| From the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True | | | | the edges together and to poke holes in the top. |
| Stories From a Wisconsin Farm)When I was a kid | | | | Bake for 15 minutes, or until light brown.This |
| growing up on our dairy farm in Wisconsin 40 | | | | recipe makes about six dozen filled cookies.The |
| years ago, cookies with a date filling were my | | | | recipe can also be used to make cut-out |
| dad's favorite kind. Here is the recipe.3/4 cup | | | | Christmas cookies frosted with colored |
| butter or margarine (softened)3/4 cup | | | | icing.************~ Plum Conserve ~If plum |
| shortening2 cups sugar3 eggs2 teaspoons vanilla5 | | | | conserve is made specifically for filling cookies, |
| cups flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon | | | | store any that remains in the refrigerator and use |
| saltseveral tablespoons of milk if the dough | | | | on toast or biscuits. The conserve can also be |
| seems too dryJam: blackberry, black raspberry, | | | | sealed in pint jars. (This recipe makes about three |
| strawberry, red raspberry, plum conserve, apple | | | | pints.)8 to 10 fresh, large, ripe plums1/2 cup of |
| conserve, or date filling (recipes for plum and | | | | water4 cups of sugar2 cups of raisins1 cup |
| apple conserve and date filling are included | | | | chopped walnuts2 tablespoons of lemon juicePit |
| below.)Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, | | | | the plums and chop into small pieces. Place in a |
| margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, | | | | large saucepan and add the sugar and water. Boil |
| baking powder and salt. If the dough is too dry, | | | | for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the lemon |
| add 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk. If the dough | | | | juice, raisins and walnuts and cook for 10 minutes |
| seems too wet, add 1/4 or 1/2 cup of flour.Roll | | | | longer, stirring constantly. (Note: Recipe can also |
| out dough. Use either a small round cookie cutter | | | | be made using 3 cups of chopped apples instead |
| or one large round cutter. Place cookies on an | | | | of plums. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.)~ Date |
| ungreased baking sheet. Put one teaspoon of jam | | | | Filling ~3 cups chopped dates1/2 cup sugar1 2/3 |
| (or other filling) in the middle of the smaller rounds | | | | cups water1 tablespoon lemon juicePut all |
| or off to one side of the larger rounds. Place | | | | ingredients into a saucepan and cook over low |
| another small round on top of the small rounds; | | | | heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (10 or 15 |
| fold the larger rounds in half. Use a fork to crimp | | | | minutes). |