Duplicate recipe except the dusting of confectioners' sugar.

posted by: Gina: “Back on Feb. 25th, I had requested a recipe for these strawberry cookies that I had at a local strawberry farm…I tried all the recipes that were posted but none came close to the ones that I had tasted at the farm. I resigned myself to never ever getting the recipe. Low and behold if it didn’t appear in the recipe section of the Thursday paper! Here is the recipe and they are delicious!”

Parkesdale Farms’ Strawberry-Pecan Cookies

Makes 4 dozen

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup Crisco shortening
1/2 tsp fresh baking soda
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup strawberry puree (from 1 pint fresh or frozen sweet strawberries)
3 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 cups shopped pecans
confectioners’ sugar, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream sugar, shortening and baking soda; add eggs and strawberry puree. Mix just until blended. Stir in flour and salt. Mix well. Blend in pecans. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes per sheet. Let cool for a few minutes then remove to cookie rack. When completely cooled, dust with confectioners’ sugar.

The original poster's comments:

"Hi ___: sorry to hear they didn’t turn out. I made two batches last night, one for home and one for my DH’s office. Make sure the baking soda is fresh and all the other ingredients too. I mixed everything in my KitchenAid mixer. First I creamed the sugar, soda and shortening. Then I mixed in the eggs, one at a time and the strawberry puree. (I used the frozen ones from the store) Blend just until all incorporated. Then I stirred in 1 cup of flour at a time with a wooden spoon, after each cup is blended in well, I would add the next. Finally, with the wooden spoon I blended in the cup of chopped pecans. I also added in 1/2 a capful of red food coloring.
If it came out bland I would venture to guess it is the strawberries fault. I tasted my strawberries and they were super sweet and very, very red. Look for the frozen slice strawberries that come in their sweet juice. Hope you try again because I couldn’t stop eating them. They are very good for dunking too. Happy Baking! Gina"