75 Cookies to Strangers

      It was Russ Mitchell who suggested I bake 75 cookies and give them to strangers. What? Walk up to someone on the street and say, "Would you like a cookie?" That would never work. I almost rejected the idea.

      But I liked it, so I figured out how to make it work. I would bake cookies and take them, say, to my car mechanic or my dentist or some such workplace with people who would have no reason not to trust me. So I baked fifteen date bars and took them to an appointment with my insurance agent. 

      Great reception.

      Encouraged, I baked some butter tarts and gave them to a friend to give to his employees, with strict directions to keep them cold, since I had substituted jam for the raisins or nuts called for in the recipe and the cookies were so gooey I couldn't pick them up. Refrigeration worked. 

      They were a great hit.

      Last week– perfect opportunity – I was invited to a party where I figured there would be a bunch of people I didn't know. I found, online, a recipe for Amish sugar cookies that made five dozen cookies and took ten minutes to make (plus baking time). They turned out beautifully, so I put two dozen cookies in four containers each and took them to the party. 

      It took a bit of nerve (talking to strangers was an item my sister suggested because, she said, she knew it would be a challenge for me), but I managed three times to say to the stranger sitting across the table from me, "Would you like some cookies?" The person was invariably amused by the 75 x 75 explanation and, just as invariably, proclaimed the cookies delicious. After doing this three times, I was out of nerve though not out of cookies, so I left the last carton with the hosts, who were not strangers but deserved cookies. 

      In the end I gave away 15 + 15 + (2doz. x 3) = 102 cookies. Thanks to Russ for the idea. It was so much fun I might just keep on doing it. After all, the strangers in my auto mechanic's shop and dentist's office shouldn't miss out just because I've checked the item off my list, don't you agree?

      Here's the recipe for Amish sugar cookies, which are really good. The recipe is a keeper. If you can't eat them all, give them to strangers!

Amish Sugar Cookies

Makes 5 dozen (or more)

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions

In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil and sugars. Beat in eggs until well blended. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Drop by small teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° until lightly browned, 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.