Celebrating 144 years of being Canadian, eh!

Square Bear lives in Turks and Caicos now, but he knows his heritage!

 

 

July 1st is Canada Day. It is our country's 144th birthday this year. I know, BABIES in a world filled with much older nations.  We like to politely wave our flag on this day of all days. This year, even Will and Kate will attend the big birthday party on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
In Newfoundland, where much of my family is from, July 1st is also a memorial day to the members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Much of the regiment was killed at Beaumont Hamel during the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
In honour of the holiday, and Newfoundland culture -- full as it is with Celtic music, hospitality and really good food, I offer this recipe from my Aunt Rita.
She is a transplanted-to-Ontario Newfoundlander who taught me to love and care for people using my heart, mind and talents. She calls them Clean Cookies because they aren't crumbly, and stand up well to being packed in lunches and picnic baskets. This recipe makes about four dozen cookies, so it's good for great big national pride gatherings and a nice finish to a "scoff" (a Newfie word meaning a great, big, good meal.)

Aunt Rita's Clean Cookies

1 cup margarine
11/2 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1-1/2 cups seedless golden raisins

Preheat oven to 350. Line a cookie sheet with baking parchment, or grease lightly. Using a hand mixer, blend margarine and sugar together until creamy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl. Stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon to combine. Add to sugar and margarine mixture, stir until well incorporated. Fold in raisins. Drop by spoonsful onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes.