Fruit Drop Cookies

Cut the dates into small pieces about the size of a raisin.

This comes already diced from the supermarket but it's very strong so I put it through the food processor to make very small pieces.

I use an equal amount green and red cherries just because it looks nice in the cookie and it's the way mom does it. I put this through the food processor as well and chop them to small pieces thou mom uses her kitchen shears to cut them up.

Have your raisins in a good size bowl and fold in the two colours of cherries, mixed peel and cut up dates. Mix this till all the fruit is well blended through out. Put a light dusting of flour over the top and stir it through and this will keep the fruit from sticking to itself.

Whip up the butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs and beat well. Dissolve the baking soda in a bit of warm water and add to the batter. Add the spices, and flavorings and salt and beat well.

With a large spoon start to work in the flour a bit at a time. When it gets too dry to mix add a bit of fresh squeezed orange juice to loosen up the batter.

This dough should be a little looser than traditional cookie dough. Mix the fruit in about a cup at a time till well distributed through the batter. It will basically be all fruit with a bit of batter holding it all together.

Preheat the oven to 325.
Using a couple spoons. Scoop up about a tablespoon full and use the other spoon to drop the batter on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for between 15 to 18 minutes. Place on a cooling rack and once cool store in a tight sealing container to keep moist.