Christmas Fruit Cookies

1/2 cup margarine or butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten
1 1/8 cup flour(use 3/8 of this over fruit)
1/2 tsp. cinnomon
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 cup pecans,chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 lb. pitted dates,chopped
1 lb. shelled filberts, whole
4 oz. candied red cherries, chopped
4 oz. candied green cherries, chopped
2 oz. candied pineapple, chopped

Makes a stiff dough. The night before get fruit and nuts ready, sprinkle with 3/8 cup of the flour.
Cream butter and sugar, add beaten egg. Sift remainder of flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt and add to butter-sugar mixture. Add vanilla, floured fruit and nuts. Shape into balls with hands. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 275 for 10 minutes. When you take them out of the oven they do not look baked, but after remaining on the pan for a few minutes they get firm. Baking too long makes them very dry. Makes about 80 cookies.
These are my favorite cookies and they keep very good in a cool place or even in the freezer. You may substitute with any of your favorite nuts or fruits, just keep total quantities the same or they will be too stiff and fall apart.
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!