Rhonda Shelton's Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is per the request of my friend, Kathy...

Rhonda Shelton was in our married student ward when Jer and I were newlyweds. We have no idea where the Sheltons are anymore, but Rhonda's cookies are legend... This is honestly the only cookie recipe I actually crave. You'll know what I mean after you try them!

Rhonda Shelton's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1/2 + 1/3 cup shortening

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3 1/2 cups flour

1 pkg. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Blend butter, shortening, and sugars till creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add baking soda, salt, and flour all at once--you can add more flour if dough is too wet. Mix well, then add chocolate chips. 

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until just barely golden brown. Do NOT overcook--these are better a little undercooked than overcooked. Enjoy!

My Mom's Famous Whole Wheat Bread

One of the things I miss most about home is my mom's freshly baked whole wheat bread. I LOVED coming home from school to that smell... I do not profess to be the baker in our household; Mom definitely did not pass that trait on. But she gave me her recipe and I'm trying to figure out how to re-create the scene--hope you can, too!

Mom's Whole Wheat Bread

5 cups hot water

1/3 cup honey

abt. 4 cups whole wheat flour

2 TB yeast

1 TB salt

1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil

more flour... anywhere from about 4-6 cups more :o)

Put water and honey into mixing bowl; mix until honey is dissolved. While keeping the dough hook turning, add flour until combined--dough should be very wet! At this point, add yeast and let that mix again for about 1 minute. Then add salt and oil until combined. Start adding more flour to the mixture until dough comes away from the sides of the bowl; the actual amount of flour you need depends on lots of factors, so just watch the dough until it comes away from the sides. Once this happens, put the top on your mixer and let it mix for about 6 minutes.

Once you've done this, my mom likes to just let the dough sit and make sure it's starting to rise. Once you can see it is, split the dough into thirds and transfer to loaf pans. Let sit for another little while, then cook at 350 for 35 minutes.