3/4 c. milk or hot water
1/4 c. shortening
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 yeast cake or 1 pkg. yeast
1 beaten egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour (more or less)

Cream shortening and sugar; add salt, then hot milk or water. Cool to warm, soften yeast in that mixture and add egg. Add vanilla and enough flour to make smooth dough. Knead lightly (firm) and place in greased bowl. Cover, let rise until double. Knead lightly and use flour to handle. Form like thick sausage. Roll oblong 1/4" to 1/2" thick. Take little butter and cream with sugar and cinnamon (also raisins and nuts if desired) and mix together. Take back of spoon and spread all over (not quite to edge). Make ring and take scissors and cut.

While cooling, make powdered sugar icing, using butter in icing. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.

At Christmas roll dough into 2 oblong strips, 1/4" to 1/3" thick. Fill as above but shape into the form of a cane. As with Tea Ring, use red and green cherries cut in half for decoration.