Savings for Sisters: Recipe

I will be the first to admit that cookies are not my specialty. There's something about the whole process of mixing the dough, spooning it onto the cookie sheet, waiting for them to bake, then going through several repetitions of the same that I seem to have very little patience for.

My mom, however, is the ultimate cookie baker. At Christmastime when we were growing up, she would make a dozen varieties, then arrange them beautifully on festive platters for our friends and neighbors. Back when life was less complicated and we had little to do on Christmas Eve besides wait for Santa, she would pull us on a sleigh through the neighborhood to make the deliveries, usually (in my idealized memory) through a gently falling snow with strains of Bing Crosby in the background. Well, most of this is true! We did take such outings on Christmas Eve, sometimes on a sleigh, and she did make many delicious, beautiful Christmas cookies to share with others.

One of my favorites from Mom's repertoire is a well-loved recipe called Cherry Winks. I did a bit a sleuthing on the Internet, and from all the pictures and comments, it appears this recipe was once a popular holiday tradition not just for us, but for families all over the country.

"In 1950, Ruth Derousseau of Rice Lake, Wisconsin entered the second Pillsbury Bake-Off, and won Junior First Prize and $5000 - a near fortune back then - with a cookie that took the nation by storm: Cherry Winks. Almost everyone that baked did this festive cookie that Christmas, and General Foods has held the Bake-Off yearly every since."

Because my sister and her family now live in far-away Wisconsin, I like to send her things that remind her of home. This year I pulled out the old cookie recipes and settled on Cherry Winks, which I hadn't thought about in years. I have to say, they turned out great. I know some people, especially the young, do not care for dates, which is a major component of this recipe. But if you love dates like I do, you will enjoy the combination of the crispy, cornflake coated outsides and tender, date and cherry filled centers of these mouthwatering cookies.

As at Thanksgiving, the grocery ads are dated from now through the end of the month, so I won't be posting next week. There are some great deals to help you stock up for the holidays, such as 79 cent two liter bottles of soda, $6.99/lb bags of cooked shrimp, and Meadow Gold half pints of whipping cream for $.79. Don't forget Western Family butter for $2.50/lb, Cool Whip for $.88, and Dole canned pineapple for $.99. Also, don't miss the Hershey's Miniatures for $.99/bag with in-store coupon at Maceys! If you want something special for a holiday family meal, Maceys and Lee's are offering $5.00 off a cut of Prime Rib when you buy four 12 packs of soda at $3.00 each. To see my instructions for Prime Rib in Savings for Sisters, click HERE.

Cherry Winks

2 ¼ cups flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

½ teaspoon Baking Soda

½ teaspoon Salt

1 cup white sugar

¾ cup shortening

2 large eggs

2 Tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup chopped Maraschino Cherries

1 cup chopped Dates

1 cup chopped Pecans (if desired)

2 ½ cups Cornflakes, finely crushed

A dozen Maraschino Cherries, quartered

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease cookie sheets. Cup up the cherries and dates.

We canned our own Maraschino Cherries this year!

These dates came from Yuma, Arizona, where my parents sometimes spend their winters.

Cream the shortening with the sugar. Blend in the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the dates, 1/3 cup cherries, and pecans (if desired). Mix well.