Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

1 cup butter (2 sticks, 1/2 pound)

3 cups white (granulated) sugar

4 eggs, beaten (just whip them up in a glass with a fork)

1/8 cup (2 Tablespoons) molasses

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups finely chopped pistachio nutmeats

4 cups flour (pack it down in the measuring cup when you measure it)

1/2 cup white (granulated) sugar for later

15 to 30 red or green maraschino cherries cut into quarters

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup. It’ll take about 90 seconds on HIGH. (You can also melt it in a pan on the stove if you prefer.)

Pour the butter into a mixing bowl and add the sugar. Mix well and let the mixture cool to room temperature.

Mix in the beaten eggs. Add the molasses and mix well. (If you spray your Tablespoon measure or your 1/8 cup measure with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray, the molasses won’t stick to it when you measure.)

Add the salt, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir everything together and then mix in the finely-chopped pistachios.

Add the flour in one-cup increments, mixing after each addition.

Form the dough into 1-inch balls with your fingers and place them on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. Form 12 dough balls for each standard-size cookie sheet.

Spray the flat bottom of a water glass with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray. Dip the glass in a bowl of white sugar and flatten the balls on the cookie sheet. Dip the glass into the sugar after every ball you flatten.

Place a quarter cherry in the center of each cookie. Press the cherry down with the tip of your finger.

Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes. Let the cookies set up on the sheet for one minute, and then remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Yield: 8 to 10 dozen delicious cookies, depending on cookie size.

Chapter Three

“So how was it?” Hannah’s partner, Lisa Herman Beeseman, asked when Hannah came in the back door of The Cookie Jar at a quarter past eight.

“Not as bad as I thought it would be.” Hannah hung her jacket on the rack by the back door and headed for the minuscule shower enclosure that was attached to the bathroom. “As a matter of fact, it was almost fun once the class started.”

Lisa looked shocked. “I never thought I’d hear you say that exercise was fun!”

“I didn’t say fun. I said, almost fun. I’ll take a quick shower and then I’ll set things up in the coffee shop.”

“It’s all done,” Lisa called after her.