Homemaking Tip—No Sense Tempting Bad Luck

Long ago before Ree was Pioneer Woman, there was Becky. Becky was a fashion model in a large city before she married George and moved to the family ranch 60 miles from town. It was a painful transition for Becky to live so far from stores, friends, schools and entertainment, but she did it. She was a wonderful cook and one day she returned my pan with something freshly baked in it. I fussed like a respectable neighbor should, telling her it wasn’t necessary and all, but she said, “My mom said it’s bad luck to return an empty pan.” Far be it from me to question her mother’s superstitions.

Tonight we returned a pan to friends who brought soup over last weekend. I filled it with these cookies (what with the oats, bran flakes, nuts and raisins they’re bound to be as nutritious as soup).

Good Luck Cookies

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter-flavor Crisco
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
2 ½ cups flour
¾ cup bran flakes
1 tsp soda
2 cups oats
2 cups chocolate covered raisins
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped nuts

Cream shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients (salt, flour, baking soda, oats, bran flakes, coconut and nuts). Mix well. Add chocolate covered raisins. Spoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes or until lightly golden. Makes approximately 5 dozen.

Here's to Becky and her mom. I miss her and her cooking.