Hannah’s 5th Note: The mound of dough should be no larger than a ping pong ball. (If you’ve never played table tennis, this is a little smaller than a golf ball. If you’ve never played golf, make the dough mounds the size of a large walnut in the shell. If you’ve never seen a large walnut in the shell, you’d better ask someone or you won’t have a clue!)

Dip the pad of your impeccably clean finger in the flour. (I use my pointer finger.) Make an indentation in the center of your mounds of cookie dough, dipping your finger in the bowl of flour before indenting each mound. Make sure your indentations DO NOT go all the way to the bottom of the dough mounds. (If the jam leaks out in the oven, it’ll go all over and you certainly don’t want that!)

Use the tip of a small spoon to take a little jam from the jar and deposit it inside the indentation you made. Don’t use too much jam. A little will do just fine.

Drop a little mound of cookie dough over the top of the jam to cover it completely. Then it will be a lovely surprise when everyone bites into your cookies.

Bake your Angel Jellies at 275 degrees F. for approximately 40 minutes or until the meringue part of the cookie is lightly golden and dry to the touch when you tap it lightly with your finger.

Take the Angel Jellies out of the oven. Cool the cookies on the paper-lined baking sheet by setting it on a cold stovetop burner or on a wire rack.

When your Angel Jellies are completely cool, peel them off the paper and store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. (Unfortunately, your refrigerator is NOT a dry place. A cupboard shelf will do just fine as long as it’s not near your stove.)

Yield: 3 to 4 dozen crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth cookies with a delightful surprise in the center. Warning: Angel Jellies are like potato chips. You can’t eat just one!

Michelle’s Note: My college housemates love these cookies. I’ve made them with strawberry jam, peach jam, apricot jam, pineapple jam, blueberry jam, and orange marmalade.

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

“Norman!” Hannah greeted him with a cup of coffee, a plate of cookies, and a smile. “How are you? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Norman stood up as she placed the coffee and cookies in front of him and pulled her into his arms to give her a hug. “I know I haven’t dropped in for a while. I’ve been busy at the house, directing workmen. And I’ve gone out to the mall every night for Christmas shopping. How about you?”