Wonderful cookies, flu season

You know it, and I know it. We’re going to make some Christmas treats (and, we hope, eat only a few!!). So those treats might as well be wonderful. Luckily, these are called Wonderful Cookies.

I ate my first at a book club get-together 2 weeks ago. I got the recipe from the host and then permission to share from the woman she got it from. I love recipe daisy-chains. Carolyn S. said Libby B. baked; Libby said she thought recipe originated with Louise H. and that Susan H. had brought them to her when her, Libby’s, late husband, our wonderful large animal vet, was ailing. Then Mary M. asked me to post because she’s lost her copy. Eleanor P. wanted a copy as well so it seemed natural to loop this chain around everyone’s holiday kitchen and tie it in a bow.

And here’s something to think about when you want to eat all of them. I face-lifted this and while it may not be 100% scientifically accurate, it’s close enough that I’ll try and heed through this holiday season: The flu is not a season. It is an inability to ADAPT due to decreased sun exposure & water intake, combined with increased sugar intake & STRESS. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Wonderful cookies

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup confectionary sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 cup canola oil

1 tablespoon almond extract

2 eggs

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Pinch of salt

1 packages Heath Bar bits

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350°. Cream first 6 ingredients in electric mixer (sugars, softened butter, oil, almond and eggs). In separate bowl stir together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Stir candy pieces and nuts into dry mix which you will then spoon into mixer bowl, mixing only until combined.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Measure out cookie dough in rounded teaspoonsful (it won’t spread much). Bake until just brown around edges, 8 to 9 minutes. Makes 100 cookies about the diameter of an Oreo.

Note: Do not wrap these little gems with any other cookies, especially moister ones like brownies. Their appealing “snap” will disappear almost instantly.