Recipe(tried): Mincemeat Star Cookies

Mincemeat Star Cookies

1 1/3 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
4 cups sifted enriched flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 to 4 Tablespoons milk
1 recipe Mincemeat filling

Thoroughly cream shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in orange peel. Sift together dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Divide dough in half; chill. On lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8 inch. Cut with 2 3/4 inch round cutter. Cut small star in center of half the cookies. Place 1 heaping teaspoon filling on each plain cookie. Top with a cutout cookie. Press edges with fork to seal. Bake on greased cookie sheet in moderate oven (375 degrees) about 12 minutes. Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Mincemeat filling
Break one 9 oz. package mincemeat in pieces. Add 2 Tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons grated orange peel, 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel, 1/2 cup orange juice, and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Heat, stirring until lumps are broken. Simmer 1 minute. Cool; stir in 1/4 cup chopped California Walnuts.