Holiday Grettings to all AR folk!

Vanessa Stalet's Red Chile Posole recipe offered for New Years caught my eye, and that led me to the AR Cookbook Group. I'm not baking this year, but was inspired to share one of my favorite Christmas Cookie recipies...and replay the memories of baking them many times over the years. I'm not sure where the original recipe came from, but I do know my mother Margaret McCready added her own special touches. She is a talented 'from scratch' cook, and always added plenty of love ;^)  I hope you will enjoy them.

Frosted Mincemeat Diamonds 

- 1 T. soft butter

- 1 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar

- 2 eggs

- 2 T molasses

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- 2 c. sifted all-purpose flour

- 1/2 t. each salt & baking soda

- 1 t. each cinnamon & cloves (ground)

- 1/4 t. ground nutmeg (use fresh nutmeg - it is heavenly, and well worth the slight extra effort)

- 3 T. hot water

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2/3 c. chopped nuts (we liked walnuts or pecans best...I suppose you could use both)

1/4 c. seeded raisins, chopped (I like to use golden raisins)

1 box (9 oz) mincemeat, broken up with fork (you can also use the kind in the jar, which does not need to be reconstituted so you should probably omit the hot water)

***

Frosting: Mix well 3 c. confectioner's sugar, about 1/3 c. hot milk, 1 t. vanilla and a dash of salt

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 Mix first four ingredients well. Add sifted dry ingredients and water to the bowl; mix until smooth. Add 1/3 c. chopped nuts, raisins and mincemeat. Spread batter in thin layer in greased pan (we used two 13 x 9 x 2 inch jelly-roll pans for a double recipe). Bake in pre-heated hot oven (400 degrees F) for twelve to fifteen minutes. Spread with frosting while still warm and sprinkle with remaining chopped nuts (or just include them in the batter...if you're not fast getting them on the wet frosting or plan to ship them, the nuts tend to fall off). Cool and cut into 2-inch diamonds (note: to make diamonds make parallel cuts first diagonally, then the second time cut straight across). My note says it makes 4 to 5 dozen. I think that's a double batch. These keep and ship very well (a wonderful thing to receive in a 'care package')!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and a healthy and prosperous New Year to you all.