A is for Apricot

Yesterday was a snow day here in Little Rock, it seemed like a good enough reason to make cookies. Lately, we have all enjoyed snacking on dried apricots so I decided to try them in our cookies, the results were delicious. We made oatmeal apricot cookies. The sweet, fresh flavor of the apricots adds a totally new spin on the usual oatmeal raisin cookie.

My oatmeal cookie recipe comes from a friend and I have used it for many years, in fact, this is the recipe my sisters use now as well. I just substituted 1 C. of chopped dried apricots for the nuts.

Pam's Oatmeal Cookies

Pam Fuller

1 C. shortening

1 C. brown sugar

1 C. white sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 C. flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. allspice

3 C. oats

1 C. chopped pecans (or apricots)

Cream shortening. Add sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Combine flour and spices. Add to creamed mixture. Add nuts and oats. Mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-8 minutes.

Variations:

*Omit the spices and add chocolate chips

*use raisins, dried cranberries,cherries, or nuts