Top 10 Cookie Contest Finalist: Christmas Cookies

Submitted by Mary Ann Cruise

2/3 cups butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

1 tablespoon hot water

1 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup orange juice

1 pound of box dates (chopped)

1 cup chopped pecans or nuts

1 small jar maraschino cherries

4 to 5 slices of pineapple cut into small pieces

Mix together 1 pound or 1 box dates, 1 cup pecans or nuts, maraschino cherries and pineapple. Put fruit in a large bowl. Mix teaspoon soda in one tablespoon of hot water, sprinkle soda water over fruit mixture. Add the cloves and cinnamon to mixture, mix well. Pour orange juice over mixture and let stand overnight for 4 to 6 hours, if you cut this time short you won't get the same flavor. Next add butter to fruit mixture, add flour, sugar and mix well. Drop batter by teaspoon onto cookie sheets, bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Store in covered container and put wax paper between layers. The cookies will not brown on the top.