an apple (or just half an apple if a whole one looks like too much -- I use green apples)
1 stick Crisco-bar or 2 sticks butter (16 tablespoons total)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1.5 cups brown sugar (may substitute white sugar)
a couple glops of honey or maple syrup
2 eggs
a gurgle of vanilla (2 tablespoons if you're picky, but more is good)
lots and lots of cinammon (add until the dough is a rich light-brown color)
optional nuts (I like walnuts)
2.5 or so cups of flour
Dice apple into cubes about 5-10 mm per side. Lay apple cubes on baking tray.
Set oven to around 300 degrees F, and put apple tray in for about 15 minutes
or until they are slightly soft. Let apples cool a little before adding them
into mixture.
Melt Crisco in a large bowl. Add in everything but the flour and apple pieces.
Mix.
Add flour and apple pieces.
Mix some more.
Add extra flour until dough doesn't stick to fingers too much.
Drop little clumps of dough onto baking sheet.
Bake 9-10 minutes at 375 degrees F. Don't overcook -- Tom's cookies should
come out slightly undercooked for that delicious chewy texture.
Share the joy with others.