HOLIDAY COOKIES : Billy Goats--Not at All Gruff

It wouldn’t be Christmas in my family without Billy Goats. My grandmother always made them, and after she died, my Aunt Betty carried on the tradition. Betty always spent the holidays with our family and always brought Billy Goats. After she moved to Oregon, she would make dozens and ship them to my mom’s house, where we would divide them up. We made them together the last time I saw her--Betty died at Thanksgiving--and last week my uncle gave me the measurements for the ingredients from her personal cookbook. The holidays won’t be the same without her, but I think she would be happy to know that at least we won’t be without her Billy Goats.

BILLY GOATS

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flour

Dash salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter and sugar until light. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla extract.

Sift together flour, salt and baking soda and add to butter mixture. Stir in dates and walnuts.

Drop rounded teaspoons of batter onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown on top, about 10 minutes.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Each cookie contains about:

99 calories; 40 mg sodium; 25 mg cholesterol; 4 grams fat; 15 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams protein; 0.20 gram fiber.