Source: Women's Circle Home Cooking

1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg, beaten
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup sour cream
2/3 cup chopped dates
Walnut halves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet.

Cream together shortening, sugar and vanilla extract. Add egg; mix well.

Sift together dry ingredients and add to shortening mixture alternately with sour cream. Stir in dates. Drop by teaspoonsful onto prepared cookie sheet. Top each with a walnut half and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes.