Fruitcake Cookies

Ingredients

* 1 pound margarine or butter
* 1 pound brown sugar
* 3 eggs
* 1 Tablespoon milk
* 5 cups flour
* 1 can shredded coconut
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 pound raisins
* 1 pound nuts (pecans or walnuts), chopped
* 1 pound candied cherries, available in most supermarkets
* 1 pound candied pineapple, diced, available in most supermarkets

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Measure 4 cups flour and mix with baking soda.
3. Combine fruit, coconut, and nuts and mix with remaining 1 cup flour in a separate mixing bowl.
4. Cream the butter, sugar, and milk together.
5. Add the eggs one at a time.
6. Beat in flour and baking soda mixture gradually, switching to a wooden spoon or spatula if batter becomes too stiff for the electric mixer.
7. Stir fruit, coconut, and nut mixture into batter.
8. Drop by teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheet.
9. Bake for 10 minutes.

Makes about 3 dozen.