Old-Fashioned Soft Sugar Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar plus additional for sprinkling
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel (yellow part only)
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries

In a bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, nutmeg and salt to combine thoroughly; set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a mixer bowl, combine butter and sugar; beat until well-blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing until fluffy after each addition. Add vanilla extract and lemon peel; mix to blend thoroughly.

Add flour mixture alternately with sour cream, mixing until smooth after each addition.

Drop by tablespoons, placed well apart, onto well-greased baking sheets. Sprinkle each cookie lightly with granulated sugar. Place one or two raisins or cranberries in the center of each. Bake until cookies are golden brown (12 to 14 minutes). Remove at once to wire racks to cool.

Makes about 5 dozen 2 3/4-inch cookies.