Holiday Fruit Drops

1 c Shortening
2 c Brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c buttermilk or water (I use buttermilk)
3 1/2 c flour
1 t Baking soda
1 t Salt
1 1/2 c broken pecan pieces
2 c halved candied cherries (16 oz)
2 c cut up dates (note, I buy whole dates and chop them,they have a better texture for this cookie than pre-chopped dates)

Mix shortening, sugar and eggs. Stir in milk. Blend dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Add them to the wet mix. Stir in pecans, cherries, and dates. Chill for at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 400. Place teaspoonfuls of dough on cookie sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes (until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly).

Makes 7-8 dozen

Grace Lillevig, eBranch

Patrick's Microwave Peanut Brittle

One cup dry-roasted peanuts
One cup sugar
1/2 cup Karo Syrup
Dash of salt (optional. If you use salted peanuts don't add the salt)

Mix above well in a bowl and microwave on high 5 1/2 minutes
Remove and add in 1 tsp vanilla, and microwave for an additional 1 1/2 minutes
Mix in 1 tsp baking soda
Pour onto a cookie sheet.
Let cool until hard (about 30 minutes)

Microwave times may vary depending on the power of your microwave.

"Also, a helpful hint is to have a big pot of water on to boil to melt goop from the stirring spoon and to sink the bowl into the boiling water when you're done, to dissolve the goop more easily. Otherwise, it's really an ugly mess. "

Grace Lillevig, eBranch