Creamy Sweet Onion Soup

4 sweet yellow onions, quartered and sliced
2 T butter or margarine
8 c beef broth
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
½ c flour mixed with 1c cool broth
1 c heavy cream
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
¼ c shredded cheddar, colby or monterrey jack cheese

In a large pan, sautee sliced onions in butter until softened. Add beef broth, garlic powder, salt and pepper and cook over medium-high heat until soft and transluscent. Mix the flour and cool broth together to create a thickening agent. Slowly (and carefully) whisk the flour mixture into the soup. The onions can tear easily, so be gentle. Cook for an additional 20 minutes over low heat. Add the cream and the cheddar cheese and cook until the cheese has melted (about 5-10 minutes). Serve with a sprinkle of cheese on top. Excellent also with a large slice of garlic toast.

Grammy's Banana Cookies

½ c shortening
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 c mashed bananas (about 2)
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground cloves
½ c nuts or flavored chips (butterscotch or vanilla)

Combine shortening and sugar. Add eggs and bananas. Combine dry ingredients and fold into above mixture. Add chips/nuts and mix thoroughly.

Chill dough for an hour. Preheat oven to 375°. Grease cookie sheet. Form dough into ball and bake for 8-10 minutes. (I use a small ice cream scoop for easy cookie forming.)