Drop Cookies
Christmas Cookies

• 1 cup shortening
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup candied cherries, cut into quarters
• 2 cups chopped dates
• 1 cup chopped candied fruit and peel
• Red or green cherry halves
• Pecan halves

Cream shortening; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add Eggs; beat well.

Sift together flour, soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add pecans, quartered cherries, dates, and candied fruit and peel. Chill dough several hours or overnight.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Top each cookie with a cherry or pecan half. Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Yield: about 7 dozen.

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