Mother's Butter Milk Cookies
Handed down to Susan Donley from Rose Abbott LaValle Donley.
This recipe was also used by Kate, Lena,
Charlotte, and Margie.
Rose's grandkids think of them as "Grandma's Buttermilk Cookies" and say
that Rose made these every time they went to visit. She would give them one
of "Mother's Buttermilk Cookies" out of the cookie jar on the counter, no
matter how close it was to dinner.
Apparently those cookies made a big impression on all of Rose's siblings,
too. Howard's daughter, Margie, says that her father always told her about
that long, and sometimes cold walk home from school. And how delighted he
was when there was a big dishpan of buttermilk cookies waiting on the table.
He would help himself to a few before going out to do his farm chores. And
Shirley, daughter of Lena Abbott Jefferys, remembers them from her childhood
-- and can't wait to get the recipe. Shirley said that Charlotte has kept
the recipe, also.
 |
| Elizabeth Jacob Abbott's Buttermilk Cookies, written in Rose's handwriting. |
Step 1: Cream together in mixing bowl, till light and fluffy.
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup Crisco or lard
Step 2: Add to creamed mixture
1 egg, beaten [see note below]
Step 3: Combine
1/2 tsp. Baking soda with 1/2-cup buttermilk;
Step 4: Sift together [see note below]
1 tsp. baking powder
About 2-1/2 cups flour, or enough to make a stiff dough
Stir into mixture in mixing bowl, alternately with the buttermilk, mixing well.
NOTE: While Rose didn't write down vanilla and salt, I'm pretty sure she just figured she would remember that. I would add:
1 tsp. Vanilla along with the egg, and
1/2 tsp. Salt, sifting with the flour and baking powder.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees, or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: about 18 cookies.