Aunt Katherine's Calico Fruit Refrigerator Cookies...a good old one!

I know it is February and Christmas was a while ago, but these cookies are great anytime!

This past Christmas  I was looking for some traditional family recipes, so I sent a message to Dan's Aunt Katherine who I knew was an avid baker!

I received this back:  "As you can imagine,   I have hundreds of recipes.   In the olden days,   I tried two or three new recipes a week  plus baking all Harold's favourites."  She has cut down now because of Harold's health, but she consulted with her sister in MB  who suggested this  good old one that makes a lot of cookies.
When she wrote me, she was baking fruitcakes and enjoying the smell through the house...

Calico Fruit Refrigerator Cookies

1cup shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup lemon juice
1T. grated lemon rind
1/2 t. vanilla

4 1/2 cups flour
3 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

1 cup chopped candied cherries
1 cup raisins   
1 cup chopped walnuts.

1 - Cream shortening and sugar. 

2 - Beat in eggs, lemon juice, grated lemon rind and vanilla.

3 - In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt

4 - Stir flour mixture into creamed mixture
5 - Add cherries,  raisins and walnuts

6 - Cover with saran and chill thoroughly

7- Form into 1 1/2" cylinders.    Wrap and store.

Cut into 1/2" slices;  place on greased baking sheets;    375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  

  

I had to leave out the raisins in mine as Dan is not fond of them but they were sooo good!
Thanks Aunt Katherine! 

Until we bake again
Penny
xxx