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