Date and Nut Cookies

Mother always made a HUGE 5 gallon tin of these at Christmas. They are ugly little lumps and delicious as all get out.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 5 Dozen

Ingredients

• 2⁄3 cup shortening (I use butter)
• 1  cup brown sugar
• 2  eggs
• 2  cups  nuts, chopped
• 2  cups dates, pitted and chopped
• 1  orange, grated rind of it
• 2  tablespoons  orange juice
• 1 1⁄2 cups flour, sifted
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon clove
• 1⁄2 teaspoon allspice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and cream further.
3. Add nuts, dates and orange.
4. Sift remaining ingredients together.
5. Add sifted to creamed gradually.
6. Drop by teaspoon full on silpat lined sheets.
7. Bake 12-15 minutes.
8. Store in an airtight container with a couple wedges of apple. This keeps the cookies nice and soft. OR do like me and keep the dough in the fridge only cooking what I want to eat.