Momma's Oatmeal Cookies

Years ago my Mom gave me her recipe box.

She had given me her recipe card holder long years before that.

A lot of the recipes were gone from the box, the few that remained were her all time favorites.

The card holder was a treat to use from the time I was little. I would pinch my finger trying to position the recipe card just right.

Ok.

I would clamp it on and pretend it was an extension of my hand and clonk things with it, until she reminded me she needed it to hold her recipe...

I would admire it every time as if it were new. She would tell me it was "just a chunk of wood with an old clothes pin, hooked together by a piece of dowel, and painted up with a little left over paint, nothing special. You can do things like that you know. Take nothing and make a right nice something."

One of the cards left in her box was a favorite of everybody, even the neighbor kids loved that one!

She would bake and let them cool on towels lining the limited kitchen counter space. We kids would file in mooching as many as we could!

They are still a favorite to make. And since I am missing her, I made some the other day.

Reminded me of the time I first got this recipe from her...I whipped them up and couldn't figure out what I had done wrong. they just didn't *look* like hers. I called her all upset and she told me to read her the recipe over the phone...I did. After each item she would ask, "did you do that?"

"Yes."

This went on until I reached the second to the last item...

"Did you put in all the oatmeal it asked for?" She puzzled.

"I'm sure I did! I read it just like it said!" Was my tearful reply. "Momma. How could I mess it up so bad?"

We went through that routine until the last batch was going into the oven, when she asked, " Honey? Just how much oatmeal did you put in it?" 

I looked for the container of oatmeal and wailed, " I can't find the oatmeal!" 

Mom's laughing reply was, "Well, I'd say that's the problem then." 

She helped me see that it wasn't the end of the world and taught me to get out all the items and put them away as I go.

They really are a lot better when you have all the ingredients in.

Maybe you would like to make some too? 



Mom's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies


Bring to a boil 1/4 pkg raisin's then let cool.


Take 3/4 C. cooled raisin water and put in small bowl-add 2 tsp baking soda-set this aside for now.


In a larger bowl mix:
2 C sugar                2 C shortening (I use butter flavor)
4 eggs
mix then add-
2 tsp salt                    2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground cloves    2 tsp allspice
2 tsp nutmeg

Mix the sugar, eggs and shortening together. Next add the spices and mix as you go- Next add 2 C flour--this is were you add the small bowl of raisin water- 2 more C flour (4 C flour total)
Next mix in 4 C oatmeal and (1 C chopped nuts if you want them)

Stir the raisin's in last and not to much or they mush-


Do not grease cookie sheet (or just use parchment paper is the easiest)


Spoon onto cookie sheet into tsp size lumps


bake at 350 degrees for 9 to 10 minutes-until they don't look gooey in the middle
this recipe makes 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 doz. cookies and they freeze great!