Amish Soft Raisin Cookies

taken from an Amish cookbook

• Ready In: 42 mins
• Yields: 9 dozen

Ingredients

• 2  cups raisins
• 1  cup boiling water
• 3⁄4 cup vegetable shortening
• 2  cups granulated sugar
• 3  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1  cup  chopped  nuts, walnuts, pecans, etc

Directions

1. Add boiling water to raisins.
2. Cook 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
3. Cream crisco and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla -- and beat well.
4. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
5. Add alternately with raisin liquid to creamed mixture.
6. Stir in raisins and nuts.
7. Chill dough several hours or overnight.
8. Drop by teaspoonsful onto greased cookie sheet.
9. Bake at 350* for 12 minutes.