Lemon Drop Cookies

2 c. sugar

1 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening

3 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon extract

4 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Finely chopped zest of one lemon

1 (6-oz) package lemon drops

2 c. powdered sugar

juice of two lemons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, cream sugar, shortening, and eggs; add flavorings. Stir in dry ingredients, lemon zest, and crushed lemon drops (I crush them in my blender). Roll into balls, flatten slightly, and bake on parchment lined (if you don't use parchment, cookies will stick to pan) baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on pan for a couple of minutes. Make a glaze by mixing powdered sugar with lemon juice. Brush glaze over cookie tops. Let cookies cool completely.

Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.

Fat Man's Ice Cream and Lemon Ice Cream--Shannon Strong

Fat man's
1 quart cream
1 quart half and half
1 small can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup hershey's chocolate syrup
one bag milky way mini bars
milk - enough to fill the ice cream can to the "fill line".

In a saucepan melt the candy bars with the sweetened condensed milk and chocolate syrup. When slightly cooled add it to the cream and half and half in your ice-cream maker and fill to the fill line with milk. Freeze according to manufactures directions. Enjoy!!

Lemon Ice-cream
1 quart cream
1 quart half and half
1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
approximately 4 cups of sugar. Depends on how sweet/tart you like it
1 teaspoon (or lid full) of lemon extract

Pour creams into ice-cream canister and add remaining ingredients stirring until sugar has dissolved. Add milk to fill line and freeze.

Notes:
I usually use just about a cup of lemon juice and probably a little less than 4 cups of sugar.

I will often serve the lemon ice-cream with fresh berries on top and the chocolate with some chocolate shavings on top. Looks pretty!!

I always just use skim milk (what we have on hand) to fill to the full line.

Last time I made it I accidently bought fat free half and half and found it really did not make a big difference. Just a little less creamy. Saves a few calories I guess. But then it is called "fat man's"

Which brings me to my next tip. We made it with snickers bars on the 4th of July so you can really use any candy bar you think sounds good.

I like to freeze the ice-cream several hours before we eat it so it can set up in the freezer before we eat it.

Both of these recipes are for four quart ice-cream makers.

Shannon Strong

Orange Knot Rolls

Orange Knots

The sweet citrus glaze and classic knot shape have made Orange Knots a top Rhodes recipe that is requested again and again.

Skill: Beginning

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Bake Time: 15-20 minutes

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

12 Rhodes™ Dinner Rolls, thawed but still cold

1 medium orange rind, grated

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

Citrus Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon butter, melted

3 tablespoons orange juice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix grated orange rind with sugar. Roll each roll into a 9-inch rope. Tie in a loose knot. Roll each knot in melted butter and then in rind/sugar mixture. Place on a large sprayed baking sheet. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap and let double in size. Remove wrap. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes. Remove from pan and place on cooling rack. Brush with citrus glaze while still warm. (If you don't want to make a knot just use the roll without shaping it.)

Found at www.rhodesbread.com

Friday Night Pizza

Friday nights are always pizza night at the Baers. Here is our favorite pizza dough recipe.

Homemade Pizza Dough
1 Pkg yeast
1 C. warm water
let rest
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 C. flour
mix and let rise in greased bowl for 1 hour.
makes 2 thin crust or 1 really thick crust.
put on your favorite sause, cheese, meats, veggies--whatever you fancy--or have in the fridge.
heat oven to 450. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

Serve with A&W Rootbeer and a green salad with ranch dressing.
Then watch a movie!

Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

1 lb bacon

14 oz package of smokies

3/4 c. brown sugar

Wrap each smokie in 1/3 slice of bacon secured with toothpick.

Spread on cookie sheet, sprinkle about half of the brown sugar on top and bake at 325 for 40 minutes.

Take them off cookie sheet and place in crock pot and sprinkle on top the rest of the brown sugar. Heat for another hour or more just to let the juices come out and the sugar melt, and to keep them hot until you are ready to serve them.

Mint Brownies

3 packages of Hershey Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix (Sams Club large packages)--any kind will do.

Follow the mix instructions and put on one cookie sheet.  Bake per instructions.

After the brownies cool, then place in the freezer to seal the top (the brownies will not flake as much when you frost them).

Frosting:
1 pound of powdered sugar
6 TBS melted margarine or butter
3 TBS evaporated milk
1 teaspoon mint flavoring
3 drops green food coloring

Beat ingredients in a mixer until fluffy. Spread over the cooled brownies (which has been placed in the freezer).

Place the frosted brwnies in the refrigerator or back in the freezer to firm up the frosting.

Topping:
6 TBS butter or margarine
12 oz of chocolate chips
6 TBS of evaporated milk

Melt the butter and chocolate chips.  Add the evaporated milk until it is a spreadable consistency.

Take brownies out of freezer and spread and place the pan into the refrigerator to set the toppings.

Take out of refrigerator to serve at room temperature.

Chocolate Brownie Trifle

1 (19.3-ounce) package brownie mix to fill 9x13" pan
2 (3.9-ounce) packages chocolate instant pudding mix
1 (7-ounce) container frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed OR whipped cream
1 (6-ounce) bag mini chocolate morsel chip

1. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions in a 9x13" pan. Cool. Cut into small pieces.
2. Prepare chocolate pudding according to package directions, omitting the chilling procedure.
3. Place half of cut brownies in the bottom of a 3 quart trifle bowl. Top with half each of pudding, whipped topping and chocolate morsels. Repeat. Cover. Chill at least 8 hours. When ready to serve, garnish with more chocolate morsles on top. (The mini chips look the best.

Makes 12 servings.

I just made this recipe for a group and it was a big hit. Very easy and really delicious.
Try it soon!
Grammie