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