Christmas is a good excuse to bake cookies. Even if during the other months your resolve against sweets holds, at this time of year you just almost have to bake cookies.
Having established that, may I suggest today’s recipe from Lucile MacLennan of Charleston?
Lucile has had this recipe a long time and likes the cookies not only because of their goodness and crispness but also because of the name of the person from whom she received the recipe.
Many years ago when Lucile and her late husband Murdock lived in Thomson, Ga., there moved to town Dora Dell Downing from Alaska. Lucile and Dora Dell became friends, and Lucile has been baking Dora Dell’s My Man Cookies since. The odd name is because Dora Dell’s man liked the cookies.
So did Lucile’s, because she said Murdock would crumble the cookies and sprinkle them over ice cream. As soon as he reads this, my Ed, who likes his ice cream, will be doing the same.
Lucile, nee Lucile Gaines, grew up in Anderson where she was a member of First Baptist. After marrying, the couple lived in several towns, landing the last time in Charleston, where they joined First Baptist – which she calls the “mother church of Southern Baptists.” Indeed it is. You’ve studied this in WMU. The congregation was in Kittery, Maine, but, because of persecution by the established church there, the pastor loaded his flock onto a boat and sailed to Charleston. The church there was established in 1682.
Lucile has been a member of Charleston First Baptist for more than 50 years. The current pastor is Marshall Blalock, and the church is part of Screven Association. Lucile has taught Sunday school there, and in other churches which she formerly attended, for more than 60 years – because she always taught wherever she lived.
There are interesting things about Lucile other than her cookies. She is a collector of wildflowers, and her wildflower garden of more than 300 specimens is visited by garden clubs and other groups. She is also interested in archaeology. A few years ago, she took a course at the Charleston Museum and participated in several digs at local sites.
The MacLennans have two children. Their daughter Margaret, her husband T. W. Barron, and their three children live in Newnan, Ga. Their son, Tom MacLennan, his wife (the former Jane Gilliland), and their three children live in Anderson.
Lucile stresses the importance of putting the cooled cookies in an airtight tin because she says that crispness is their most important characteristic.
She says that with Christmas near, one could decorate the cookies with a pecan half, cherry half, etc. These cookies are good any time, especially with a cup of coffee after … Sunday Dinner.
My Man Cookies
1 cup plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 sticks (1 cup) butter or margarine, softened
½ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
¾ cup shredded coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
Cream butter and sugar. Add the egg and beat well. Add flour mixture and beat. Blend in the vanilla, then add the oatmeal, coconut, and nuts.
Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
Let rest on cookie sheet about 3 or 4 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool.
When cool, store in airtight tins. The cookies must be kept airtight to maintain their crispness.