I re-found an old recipe my Grandmother had typed up for me (yes, typed). She started giving me recipes when I was a young girl, very young, like 6. My mother kept most of them, so I come across them from time to time in my collection. This one, called Amish Sugar Cookies, I found interesting as first, the recipe is huge! It makes 4 dozen cookies. I think she had it in mind to make a ton so she could decorate them with her grandchildren. I was easily able to half the recipe. Then, it calls for dreaded margarine and cooking oil! Thinking back, I know she substituted these things for shortening and butter as my grandfather became diabetic later in his life. In the 80′s it was still all the rage to eat margarine as a “healthy” substitute, or so I remember her saying. Instead of cooking oil, I used earth balance shortening and the cookies came out beautifully.

I think it’s interesting how the Amish, would never have used margarine or cooking oil (whatever that is!) but would have reveled in the full fat of the butter and lard the original recipe calls for. I also think it’s interesting how I, as the grand daughter, am changing the recipe back to it’s original form, from a version that was meant to be “more healthy.” It’s like bringing back the meaning of a sweet thing, a baked good, nourishment, and food full circle in my family. Because I am sure that whoever made this recipe up, made sure their families didn’t over indulge on them or made them that often, making them a treat and a healthful choice (as other means of nourishment) by default.

Amish Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup non-salted butter
1/2 cup earth balance shortening
1 egg
2 1/4 cups all purpose, non-bleached flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 – 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

Cream sugars, butter and shortening until a light yellow color. Add the egg and extract, beat well. Add and mix the dry ingredients. You can either roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and with a cookie cutter or a small cup, cut out the cookies; or, you can take a teaspoon of dough, roll it into a small ball in your hand and flatten it with the end of a cup dipped in sugar on the cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 F for 8 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned. The tops shouldn’t brown, they will be white like little full moons.

Cheers!