Recipe: Hermits (cookies with raisins and nuts, using coffee, 1940's)

HERMITS

"You'll like the rich flavor, chewy texture of these drop cookies."

1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup cold coffee
1 3/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cups raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cream shortening with sugar until light and fluffy. Add beaten egg and coffee, mixing well.

Add flour that has been sifted with salt, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon, and blend thoroughly. Stir in raisins and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls on lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes in a fairly hot oven (400 degrees F).

Makes about 4 dozen good-sized cookies
Source: Vintage recipe booklet: Making Wartime Meals by Sun-Maid Raisins, 1944
(click here for the complete booklet in pdf format)