2 cups rainsins 1 tsp baking powder 1 cup water 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup shortning 2 tsp salt 2 cups white sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 3 eggs

1/2 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp allspice 4 cups flour 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1. Cover raisins with water and boil 15 minutes.

2. Cool.

3. Cream together shortning and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Add vanilla and boiled raisins with 1/4 cup more water. Add dry ingredients to the batter a little at a time.

4. Drop on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 oven for 10-12 min.