A Recipe from my Neighbor Laila

I have absolutely no intention of baking these cookies!  However, she wanted me to give it to someone who would make them, so here is to you!  Make some cookies, let me know how they taste!

Fig Cookies

Filling: (Make 2-3 days ahead)

1 ½ lbs. figs

½ lb. raisings

½ lb. dates

1 orange

2 oz. whiskey

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. black pepper

½ lb. brown sugar

6 oz. bottle maraschino cherries

Boil figs and raisins with brown sugar and add 2 cups of water for 10 minutes (save water).  Grind figs, dates, and raisins with whole orange.  Add cinnamon, pepper, and whiskey, salt and cut up cherries.  Add liquid from fruit into the filling.

Dough:

12 cups flour

3 Tbsp. baking powder

1 ½ tbsp. vanilla

9 eggs

1 lb. lard melted

1 lb. sugar (2 cups)

1 or 2 grated orange rinds

¼ cup orange juice

Mix all dry ingredients.  Add melted lard and beaten eggs and orange rind.  Mix in.  Roll out dough, not too thin.  Cut long strips, about 1 ½ to 2 inches wide with a knife.  Put filling down center of strip of dough in a long line.  Fold both sides of the dough over filling.  Slice small pieces diagonally with a knife.  Place individual cookies on cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees.  About 25 minutes.  Time varies.  Bottom should be lightly browned.  Cool and frost.

Frosting:

Combine 1 ¼ boxes powder sugar and orange juice and milk.  Frost cookies and dip upside down into sprinkles or decorations.