Kids Cuisine

When I was a kid, Christmas was always spent at my grandparents’ house. We would drive four hours on Christmas morning to spend the holiday with extended family. I had a great time hanging out with my many cousins and eating tons of excellent food, but one of the best parts of Christmas was the basement. Grammy started baking for Christmas well in advance, and by the time we arrived her cool, dark basement was literally full of cookies, pies, and fudge. The kids would often sneak downstairs to grab a snack when we thought no one was looking.

This year I am hosting Christmas for my husband’s family. Our basement has a dirt floor, hardly ideal for a dessert spread. But I am sticking close to tradition by baking an overabundance of sweets. The first cookie of the season — Apple Oatmeal Cookies.

These come from a secret recipe, but I will share it with you.

Apple Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup peeled, diced apple
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a small bowl.

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs until well blended.

Slowly add dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in the walnuts, oats, and apples.

Drop rounded spoonfuls onto a baking sheet about 2 inches apart and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Enjoy the spicy, sweet goodness!

Makes 3 dozen.