Ida Vargason's Applesauce Cookies

1 cup raisins 2 tablespoons water 3/4 cup butter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup apple sauce

1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2-1/4 cups flour 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
Place the raisins in a microwave dish and pour the water over them. Microwave on high for one minute and leave them in the microwave until ready to use. Preheat the oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugar together; add eggs and beat well. Stir in applesauce. Sift dry ingredients together and add to applesauce mixture. Drain any remaining water from the raisins and stir them in. Add walnuts if desired. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Shape cookies as needed with a clean damp fingertip. Bake until lightly browned (about 8-10 minutes). Cool on a wire rack.

Notes:
Ida Vargason contributed this recipe to the Jolly Neighbors Extension Club of Rose, Nebraska, for a hand-written cookbook that they made during the early 1960's. She notes that drained crushed pineapple can be substituted for the applesauce. I have expanded the directions a little because all the recipes were greatly condensed to fit on one side of a 3x5" recipe card. I believe the Vargasons lived northwest of us for a while, possibly on the Tuie Johnson place. They had a son named Gary and a daughter named Barbara, both of whom were a little older than me.