Ice Box Cookies bring back good memories

A cookie that I have not had for years is Ice Box Cookies. Grandma would make the dough early in the morning one day, refrigerate the dough overnight and slice and bake the cookies early the next morning before the day's heat.

I remember dunking Grandma's cookies in a cup of her fresh, hot perked coffee sweetened with sugar cubes. What a tasty memory.

Ice Box Oatmeal cookies

1 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream the above ingredients together. Sift the following ingredients together and add to creamed mixture:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

Stir in:

3 cups oatmeal

1 cup chopped walnuts

Shape dough into 3 loaves, refrigerate. When ready to bake, slice and bake at 350 degrees until cookies are baked.

Fancy Mashed Potatoes

Serving size: 8

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

6 cups warm mashed potatoes, prepared without milk or butter

In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, butter, salad dressing mix and parsley; stir in mashed potatoes. Transfer to a crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 2-4 hours.

Tuna Salad

1 package macaroni rings

1 can tuna, drained

1 small onion, minced

1 cup Miracle Whip

2/3 cup milk

2 stalks celery, diced

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

1 cup green grapes, halved

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook and drain macaroni, drain tuna, add oranges and grapes. Combine ingredients and mix with blended Miracle Whip, milk, sugar, mustard and salt and pepper. Refrigerate several hours.

Pineapple chunks also taste great in this salad.

GARY'S TIP: Wooden salad bowls should be rinsed and dried immediately, not washed or soaked. Revitalize the bowls by rubbing with vegetable oil inside and out. Let oil soak in overnight, removing any excess oil with paper towels next day.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Pleasures change with the seasons.