rack in the middle position
1 l/2 cups melted butter (3 sticks)
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 cup molasses (2 Tablespoons)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 l/2 cups finely ground salted cashews (grind them up in your food processor with the steel blade-measure AFTER grinding)
2 beaten eggs (just whip them up with a fork)
3 cups flour (no need to sift)
Microwave the butter in your mixing bowl to melt it. Add the sugar, the vanilla, and the molasses. Stir until blended, then add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
Grind up the cashews in your food processor. Measure AFTER grinding. Add them to the bowl and mix. Pour in the beaten eggs and stir. Then add the flour and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
Let the dough sit for a few minutes to firm up. Then form dough into small walnut-sized balls and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. (These dough balls spread out so make them fairly small. If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for a few minutes and try again.)
Flatten the balls slightly with a spatula or the palm of your impeccably clean hand, just enough so they won't roll off when you put them in the oven.
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Yield: Approximately 10 dozen, depending on cookie size.
(Mother thinks I should put a small nugget of milk chocolate in the center of the balls, but she ALWAYS thinks I should add chocolate to my recipes.)
Chapter Eight
When the door opened in response to Hannah's knock, she almost stepped back in shock. Nettie was dressed in jeans and a bright pink sweatshirt. To Hannah's knowledge, Nettie had never worn casual clothes before. She'd always dressed in designer clothing. But there was an even bigger change and Hannah just stood there and blinked. Nettie's brown hair, which had always been impeccably curled and coiffed, was now in a casual and slightly untidy ponytail.
"Nettie?" Andrea asked, and Hannah could tell her sister was also wondering if the grieving widow had a relative who resembled her in every aspect but dress and grooming.
"It's me." Nettie gave a little smile and gestured for them to come in. "You both look shocked. I guess I must look different."
"You do," Hannah said, recovering first. "Do you want us to come back another time?"
"Come in and visit for a while. Everyone else left an hour ago and you caught me indulging a whim."
"The jeans?" Hannah guessed, following Nettie into the living room.
"That's right. Jim hated it when I wore them. He said it wasn't the right image for a sheriff's wife. The last time I put them on has got to be at least twenty years ago. I was afraid they wouldn't fit, but they do. Of course I was never really slim like you, Andrea. Not even when Jim and I met."
"I'm not slim now. Doc Knight weighed me yesterday and I've gained twenty pounds in the past two months." Andrea walked over and took a seat on the sofa.
"You'll lose that in a hurry when you have the baby." Nettie turned to Hannah. "Would you girls like something to eat? The ladies left me enough food for months."
"Well, maybe just a bite… or a dozen bites," Hannah said.
"Just help yourself," Nettie said with a smile. "The baked goods are on the counter in the kitchen and they put the Jell-O and meats in the refrigerator. Did your mother tell you she dropped by this afternoon?"
Both Andrea and Hannah shook their heads.
"The whole Regency Romance Club was here. Your mother pointed out that in Regency England widows had to stay in full mourning for at least a year and then they could be in half-mourning. That meant they were allowed to dress in gray or lavender."
"How long did half-mourning last?" Andrea leaned forward as she asked the question. She appeared intrigued and that didn't really surprise
1 l/2 cups melted butter (3 sticks)
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 cup molasses (2 Tablespoons)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 l/2 cups finely ground salted cashews (grind them up in your food processor with the steel blade-measure AFTER grinding)
2 beaten eggs (just whip them up with a fork)
3 cups flour (no need to sift)
Microwave the butter in your mixing bowl to melt it. Add the sugar, the vanilla, and the molasses. Stir until blended, then add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
Grind up the cashews in your food processor. Measure AFTER grinding. Add them to the bowl and mix. Pour in the beaten eggs and stir. Then add the flour and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
Let the dough sit for a few minutes to firm up. Then form dough into small walnut-sized balls and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. (These dough balls spread out so make them fairly small. If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for a few minutes and try again.)
Flatten the balls slightly with a spatula or the palm of your impeccably clean hand, just enough so they won't roll off when you put them in the oven.
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Yield: Approximately 10 dozen, depending on cookie size.
(Mother thinks I should put a small nugget of milk chocolate in the center of the balls, but she ALWAYS thinks I should add chocolate to my recipes.)
Chapter Eight
When the door opened in response to Hannah's knock, she almost stepped back in shock. Nettie was dressed in jeans and a bright pink sweatshirt. To Hannah's knowledge, Nettie had never worn casual clothes before. She'd always dressed in designer clothing. But there was an even bigger change and Hannah just stood there and blinked. Nettie's brown hair, which had always been impeccably curled and coiffed, was now in a casual and slightly untidy ponytail.
"Nettie?" Andrea asked, and Hannah could tell her sister was also wondering if the grieving widow had a relative who resembled her in every aspect but dress and grooming.
"It's me." Nettie gave a little smile and gestured for them to come in. "You both look shocked. I guess I must look different."
"You do," Hannah said, recovering first. "Do you want us to come back another time?"
"Come in and visit for a while. Everyone else left an hour ago and you caught me indulging a whim."
"The jeans?" Hannah guessed, following Nettie into the living room.
"That's right. Jim hated it when I wore them. He said it wasn't the right image for a sheriff's wife. The last time I put them on has got to be at least twenty years ago. I was afraid they wouldn't fit, but they do. Of course I was never really slim like you, Andrea. Not even when Jim and I met."
"I'm not slim now. Doc Knight weighed me yesterday and I've gained twenty pounds in the past two months." Andrea walked over and took a seat on the sofa.
"You'll lose that in a hurry when you have the baby." Nettie turned to Hannah. "Would you girls like something to eat? The ladies left me enough food for months."
"Well, maybe just a bite… or a dozen bites," Hannah said.
"Just help yourself," Nettie said with a smile. "The baked goods are on the counter in the kitchen and they put the Jell-O and meats in the refrigerator. Did your mother tell you she dropped by this afternoon?"
Both Andrea and Hannah shook their heads.
"The whole Regency Romance Club was here. Your mother pointed out that in Regency England widows had to stay in full mourning for at least a year and then they could be in half-mourning. That meant they were allowed to dress in gray or lavender."
"How long did half-mourning last?" Andrea leaned forward as she asked the question. She appeared intrigued and that didn't really surprise
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