Ollie’s Walnut Cookies

If you a lucky enough to have a black walnut tree in your yard, you know the terrific, warm taste that these nuts can give to cakes and cookies.
If you don’t have the luxury of having a tree or cannot afford to buy them, substitute regular walnuts and a tsp of Black Walnut Extract.
 Ollies Walnut [...]

An Amish Christmas

Here is a cookie recipe from the Old Order Amish. It is traditionally made to share with family and friends as well.
Amish Christmas Cookies 
Ingredients: 
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup light molasses
1 egg, beaten
4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Directions: 
In a large mixing bowl cream butter and [...]

Cherry Snow Drops

Tasty little rolled cookies to set off your cookie plate.
Ollies Cherry Snow Drops 
Ingredients: 
1 cup butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup ground walnuts
1/4 cup quick rolled oats
30 maraschino cherries
Directions: 
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter on medium speed, add sugar and vanilla until creamy.
In a separate [...]

Gingerbread Cookies

A Christmas favorite amongst Ollie’s kid’s. Wrap in clear wrap for a stocking surprise.
Gingerbread Cookies 
Ingredients:
7 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups dark molasses
2/3 cup water
Directions: 
In a large bowl, mix first 7 ingredients. Set [...]

Original Toll House Cookies

Digging through Mom’s old recipe can, I found part of an old Nestle’s package taped to an index card. It appears to be from the late 50’s/early 60’s.
Nestle’s Original Toll House Cookies 
Ingredients: 
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup softened butter or shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 [...]

Santa Krisps

Here is a nice treat for your Christmas cookie plate.
Santa Krisps
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 large egg yolks, unbeaten
1 cup pecans, ground
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
Directions:
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, cream together [...]

Big Bill’s Coconut Macaroons

Ollie grew up in a small neighborhood where you knew everyone.
His direct neighbor, Big Bill was a great baker…..around the holidays. He also liked to drink a lot, so you were never quite sure what you were getting.
One recipe he never messed with was his Coconut Macaroons. He has long stopped drinking and was happy [...]

Mrs. G’s Sugar Cookies

My cousins Grandmother used to make the most fabulous sugar cookies.
I have recently pried this recipe out of my cousin.
Mrs. G’s Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies 
Ingredients: 
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp grated orange rind
3 tbsp milk
Decorator sugar
Directions: 
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Sift [...]

An Apology from Ollie

A couple of weeks ago I posted a recipe called ‘Momma Ollie’s Tomato Pot Roast’.
Having culled the recipe from a very old sheet of paper left to me by my Mom, I failed to study the recipe with a critics eye. As old home recipes go, Mom’s had a tendency to pinch, toss and add [...]

Tom’s Cherry Thumbprints

Ollie’s neighbor Tom does all the baking at his house. Every holiday he makes different types of cookies. Here’s his entry for this Christmas.
Tom’s Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients:
1 12 oz pkg semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 3/4 cup quick oats
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup butter [...]