DEAR SUN SPOTS: Recently I was going thru my parents belongings. My dad was a member of Odd Fellows and I found a Sesquicentennial coin with the Seven Stars Tavern in Maryland on it. I don’t know the significance of this, but if someone who is a member would like to have it, please contact me at 645-2422. — Ruth, no town

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Please share your recipe for the fruit cake cookies. We made our own fruitcakes when we were younger, but have not made one in many years. The cookies sound like a wonderful, easy alternative. — Fern & Sylvia, Norway

ANSWER: This recipe, mentioned in the Dec. 20 Sun Spots, makes about 3 dozen cookies and are even better if you store them in a waxed paper-lined tin or other airtight container and store them for a few days in the refrigerator, just like fruitcake.

And now that Christmas is over, perhaps you can even get some of the ingredients on sale. For the buttermilk, I usually substitute regular milk with a bit of vinegar stirred in and let it sit out on the counter while I assemble the other ingredients. It works just fine. Enjoy the cookies!

Merry Christmas Cookies:

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, cream 1 cup butter and ¾ cup brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 large egg, 3 tablespoons buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

In another bowl, whisk together 1 2/3 cup flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda and ¼ teaspoon salt. Gradually beat into the creamed mixture. Stir in 1½ cup finely chopped dates, 4 ounces red candied cherries (halved), 4 ounces candied pineapple (diced), and ¾ cups each chopped pecans and walnuts.

Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets and bake for 15 minutes.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding the inquiry about house cleaners in the Dec. 26 Sun Spots, Cindy Call posted this on Facebook recently:

“Need your house cleaned? Let me help you! I’ve been in business for five years now. I can clean one time before your upcoming party or whatever your needs are. Call me and I’ll schedule an appointment with you to do a walk through. My cell phone number is 713-0507. Thank you! You won’t be disappointed.”

Hope this is of help to your inquirer. — Trudy, no town

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding the Dec. 24 Sun Spots, I use my dining room table for my 1000-piece puzzles. When I need to use the table, I cover it with a cloth-backed table pad and then top it with a tablecloth. It works great. — Edie, Auburn

ANSWER: I think the reader who asked about a puzzle table doesn’t have space in her small apartment for a dining table. However, I like your idea of just covering the puzzle-in-progress.

Your tip also brought to mind a lovely memory of a wonderful family I knew when I was a teenager. They had a huge dining table that always had a puzzle happening. Everyone who stopped in was welcome to work on it and when the entire table was needed, a vinyl table cloth was used to protect the puzzle and dishes of food and place settings were simply set on top of it. Those were the days!

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name. We won’t use it if you ask us not to. Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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