Orange Pecan Cookies

Ran across this recipe in an ancient cookbook from my mother's collection. It dates around the 1950's. I haven't tried it but plan to do so for Christmas. In fact, I may actually make a batch in the near future to determine it's 'worthiness'! :-) Thought I'd share it and give everyone a shot at either using it, as is, or tweaking it to suit their own purposes.

Orange Pecan Cookies
1 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Combine the shortening and sugars and beat until fluffy. Mix in the remaining ingredients until it forms a well-combined dough.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Drop rounded spoons of dough (about a tablespoon or less - a cookie scoop works great here.) onto a vegetable oil sprayed baking sheet or line baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes depending on size of your cookies.

Ideas . . .
-An orange icing drizzle would bring these up a notch.
-Dipping half of each cookie in melted chocolate would make them wonderful.
-Same deal if you use melted white chocolate.
-You can sprinkle colorful decorations/colored sugar on the chocolate-dipped cookies.
-Place a chocolate chip on each cookie before they cool and spread the melted chocolate to form an icing.