3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk( or 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice in the 1/2 cup milk)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup halved maraschino cherries
2 cups dates, chopped

Sift together the flour, soda, and salt.
Cream butter, sugar, and eggs together.
Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
Stir in nuts, dates, and cherries.
Mix well.
Drop by rounded tablespoons on greased cookie sheets.
Bake in a pre heated 350 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes.
This will make quite a few cookies depending on how big you make them.
My last batch I got 5 dozen.

My sister had a life long bud, Mary Jane who had a grandma Parsons that loved to bake. This is her recipe and it has been in my family for 2 generations now. It's just the perfect Christmas cookie, and a darn good subsitute for fruitcake!