Oatmeal Cookies with Dates and Nuts

Avis Eckardt

This recipe was my mother's favorite...and mine too! She loved dates and would hide them and eat them all herself. She included them in these cookies and they were delicious. They were the only cookie I remember her making when I was growing up and I continued to make them when I left home.

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup shortening
4 eggs
2 cups flour (sift before measuring)
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup milk

Cream together sugar, shortening, and 2 eggs. Add 2 additional eggs and beat thoroughly. Combine in separate bowl, flour, cloves, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and oats. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture alternately with milk.

Add and mix well 2 cups of any of the following options:
1 cup chopped dates or raisins
1 cup nuts or chocolate chips

Drop by teaspoons onto well-oiled baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. 50 cookies.