I made you cookie... but I eated it.

Cookies CAN buy you love. Not the kind that cools in the warmth of the sun, but the kind that lasts at least as long as there are cookies on the plate. It has always been clear that if you give someone a cookie, you have fed them, but that if you give them a really good cookie recipe, you have given them not only a gift that provides sustenance, but also the means to obtain undying love. But this is true ONLY if they prepare them correctly and don't eat them all themselves...

Here are TWO recipes for really good cookies. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!

Date Nut Pinwheels

Filling:

1 1/4 cups (8 oz) chopped dates
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Dough:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour (plus extra for rolling surface)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon clove (optional)
wax paper or parchment


Prepare dough:

Sift together flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, and optional clove.

Cream butter gradually adding brown sugar. Add 1 unbeaten egg and the vanilla, creaming well.

Blend in the sifted dry ingredients.

Chill the dough for about an hour. (You can divide the dough in half, put it in plastic wrap or bags, and flatten it somewhat as this is what you're going to do anyway.)


Prepare date filling:

Combine pitted chopped dates, sugar, and water in saucepan. Cook over low heat until thick, stirring constantly. Cool thoroughly. Add chopped walnuts.


Roll, cut, and bake:

Roll out half the dough on a floured surface to a 10"x18" rectangle, trimming ragged edges. Spread with half the filling. Roll as for jelly roll starting with the 10" side. Wrap with wax paper or parchment. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Chill at least 2 hours.

Cut into 1/4" slices (turning the roll as you cut so as not to flatten it on one side), and place onto lightly greased baking sheets at least 1 inch apart.

Bake in moderately hot preheated oven (400ºF) 8-10 minutes. (These burn easily, so watch them closely.)

Makes two to three dozen cookies.


Russian Tea Cakes

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus approx 1/3 cup additional for coating)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 400ºF.

Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1-2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. (Don't burn the bottoms.) Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.

Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

Makes about three dozen cookies.