Wisdom From Grandma

When you walked into Grandma’s house for the first time, you may have been a bit surprised. Tables, chairs, and even bureaus were several inches shorter than normal, because Grandma sawed off part of the legs. When someone asked her why she had cut the feet off of all of that beautiful furniture, Grandma always said, “I’m a short woman and I don’t see any sense in having trouble using the furniture in my own house. Your house is the only place you can be comfortable, Dear. Don’t decorate it to make other people happy.”

I now have a beautiful tiger eye maple table that is two inches shorter than normal in my kitchen. It may not be worth as much to antique dealers because grandma lopped off a few inches in the middle of the supporting column and then put it back together, but to me it is even more valuable. That table reminds me to decorate my home to please myself.

These delicious date pinwheel cookies were one of Grandpa’s favorites. Although there are several steps to making the cookies and the recipe may look a bit complicated at first, these cookies are worth the extra effort.
To make the dough, you will need:
1/2 Cup of butter
1/2 Cup of brown sugar
1/2 Cup of granulated sugar
1/2 Teaspoon vanilla
1 Egg
2 Cups sifted flour
1/8 Teaspoon salt
1/4 Teaspoon soda

Directions:
1. Mix the ingredients well.
2. Chill for one hour.
3. Divide your dough in half.
4. Roll the dough into two 8×10 rectangles.

To make the filling, you will need:
7 Ounces of pitted dates
1 Teaspoon of lemon peel
1/2 Cup granulated sugar
1/8 Teaspoon salt
1/3 Cup of water
1 Cup of chopped pecans if you prefer nuts in your cookies

Directions for filling:
1. Simmer all filling ingredients for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Remove filling from heat.
3. Add pecans.
4. Allow filling to cool.

Directions for cookies:
1. Spread the date nut mixture on the two dough rectangles.
2. Roll each rectangle into a jelly roll.
3. Wrap the rolls separately.
4. Chill overnight.
5. Cut rolls into 1/8 inch slices.
6. Bake cookie slices on greased cookie sheets for 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees.