A Cookie For...New Beginnings

This article is part of The Heritage Recipe Project series, where we celebrate culinary heritage, the art of the shared recipe, and create a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

January takes its name from the Greek God Janus, who has a particularly impressive talent when it comes to new beginnings.

Janus gives a new perspective (I couldn’t resist) to the saying, “I’ve got eyes in the back of my head.” The two-faced god demonstrates how we might consider looking at new beginnings.

Forms for celebrating new beginnings

Each of the twelve grapes symbolizes one month of the new year. By successfully consuming all 12 before the final stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, the eater is said to experience good luck throughout the year.

In the South Carolina Lowlands, black-eyed peas boiled in a savory broth along with rice and served with collard greens on New Year’s Day is a dish symbolizing prosperity.

Though not yet recorded in the lexicon of traditions celebrating new beginnings, I propose this recipe for Brown Sugar Cookies from Ruth's recipe box 1.

It’s round shape symbolizes the sun and the moon and the cycles they made to bring us to yet another new year. The golden color is representative of prosperity, compassion, and inspiration. And the sweetness is a wish that the new year will be kind and generous.

If it inspires you to try your hand at baking or to invite a neighbor or friend over for coffee hour or a nice cuppa, even better.

If you’re interested in more New Beginning traditions, check out the As We Eat podcast episode on NY Traditions.

Brown Sugar Cookies

Makes: (24 cookies) • Prep: (15 minutes) • Cook Time: (12 minutes)

The original recipe from Ruth’s recipe box was attributed to V. Ehlers whose instructions, like so many shared recipes, were quite brief and included, “put together the following ingredients in the order named,” and “bake in slow oven.” I’ve reworked the recipe a bit just to make sure that it’s easy to follow. I’ve kept it as close to Ms. Ehler’s as possible.

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar

• 1/2 shortening

• 3 eggs

• 1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 3 1/2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup nuts or raisins

Instructions

1. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, and salt in a medium bowl.

2. Beat the shortening and brown sugar until fluffy and sugar has dissolved.

3. Add the eggs one at a time beating for 30 seconds after each addition. After last egg is added, continue beating for 2 minutes.

4. Add the soda and water mixture and vanilla and mix to combine.

5. Combine the flour mixture until just combined.

6. Stir in nuts or raisin until just combined.

7. Drop the cookies by the tablespoonful onto baking sheet, spacing them about 2" apart. Bake at 350˚ for 10 - 12 minutes. Cool on cookie rack.

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