Lemon Drop Cookies

I thought I would share a few new recipes that were fantastic! Definitely keepers. The first one is for Lemon Drop Cookies. It comes from the cookbook "Five Star Recipes from well-known Latter-day Saints," compiled by Elaine Cannon. It was a free cookbook with a purchase at Deseret Book a few years ago. I have found some real gems in this book--and all of them have stories about the recipe and a biography of who submitted the recipe.

While I was making this recipe, I kept thinking of Grandma and Grandpa Ray. Grandpa loves Lemon Meringue pie--so I conjured up in my head that he might like these cookies. Grandma Ray grew up on a farm in hot Arizona, and her daddy would give each of the farm hands (aka his kids) a lemon drop to suck on while they were in the fields. He thought it cut down on their thirst needs, therefore less time spent leaving the fields to go to the bathroom. (or was it the outhouse?) So if anyone that lives near Grandma and Grandpa decides to make these cookies, please share a few with them.

As a side note, I made the cookies exactly like the recipe says--because I am my father's daughter and exactly following a recipe is something Dad would do!

Lemon Drop Cookies
2 c sugar
1 1/2 c butter-flavored shortening
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
4 c flour
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Finely chopped zest of one lemon
6 oz pkg of lemon drops, crushed
1 c powdered sugar
Juice of one lemon

Preheat oven to 350. In mixing bowl, cream sugar, shortening, eggs, and flavorings. Stir in dry ingredients, lemon zest, and crushed lemon drops. Roll into balls, flatten slightly, and bake on parchment lined baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes. Be sure to use parchment on the baking sheet, as the candy pieces cause the cookies to stick to the baking surface! Remove from tray immediately and place on cookie rack to cool slightly. Make a glaze by mixing powdered sugar with lemon juice, then brush lightly over the cookie tops. Let cookies cool completely. Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.