Barbara Bush's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups all-purposeflour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (12 ounces) bag semisweet chocolate chips, preferably Valrhona
2 cups quick- cooking oats (not instant)

How to Make It

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt onto waxed paper. Set aside.

Beat together butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl until fluffy. Stir in flour mixture until well blended. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.

Drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool.

Hearty Hamburger Soup

(from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 onion, minced
• 4 carrots, minced
• 3 celery ribs, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup barley
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups water

3 (10 ounce) cans beef broth

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• ground black pepper, to taste
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Directions

1. Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat, and crumble in the ground beef. Cook and stir until the beef is evenly browned and no longer pink. Drain, and discard any excess grease.
2. 
   
3. Stir in the onion, carrots, celery, and barley. Pour in diced tomatoes, water, broth, and tomato soup. Season with bay leaf, parsley, garlic, thyme, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and cover; simmer for 2 hours, stirring frequently. Remove bay leaf before serving.