Coconut Washboard Cookies

I found this unique cookie recipe in one of my mother-in-law's old cookbooks. This particular cookbook definitely had some unusual recipes like boiled egg yolk cookies, cheese freeze cake, veal stroganoff in a bottle and breadcrumb cake.   I looked and looked, but couldn't find when it was published.  Towards the back of the cookbook there were some advertisements - one for Perx frozen pancake batter (along with a coupon that expired March 31, 1970) and for Manners Restaurant (with a picture of a rotary phone).  I'm guessing it's from 1969 or 1970.  I decided to "test" out the washboard cookie recipe because I had all of the ingredients and it sounded just a bit too interesting not to make!!!  The cookies are made to resemble a washboard:

Three words describe these cookies perfectly - super duper delicious!!  They would be awesome with a cup of hot cocoa, tea (hot or iced) or coffee.  A little "washboard" trivia - what is the only manufacturer still producing washboards in the United States?  Hint - take a real close look at the picture of the washboard :) According to their website, the Columbus Washboard Company has been making washboards since 1895!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine, softened
2 cups light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups white flour
1 1/2 cups sweetened coconut, shredded


Topping:

1 tablespoon white sugar

In large bowl, put shortening, margarine, light brown sugar and the eggs.  Mix well by hand or with electric mixer.  Stir in the water, vanilla extract, baking powder, baking soda and salt with a large spoon.  Add the flour one cup at a time, mixing well after each cup. Gently stir in the coconut with a large spoon and combine well. Divide dough in half.  Roll each half into a log that is 13 inches long and 3 1/2 inches across. Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for at least 2 hours.  When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Slice each log in half and cut each half into 12 equal slices.  Place 12 slices on an ungreased cookie sheet and then with your fingertips press each slice into 1 inch across and 4 inches long, so it is in a rectangular shape, like a washboard.  With the tines of a fork, first dip lightly in the white sugar and then go across each cookie in rows, left to right until the entire cookie has fork marks.  You want to go about halfway into each slice with the tines of the fork, so the marks remain after baking.  Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the cookies are starting to turn brown. Remove immediately to a wire rack to finish cooling.  Makes 4 dozen.