Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

Oven 350°
Makes 48 cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1¼ cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 large package instant vanilla pudding
1 teaspoon vanilla
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream together butter, eggs brown sugar and instant pudding. Then add the vanilla, flour, salt and soda. Fold in the chocolate chips. Bake at 350° for 9 minutes.

Crusty French Bread

Oven 375°

1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1½ teaspoons salt
3 to 3¼ cups all-purpose flour
Cornmeal
1 egg white
1 teaspoon cold water

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, oil, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat until blended. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 – 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down; return to bowl. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a loaf 16 in. long x 2½ in. wide with tapered ends. Sprinkle a greased baking sheet with cornmeal and place loaf on baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.

Beat egg white and cold water; brush over dough. With a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes 2 in. apart across top of loaf. Bake at 375° for 25 – 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to wire rack to cool.

Fresh Apple Cake

Oven 350º

6 Tbsp. margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups chopped apple (no need to peel them)
1 tsp. vanilla
1½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. allspice
¼ tsp. cloves

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 9 inch square baking dish. Bake at 350º for 45 minutes. Serve warm.