Baking At Last

The baking bug bit me nigh on three weeks ago, but the weather was just so uncomfortable heat and humidity-wise that contemplating hours in the kitchen with the stove running was clearly insane. Not that it always stops me. Yesterday, though - with it officially now September and so psychologically, if not actually, the end of summer - I finally got to appease the cookie god with a double batch of peanut butter cookies and a double batch of apple spice cookies. The weather cooperated nicely - it was cool and rainy, and very autumnal-seeming - as the smell of fresh baked goodness filled the house.

Spiced Applesauce Drop Cookies
(from a much-xeroxed 4-H handout)

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened applesauce

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cream shortening. Beat in sugar gradually. Add egg, beat until light and fluffy. Sift dry ingredients together. Add dry ingredients alternately with applesauce to egg mixture. (If you like, add 1 cup chopped nuts at this point. Or, as we sometimes do, put in cinnamon chips.) Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until top springs back when pressed lightly with finger.