Wilder Ranch Lemon Prints, from the Wilder Ranch Cookbook

FEATURED COLUMNIST Wilder Ranch Lemon Prints

Bake the Wilder Ranch way! If you’ve ever had a cookie or a brownie at Wilder Ranch State Park’s Old-fashioned Independence Day celebration or the Harvest Festival, you know how delicious they are.

The Wilder Ranch Cookbook is a compilation of historically accurate recipes handed down by the Wilder family. The recipes were meticulously researched by Wilder Ranch docents who are active bakers and who do woodstove baking in the cultural preserve at the state park in Santa Cruz.

Recipes in the cookbook date from to the 1870s to the 1920s, when Wilder Ranch was an active dairy farm. There are more than 50 recipes for breakfast, cookies, breads and muffins, butter and ice cream, cakes, preserves and more.

Try a brownie recipe from 1896 that — surprise! — doesn’t include chocolate, or a cornbread muffin recipe that is more than 200 years old. The cookbook includes historical notes and living history, such as a scrapbook of Wilder Ranch special events and directions to make bubbles for kids.

This recipe for Lemon Prints is a fun twist to make a lighter, more refreshing cookie this holiday season. Plus, Meyer lemons are seemingly always in season in Santa Cruz County.

The simple recipe uses basic ingredients found in most kitchens. Bonus — if you’re back to cookie exchanges, this recipe makes a lot of treats to share! •••

Ingredients

¾ C butter, softened ¾ C sugar 1 egg yolk 1 Tbsp. grated lemon peel 2 C flour ½ tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. salt

Directions

Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.

Beat in egg yolk and lemon peel.

Stir in flour mixed with baking powder and salt.

Roll dough in small (3/4inch) balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet and flatten with fork.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or just until the edges begin to brown (golden). Cool on wire racks.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies. n •••

The Wilder Ranch Cookbook is available in the ParkStore at Wilder Ranch State Park and in Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks’ ParkStore Online (thatsmypark. org/products/cookbook-004590) for $16.95. Proceeds benefit local state parks and beaches.

Share A Recipe!

Do you have a recipe that is a family favorite? Or maybe one from your childhood you would like to share? The Aptos Times will be publishing one recipe each issue from a community member.

Feel free to add a little history to the recipe if you want (approximately 75 words). Every issue we will randomly choose a recipe to publish.

Find your favorite and send it to cathe@cyber-times.com today!

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