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Cherry Drop Cookies
Southern Living Our Best Recipes Copyright 1970

½ cup butter or margarine I used butter
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almost extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 (8 ½-ounce) can crushed pineapple, well drained
½ cup chopped maraschino cherries
1 cup chopped pecans (optional) I omitted these

Blend the butter and cream cheese together. Gradually add sugar; cream well. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flavorings. Add combined dry ingredients gradually; mix thoroughly. Stir in pineapple, chopped cherries, and pecans. Drop by large tablespoonfuls onto unoiled cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 12 minutes. I used my small scoop, added a whole cherry on top and baked them on parchment paper. They didn't take as long to cook (I probably overbaked them but they were still good.)

Yield 2 dozen.
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Yep, more cookies. You didn't think you were going to see a dinner post today, did you? That may be a while. I'm not sure when I'll be able to afford groceries again, never mind have the energy to plan and prepare real meals.

I took this picture a couple of days after making these cookies, so the cherries weeped a bit but these were one of my favorite cookies this year personally. They were light in texture and I happen to love maraschino cherries in cookies.

BTW, in case you were wondering, almond extract is not made from almonds or any other nut. At least not McCormick's (there may be 'real' almond flavoring out there).

I still have a few loose ends to wrap up, Christmas-wise, but the most stressful part is over. It actually wrapped up pretty smoothly. That 'extra' day helped. I like Christmas on a Monday. Overall, I wasn't that happy with my baking this year. I had higher aspirations but in the end I just muddled through. My cookies weren't festive. I didn't make the Ricotta Cookies this year because I always have trouble with iced or glazed cookies - they get sticky and don't work well on cookie trays. I'm challenged in the area. The sprinkles help and I should have made them but I was just too tired.