I think it would be great for the Holiday's because it wasn't overly sweet.

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Dana said this was her husband Tim's favorite from when they lived in Ritzville. they had many fond memories from Ritzville

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

I received this recipe for Chocolate Chip cookies more than 20 years ago from a friend. I have tried many chocolate chip recipes but this one surpasses them all. Our kids entered the cookies using this recipe in the local fairs and believe me, they are prize winning cookies. Our son David won Grand Champion for his cookies one year, and there were many cookies entered in the competition.

You will need:

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 pound of softened butter ( please use real butter)
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons real vanilla
• 5 cups of flour
• dash of salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3 cups chocolate ( real chocolate ) chips
• 3 cups chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds

Cream thoroughly in your mixer the brown sugar, sugar, and butter, then beat in the eggs one at a time until well blended.Add and beat in the vanilla. Sift together the flour,salt, and baking soda and slowly add it to the creamed mixture. When the cookie dough is mixed well, stir in the nuts and chips. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. One of the secrets of this recipe is to bake until barely brown, remove from the oven and you will have chewy cookies. The best!

Sometimes it is fun to buy 3 or 4 different types of chips~ peanut butter chips, toffee chips, butter brickle, etc. and I usually add at least a cup more of chips than the recipe calls for. I have also broken up rich chocolate candy bars to add to these cookies. Any of you chocolate lovers can come up with many more excellent ideas.

Oh so delicious!