Rocks

Another recipe from my grandmother, passed on to my mother. I made these cookies this year for her - using only a wooden spoon to mix the batter since electric mixers are, of course, the tools of the devil.

Not sure why they're called "Rocks". Perhaps it's because the raisins, dates, and walnuts make the cookies look like certain types of rocks. Or maybe it's because if you overbake them they become as hard as rocks. (Note: DO NOT OVERBAKE THEM. ) I have always thought of these as a sort of fruitcake cookie, and some people have compared them to granola.

Rocks
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1.5 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1.5 pounds raisins*
1 pound dates* (pits removed)
1/2 pound English Walnut Meats**
1/2 pound Black Walnut Meats**
1 wine glass of Brandy***

Utensils:
- Large mixing bowl
- 3-4 cookie sheets
- Chef's knife
- Sturdy wooden spoon for mixing
- Teaspoon for spooning out cookie batter

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Chop dates and walnuts to about the same size as the raisins. Use a big chef's knife. Wet the knife before and occasionally while chopping the dates. Do not chop walnuts too fine.

3. In LARGE bowl, combine butter (save wrappers!), brown sugar, eggs, flour, and baking soda.

4. Gradually mix in raisins, dates, and walnuts. Add brandy (or whiskey or Scotch) while adding these ingredients. This will make it easier to mix the batter.

5. Grease cookie sheets with the butter wrappers.

6. Spoon out cookies onto greased cookie sheets by rounded teaspoons.

7. Bake cookies in 300 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cookies will be done when they are no longer glossy and are slightly firm to the touch. Allow to cool on cookie sheets to continue baking while out of the oven, about 5-10 minutes. Once cooled, sample each sheet to make sure they are done, and adjust cooking time as needed.

*Size not critical. Odds are you won't find raisins or dates conveniently packaged in 16-oz. bags or boxes. Just try to come close-ish.
**Or just do what I did, use 1 pound of Walnuts from a bag.
***Or Whiskey. Or Scotch. Whatever.