DEAR ABBY: I have heard that your dessert recipes are fabulous and I'd like to have them. I saw a column in which you mentioned your cookbooklets. I hope I'm correct about this, because I'd be interested in getting them. I have your booklet of poems and essays, which I have read and enjoyed many times.

Would you print your personal favorite dessert recipe and let me know how to get your cookbooklets? Warmest wishes to you, Abby, and thank you for all your columns. -- ANITA B. IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR ANITA: You are welcome. It's hard for me to choose just one recipe because I have a notorious sweet tooth, and my cookbooklets contain more than a few that I have enjoyed many times. However, because you asked for my personal favorite, it would be one that not only I have enjoyed, but also one I have made for friends as gifts -- Regency Brownies With Chocolate Frosting. (Because the recipe yields 4 1/2 dozen, I confess I usually keep the "extra" six to munch on myself.)

BROWNIES

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon vanilla

FROSTING

1 cup heavy cream

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line the bottom of an 18-by-12-by-2 (or 1)-inch baking pan with baking parchment paper and spray generously with butter-flavored cooking spray.

In the top of a double boiler, over medium heat, melt butter and 4 ounces chocolate. Reserve.

In a large bowl, beat sugar and eggs until fluffy. Add flour and salt, mixing well. Add chocolate mixture, blending thoroughly. Stir in nuts and vanilla.

Pour into prepared baking pan. (Batter should be about 1/2 inch thick, not more.) Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until top is crisp and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool before pouring frosting over the top.

For the frosting: Bring cream to a boil, stirring constantly. Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl; pour boiling cream over the chocolate and stir to blend well. Spread thin layer of warm frosting over top of brownies in pan. When cool, cut into 2-inch squares.

My cookbooklet set contains not only many easy-to-prepare crowd-pleasing recipes, but also tips on entertaining. It can be ordered by sending your name and address, plus check or money order for $14 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price. If you're a serious chocolate lover, these brownies will make your toes curl, and that's a promise. With summer coming and families gathering for the holidays, now's the time to dust off your favorite picnic and barbecue recipes. My dessert recipes have started many a family tradition.

DEAR ABBY: I have been with my boyfriend "Paul" for four years. We have a child together, and we each have a child of our own. We have lived together for three years, and our family life is great. However, when I was pregnant with our son, Paul contacted an ex on a social network. One day he left his computer open, and I saw that their conversations were less than innocent. I was upset and I said something immediately.

We have stayed together, but ever since then I'm having a hard time trusting Paul. Because he had also been calling the woman, I now check our phone records. Yesterday I found a text of his to a former boss's daughter. Paul was telling her how "hot" she is.

Abby, am I overreacting when I think Paul is going to cheat? -- ALARMED IN NORTH CAROLINA

DEAR ALARMED: You're not overreacting. Paul is cheating on you emotionally, and doesn't appear to be entirely committed to your relationship. In fact, it appears he is looking for some outside adventures. You should not only be concerned, you should also be furious about what he's doing. This won't stop until you draw the line.

DEAR ABBY: My parents divorced during my junior year of high school. I am now a sophomore in college. I have done my best to maintain a good relationship with Dad, although I chose to live with my mother during the custody battle.

Since the divorce, Dad has verbally, emotionally and financially abused me to the point that I no longer want him as part of my life.

I miss having a father figure, even though no amount of counseling could ever mend our broken relationship. We went through two years of counseling, and the only thing I learned was that Dad believes he has done nothing wrong and my feelings about him are because of Mom.

How can I get over the pain and hurt my dad has caused me? -- HEARTBROKEN IN MICHIGAN

DEAR HEARTBROKEN: It will probably take one-on-one counseling for you to establish enough emotional independence to toughen up. Your father's unwillingness (or inability) to take responsibility for his mistakes is an indication that, as much as you may need and want a father, he will never be the parent you would like him to be. It will take time and work on your part to get beyond this loss -- and it is a loss -- so the ideal place to begin your journey would be by talking to a psychologist at the student health center.

DEAR ABBY: My 6-year-old cousin wanted to make a lemonade stand, so my sister and I helped her, but she got discouraged because nobody would buy any. She was so angry she started yelling, then she crossed the line and dropped the F-word. My sister and I were shocked that a 6-year-old would know that word. She said her classmate told it to her. (They're in kindergarten.)

We told our parents, but we're not sure if we should tell her mother because she might think my sister and I taught it to her. Should we tell her mother or let it slide hoping she will forget the word and move on? -- NOT SURE IN SAN DIEGO

DEAR NOT SURE: Your parents should tell your aunt about the incident, just in case your cousin doesn't "forget" the word. That way her mother can explain to her that there are certain words polite people don't use because they are unacceptable.

DEAR ABBY: I'm getting married soon. My mom says we should have one side of the church reserved for my fiance's friends and family, and one side for ours. I disagree. Not only does it make me feel like we would be separating people when the occasion should be about unity, but he doesn't have a whole lot of people coming. It could embarrass him if I have 100 guests on my side and he has 30 on his.

My fiance says he doesn't care, but I do! I want our guests blended in celebration of our union. Because Mom and Dad are paying half, I think Mom should have some input, but I don't feel right about her suggestion. What do you think? -- UNITING, NOT DIVIDING

DEAR UNITING: I agree with your thinking. Although in the past brides' and grooms' guests were seated on opposite sides of the sanctuary, today the wedding "rules" have loosened considerably. While the bride's and groom's families usually sit on opposite sides in areas marked for them by ribbons, if there is an imbalance in the number of guests such as you have described, an usher can correct it by seating the guests on both sides of the room without regard to who invited them.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I own five parrots, one of which is a Miligold Macaw. "Petie" is a young bird and starting to pick up words and sounds like crazy. Something he has started mimicking has my husband and me embarrassed and worried.

When we go into our bedroom, Petie starts making "amorous" sounds. Honestly, it sounds like someone is at the height of romantic passion in the living room where his cage is located.

Petie practices other words and sounds at various times during the day. We enjoy having people over to the house, and it's good for him to interact with them and be socialized. How should we handle the situation if he starts repeating the sounds of our bedroom activities when guests are over? Any suggestions? -- DISCREET IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR DISCREET: You could tell your guests that Petie likes to watch R-rated movies on premium cable. But don't be embarrassed that your bird has the sounds of pleasure to imitate. It would be worse if he were saying, "Not tonight; I have a headache."

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I own five parrots, one of which is a Miligold Macaw. "Petie" is a young bird and starting to pick up words and sounds like crazy. Something he has started mimicking has my husband and me embarrassed and worried.

When we go into our bedroom, Petie starts making "amorous" sounds. Honestly, it sounds like someone is at the height of romantic passion in the living room where his cage is located.

Petie practices other words and sounds at various times during the day. We enjoy having people over to the house, and it's good for him to interact with them and be socialized. How should we handle the situation if he starts repeating the sounds of our bedroom activities when guests are over? Any suggestions? -- DISCREET IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR DISCREET: You could tell your guests that Petie likes to watch R-rated movies on premium cable. But don't be embarrassed that your bird has the sounds of pleasure to imitate. It would be worse if he were saying, "Not tonight; I have a headache."