Now, I’ve never been able to make these nearly as good as dad can, but that’s to be expected.
Dad’s “Best in the known universe” chocolate chip cookies
3/4 cup golden crisco
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
3 tsp vanilla
2+ cups flour (mix until not sticky)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups real chocolate chips, the [...]

A
1c water
1/2c butter
pinch salt
B
1c flour
C
4 eggs
Boil A. Add B, cook until it forms a ball and pulls away from edges of the pot. Add C, 1 at a time. Pipe onto greased baking sheet, bake @400 for 30-35 minutes. Fill with cream filling. Mmm cream puffs.

Crust:
1 1/2c flour
2tbsp sugar
1/2c butter
Cut butter into flour/sugar mix until finely crumbed. Press into baking pan, bake 15min @ 325.
Filling
4c rhubarb/strawberries
2 eggs
3/4c milk
2tbsp flour
1 1/2 - 2 c sugar
Combine, put over cooled crust, bake 1hr @ 325

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold butter
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly.
Beat egg lightly in small bowl, add milk. Pour into dry ingredients. Stir with fork to make a soft dough. Pat into two [...]

1 Whole orange
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup chopped dates
1 egg
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
Cut the orange into pieces, remove the seeds. Drop orange segments into blender with orange juice and blend until peel is finely chopped. Drop in dates, egg, butter, blend. Sift [...]

1 tbsp oil
1lb andouille, hot italian or chorizo sausages cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 cup sliced celery
1 large onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped (any color)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups chicken broth
19oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 bay leaves
1 tsp (or more) hot pepper sauce
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 ground allspice
1 1/2 cup uncooked rice
1lb cooked chicken [...]

As a professional cook, I understand how dangerous it is to state that something is ‘the Best.’ Everyone’s tastes are different, etc. Shut up and try this cake, it’s amazing. It’s the topping that does it.
Preheat oven to 350.
Grease an 8″ square cake pan. Dust lightly with flour.
Sift together:
1 1/2 cups all purpouse flour
3 tsp [...]

Mozzarella-Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey breast
10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
2 tbsp butter
1 medium minced onion
4 cloves minced garlic
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp oregano (or basil or whatever - fresh if possible)
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 ounces fresh mozzarella, [...]

2 cups soy milk
1 box instant pudding mix
1/2 cup powdered sugar
20 ounces frozen mixed fruit (I prefer something with strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries)
In a food processor, add soy milk, pudding mix, powdered sugar and frozen fruit.
Pulse 3-4 times and then let run until desired consistency. If you want to have a slightly firmer texture, scoop [...]

~8oz halibut filet
2 tbsp basil pesto (see previous recipe or make your own)
2 large paper thin slices of proscutto
Lightly salt + pepper the halibut filet. Place the halibut on the proscutto as if you were wrapping a birthday present. Spread the pesto over the halibut, wrap up the filet with the proscutto.
Cook on either a [...]