This Wife Cooks

Ingredients 1 cup white sugar 1 cup molasses 3/4 cup lard 1/2 cup hot water 2 eggs 6 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger Directions In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, molasses, and lard until smooth. Rinse molasses out of the measuring cup with hot water. Stir in eggs. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger; stir into the batter to make a soft dough. Add more flour if needed. Cover the bowl and refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour, or until firm. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cookies appear dry in the center.

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened 1 can cream of chicken soup (or homemade equivalent) 2 tsp minced garlic 1/2 tsp garlic salt 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper 1 tbsp parsley 1 tsp onion powder Place chicken in crock pot. Mix softened cream cheese, cream of chicken and seasonings together and dump evenly over chicken. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or until chicken is fully cooked and tender. Serve over rice or pasta.

Hamburger/sauce: Brown 1 lb. ground beef (or ground turkey), and add: 4 - 8 oz. cans tomato sauce OR 2 cans 15 oz tomato sauce OR your favorite go-to jar of sauce - you need approx. 24 - 32 ounces. {If using jarred sauce, you don't have to add the remaining seasonings} 1 tablespoon italian seasoning 2 teaspoons onion powder (or fresh onion, minced, if you prefer) 1 teaspoon garlic salt (or plain salt if you don't want too much garlic, we always use the garlic salt in place of regular salt, in addition to minced garlic) 1 tablespoon minced garlic (fresh cloves or in the refrigerated jar) fresh ground pepper 5 - 7 basil leaves (or about 2 tablespoons basil paste in a tube) 1 tablespoon sugar While that is simmering on low, prepare the cottage cheese/ricotta mixture: 1/2 (15 oz or so) container ricotta cheese 1/2 (15 oz or so) container cottage cheese 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon parsley 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper 1/...