• 1 cup shortening 
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 
• 2 eggs 
• ½ cup soured milk, buttermilk, or water 
• 3 ½ cups flour 
• 1 teaspoon soda 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 ½ cups broken pecans 
• 2 cups candied cherries, halved 
• 2 cups cut-up dates 

Mix shortening, sugar and eggs well. Stir in soured milk. Blend dry ingredients, stir in to wet mixture. 
Stir in the pecans, cherries and dates. Chill at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 400°F. Drop heaping teaspoons of dough about 2" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Place a pecan half on each cookie if desired. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly. 

Yield: 8 dozen. 
Note: If using self rising flour omit soda and salt. 

Recipe of the Week