Rocks

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes. Don't worry, these won't break your teeth, in spite of their name.

 1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter
3 eggs, beaten
1 c. chopped walnuts
2 c. raisins
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon powder
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. clove powder

Cream sugar and butter. Add the eggs, walnuts, raisins, flour, soda, and spices. Drop by tsp. onto a cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes. Put them in at 350 degrees, and raise the temperature to 400 degrees.

Orange Cinnamon Ice Box Cookies

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

2 1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 c. shortening
3 Tbsp. orange peel (I assume, grated)
2 eggs
5 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. cinnamon powder

*Cream powdered sugar and shortening. Add egg, and beat.
*Sift dry ingredients and combine the two mixtures.
*Form into cookie rolls (refrigerate 1 hour for better handling), slice and bake.

(Once again, I assume a baking time of 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees).

Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 6-oz. pkg. chocolate chips

Mix ingredients. Drop by tsp. on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes at 375 degrees.

Sour Cream Cookies

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

1 c. shortening or butter
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. baking powder
3 c. flour
1/2 c. sour cream

Mix all ingredients well. Shape into cookie rolls and wrap rolls in wax paper. Refrigerate until the rolls are firm enough to be sliced (about 1 hour). Can also be frozen, and baked without thawing.

(That is the end of Granny's instruction. I'm not sure the cooking time, but I'm assuming the neighborhood of 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees - maybe extra minutes if frozen).

Peanut Butter Cookies

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

1/2 c. butter or margarine
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped nuts

*Cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars. Add the egg, and mix well.
*Sift dry ingredients separately, then add to butter mixture.
*Form into walnut-sized balls. Put on cookie sheet and press with a salad fork.
*Bake on the top oven rack 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool before removing from cookie sheet.

Carrot Raisin Cookies

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

1/2 c. shortening or butter
1 c. packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 c. grated carrot
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1/3 c. milk
1/3 c. undiluted orange juice concentrate
1 tsp. vanilla extract

*Beat shortening, sugar and eggs. Stir in carrots, and set aside.
*Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add raisins and nuts.
*Combine egg and flour mixture, and add in the milk.
*Stir in orange juice concentrate and vanilla.
*Drop by tsp. 2" apart on a greased cookie sheet.
*Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees, until lightly browned around the edges.

Oatmeal Pineapple Hermits

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

2 c. oatmeal
2 c. raisins
1 c. chopped nuts (pecans)
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening or butter
2 eggs
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 can crushed pineapple (well-drained, reserve pineapple juice)

*Sift dry ingredients and set aside.
*Beat eggs, then add sugar and shortening in a large bowl and mix well.
*Mix in flour mixture and pineapple juice alternately to form a batter (may not need all of the juice)
*Add remaining ingredients and mix.
*Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet.
*Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Nut Squares

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. flour
1 c. walnuts

Mix all ingredients. Pat mixture into a greased 8x12 pan. Bake about half an hour at 300 degrees. It will rise and then settle. Cool and cut into squares to serve.

Lemon Thins

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. lemon extract
3 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder

Mix all ingredients. Roll the cookies into balls and flatten. Sugar the tops, if desired. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Cocoa Drops

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

3 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
3/4 c. shortening or butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 c. buttermilk
6 oz. pkg. chocolate chips

*Sift dry ingredients together. Set aside.
*In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs until light and fluffy.
*At low speed, beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
*Add the chocolate chips and stir.
*Drop by tsp. onto greased cookie sheet.
*Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Coconut Crispies

Our Granny (my dad's mother, Helen Mesa), would send us a box of homemade cookies every year. This is one of those cookie recipes.

2 c. white sugar
2 c. brown sugar
2 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs, well beaten
2 tsp. vanilla
4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. shredded coconut
1 c. chopped nuts (pecans)
4 c. rice crispies

Mix in the order given. Drop by Tbsp. onto a cookie sheet.
Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees, or until they start to brown