Picture this:
We are going back in time to A cold, snowy day in the Midwest.
You know the kind of day where the snow comes down in icy pellets that sting your face.
The kind of day where you attempt to walk on slippery sidewalks that have more salt on them then a McDonald french fry!
And wind!
If you are from the Midwest, you know that no amount of Aqua Net can hold your hair in place once that wind starts whistling through the air…..
…..and if you have to put on a stocking hat…well, let’s just say you won’t be able to take the hat off until you are in the privacy of your own bathroom with comb in one hand and the brush in the other, cuz honey…your hair will never be the same as before the hat went on.
Eeeeeeek! Remember the bride of Frankenstein’s hair?
Enough said.
So why was I out in this blizzard type weather so many years ago?
Cuz that is just another Winter day in Kansas, Toto…(and another reason I moved to Florida)!
Comme ci, Comme ca (pronounced Come see, Come saw)! Or C’est la vie, (pronounced say la vee) and Que sera sera!
Now that I have exhausted my knowledge of French just to say, that is life in Kansas, it is what it is, and neither good nor bad or what will be will be!
OK….we have established that I was out selling Avon on a cold snowy day in Kansas in the middle 1980’s. LOL
And, at that time, I was a part time Avon lady….emphasis on PART time because I certainly did not get rich selling it, because I kept buying everything in the book myself.
Remember the days when the Avon lady went door to door?
Yes, that was a long time ago…try the 1980’s!
ANYWAY…I digress.
When you sell part time…you know you can count on your friends to at least look at the Avon book and if you are lucky, they might buy something.
Or they might offer you cookies if you keep repeating “Boy, something sure smells good.”
OR, “Wow! those cookies look delicious”
Yes, I am not too proud to admit I begged.
I love cookies.
I love dates!
And I love a cookie with dates that looks pretty!
And Marie’s date pinwheel cookies were all of the above.
Front and center is the Date Pinwheel Cookie Recipe that I received about 30 plus years ago from my friend Marie.
I just love these handwritten recipes….and I have so many that have been written out in the recipe giver’s handwriting!
It is one of those memories where you remember the time of day and the circumstances behind the giving of the recipe.
Gee! why is it that I can remember some things and not others?
Hmmmmm….I guess that is a rocket science question and all I am interested in is eating this cookie!
About 4 years ago, I posted Marie’s recipe (printable is below), of course giving her all the credit.
(A Sidebar here if you please) If you will note in the comments below….Marie did not remember giving me this recipe, but she did remember the recipe and the recipe card as her family makes these cookies every year.
And no, I don’t know if there is a hidden meaning there of why she doesn’t remember…LOL.
I just know she is still a good friend even though we have moved lots of miles in the opposite directions. Perhaps she will comment on this.
Back to my story.
Anyway, I was sitting at Marie’s dining room table and we were having coffee or tea…oops, I don’t remember the drink…but I do remember her giving me this recipe.
I went right home and made it and have been making it ever since.
See? That is what friends are for….well, …that and other things, but when they give you their recipes…you know you are good friends!
Below is my note to Marie about 3 years or so ago.
“Thanks Marie….Do you remember giving me this recipe card?
Hint! It is a green fold over recipe card with the phrase “From the kitchen of… Marie”
Enjoy this cookie recipe and ask your friends for recipes you particularly like.
It gives a warm and fuzzy.
I like warm and fuzzy. 🙂
And I like Date Pinwheel Cookies!
And I make them every Christmas because they are so so good!
And I have another recipe from my sister-in-law in New Mexico for orange biscochitos….I can’t wait to share it with you.
And yet another friend’s recipe for cherry mash bars.
Stay tuned, more to come!
- 1 pound pitted chopped dates
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of sugar (no mistake, 1 cup sugar total)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 3/4 cups sifted flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Combine dates, water and 1/2 cup sugar in sauce pan and cook until thick, stirring constantly. (about 2-3 minutes) Cool.
- Thoroughly cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and beat well.
- Sift dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture, stirring until smooth.
- Divide the dough in half and roll one part on a well floured surface til 1/4 inch thick
- Combine date mixture and walnuts or pecans
- Spread half the filling evenly over the dough
- Roll like a jelly roll, starting on the narrow end.
- Wrap the roll in wax paper with the edge of the roll on the bottom.
- Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
- Chill rolls until firm or you can freeze them
- Cut in 1/4 inch thick slices and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Bake in hot oven 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes
- PS I don't think I use that hot of oven you can see but I think I probably don't have it over 375.
- Well, I do use that hot of oven...but my oven is older and maybe doesn't get as hot.
- Don't be disillusioned if your pinwheels are a little oblong or wobbly looking. A lot depends on the coolness of your kitchen in relation to your dough and the amount of filling you spread and the smoothness of your filling. Just sayin' ...
- I, personally like my date mixture a little chunky and thick... 😉
Nice to see you are still using the recipe 🙂 My family decided a few years ago that this cookie had to be a Christmas tradition ~ Therefore we have them every Christmas !!
I must confess I don’t remember giving it but I do recognize the recipe card description ~
Thanks Kari !
Thanks Marie…I treasure the recipe in your handwriting.
Me