Thumb Print Cookies

Here's an old-fashioned recipe from the home of my friend Janice. She and her long-time friend Jo-Anne get together in early December each year to bake Christmas cookies together. This recipe is from Joanne's mother Ida and is written in the style in which it was given to Janice, with ingredients and instructions intermingled, and some new terminology for me. Even if one doesn't know what "hallow" means, one knows what "hallow" means here. It's the shallow hole in which the jam is placed, of course.

Such are the traditions of Christmas baking.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Cream ½ cup butter softened
Add ½ cup of brown sugar
Beat 1 egg yolk slightly and add to butter and sugar
Add one cup of flour \Blend well
Shape into small balls about ¾ to 1 teaspoon of dough
Dip into slightly beaten egg white
Roll in finely chopped walnuts 
Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheets
Press hallow in centre of cookies with thumb
Bake at 325 degrees for 5 minutes
Remove from oven and fill hallow with raspberry seedless jam
Bake for another 15 minutes

And so it goes.....