Raisin-Filled Drop Cookies

Recipe is from Phyllis Smith.

1 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
4 cups flour
1 tsp soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup warm water
1 tsp vanilla

Filling (double this recipe):
1 cups dates or raisins, ground fine
½ cup sugar
2 TB flour
½ cup water
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup nuts

Cream shortening and sugar together. Add eggs, and beat well. Add vanilla. Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with water. Drop by spoonsfuls on greased cookie sheet. Flatten dough with a dampened fork. Drop 1 tsp filling on each cookie and a small amount of batter on top. Top batter need not completely cover other part. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Filling: cook filling ingredients until thick. Cool. Add vanilla.