Here are some recipes for a few cookies we are sharing with friends and neighbors at the holidays. The first three are recipes from Suzanne’s family. The last is just from good old Betty Crocker. Enjoy.

Drostes Cocoa Cookies

1 1/4 cups margarine
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup Drostes cocoa
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream margarine and sugar.
Add cocoa and combine.
Add flour, salt and vanilla and mix well.
Chill two hours or overnight if you aren’t planning to bake them right away .
Roll small scoops into balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet or parchment paper.
Press lightly with the floured bottom of glass.
Bake at 350º for fifteen minutes.
Cool and roll in granulated sugar.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.

---

Suzanne’s Grandma’s Surprise Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups Quick Quaker Oats
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar and then add the other ingredients and mix well
Chill for two hours or overnight.
Roll small scoops in granulated sugar and flatten with a glass.
Bake at 350º for 15 minutes
Cool slightly and sprinkle confectioners sugar on top.
Makes 3 dozen cookies

---

Pralines

24 single Graham Crackers
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup chopped pecans
Place Graham Crackers on a baking sheet with sides.
Mix brown sugar and butter in a sauce pan and bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and add pecans.
Put a tablespoon of the mixture on each cracker.
Bake at 325º for 10 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes on the the baking sheet.

---

Classic Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, almond extract and egg in a large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Divide dough in half and roll each half 1/4 inch thick on floured surface.
Cut into desired shapes with 2 inch cookie cutters.
Sprinkle with granulated sugar or leave plain to ice later.
Bake at 325º for 7 to 8 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack.
Makes 5 dozen cookies.