Aola's Delish Date and Nut Balls

In a small sauce pan add 1 stick of butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup chopped dates and 1 beaten egg.  On low heat stir and cook for 10 minutes.  Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and pour over 2 cups rice krispies and 1 cup of chopped walnuts. Mix together, roll in desired size balls and roll in coconut.  These keep for a few weeks in a sealed container and actually my husband likes them better after they have been stored for a few days.

Rather than put the recipe at the end of my blog it will be first for a quick copy and make.  Time is precious in the last few days of holiday baking.  I have never been one to bake weeks in advance, I like fresh and most cookies taste best in the first 5days of baking.  Soft sugar cookies and molasses cookies can be stored in the freezer and stay soft.

Aola Maxson's recipe goes way back.  We moved next to her family when I was twenty, a young wife and mom of a little 2 yr old girl  and 6 month old boy.  I was lucky, since both of my parents had died by the time I was 19 a couple neighbor ladies took me under their wing.  Aola Maxson and Marie Brown were always there to help me along.  Some gifts of "Pass it On" last a lifetime and I have received many through the years.

So the final days before Christmas are upon us.  The tree is small, packages fewer, house is quiet, not as much baking and cooking but that is part of the circle of life.  I have heard so many say Christmas just isn't what it use to be.  Of course it is we were young, now it's a whole new experience.  Enjoy for what it is, not for what it was.

You know Winter Solstice is said to be a time for endings, cleansing and new beginnings.  It is the time we head to spring with new growth and awakenings.  Kinda what I have been thinking since we had the shortest day of the year yesterday, time to think of more daylight, gardens, the great outdoors and make my TADO lists.
Doesn't take much to occupy my mind, keep it wandering and working.

                                  ★☆★☆★☆★Merry Christmas and a very
                                   Happy & Healthy 2015★☆★☆★☆★☆★