When I was growing up in Winter Haven, my grandmother, Helen Lancashire, would come to spend the night on Christmas Eve and bring great containers of homemade cookies! Traditional cut-out and decorated cookies, date balls rolled in coconut or powdered sugar, chocolate chip … each person had a favorite. My brother, Sterling’s, favorite was always Orange Cookies. They were light, soft and cakelike, with an amazing aroma of fresh Florida oranges. My grandmother wrote the recipe for me on an index card, and I still use that beloved, albeit stained, card, to this day! After my grandmother was no longer with us, I often made a container of Orange Cookies for my brother on his birthday, December 9.

Recipe

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening, after melting
1 egg
Juice of 1/2 orange
Grated rind of 1 orange
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp soda dissolved in a little water
1 tsp baking soda (stirred into flour)
Dash salt (stirred into flour)
2 1/4 cup flour (may need more if too soft)

Mix and let stand 15 minutes.

Drop by spoonful onto silicone mat on baking sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool on racks.

Icing

Mix 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar with juice and rind of 1 orange. Pour (or spread, as needed) over cookies on racks. Let icing harden before storing.

~ Merry Stewart Borowski

Scripture

Matthew 11:2-11

Prayer

Dear God, earlier this year we had a group from Presbytery to come that we would be prepared when that body came and convened. Make certain that we are best prepared for the time of Christ’s return. In His name, we pray. Amen.