4th of July Cookies

4 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups butter flavored shortening

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 (12 ounce) package white chocolate chips

1 (12 ounce) package dried blueberries

2 (6 ounce) packages dried cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
2. Beat the shortening, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in one egg until completely incorporated. Beat in the last egg. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the white chocolate chips, blueberries, and cranberries; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls and place 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each ball to about 1/2-inch thick.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Tex Mex Burger

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

1 1/3 pounds ground beef sirloin

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

1/2 cup diced white onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

4 slices pepperjack cheese

4 hamburger buns, split

4 leaves lettuce

4 slices tomato

Directions

1. Preheat grill for medium-high heat. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ground sirloin, jalapeno pepper, onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce using your hands. Divide into 4 balls, and flatten into patties.
3. Lightly oil the grilling surface, and place the patties on the grill. Cook for about 5 minutes per side, or until well done. During the last 2 minutes, lay a slice of cheese on top of each patty. Spread the seasoned mayonnaise onto the insides of the buns. Put burgers in the buns, and top with lettuce and tomato to serve.

Red Skin Potato Salad

2 pounds clean, scrubbed new red potatoes

6 eggs

1 pound bacon

1 onion, finely chopped

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

2 cups mayonnaise

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and set in the refrigerator to cool.
2. Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop.
3. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
4. Chop the cooled potatoes, leaving skin on. Add to a large bowl, along with the eggs, bacon, onion and celery. Add mayonnaise, salt and pepper to taste. Chill for an hour before serving.

Peach Dump Cake

2 (16 ounce) cans peaches in heavy syrup

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

1/2 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Empty peaches into the bottom of one 9x13 inch pan. Cover with the dry cake mix and press down firmly. Cut butter into small pieces and place on top of cake mix. Sprinkle top with cinnamon.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 45 minutes.

Coconut Poke Cake

1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix

1 (14 ounce) can cream of coconut

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 (8 ounce) package flaked coconut

Directions

1. Prepare and bake white cake mix according to package directions. Remove cake from oven. While still hot, using a utility fork, poke holes all over the top of the cake.
2. Mix cream of coconut and sweetened condensed milk together. Pour over the top of the still hot cake. Let cake cool completely then frost with the whipped topping and top with the flaked coconut. Keep cake refrigerated.