Oatmeal Cookies – Kellis Kitchen
We’ve been sick again. The weather we’ve been dealing with from floods to sizzling heat created lots of bug and lots of pollen. Once someone catches a cold in the house, then generally everyone in turn gets it. This week my daughter and I both have been sick – it’s the second week for me and first for her. As I began feeling better I started cooking a bit when Top Girl asked for a comfort food – something she seldom does – Nana’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. I remembered and loved them but had not seen the recipe so I called mom who told me she had it all along and if I would make her some too, she would give it to me.
Once the fever subsided, I got all the ingredients together – thank goodness I had it all – and went to town baking. It was good to see Nana’s writing again. So strong and demonstrative. She was very creative and her writing revealed that part of her although most would never have guessed that not only could she sew, quilt and crochet she could reupholster like a professional and build a piece of furniture from scrap wood brought home when a pallet broke apart. Yep they had pallets back in the 20’s and 30’s. My granddad was the sheriff of our county making him responsible for the man who Drove the Dray………..I had no idea what that meant for years, all I knew was there was a nice cedar desk and side table Nana built from “when Jim-pa drove the dray”. We still have both.
Driving the Dray was how rural towns brought in goods from the railway to the community – like dry goods and hardware. A huge horse, or dray, would pull very large pallets down the streets or dirt roads from the drop off point to the middle of town where all goods were delivered. My granddad, the sheriff, was responsible for the man who drove it and all the merchandise pulled by the dray – I suppose in case it was high jacked or something. When pallets broke apart – most were made of cedar – he would throw them in the trunk of the sheriff’s car and then bring them home where Nana or he would build something with it. Anyway, back to the cookies!
Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients:
1 Cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ Cup White Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup Golden Raisins – you could use the dark ones but we don’t like them. Golden are best!
3 cups rolled oats – however, if all you have is quick cooking oatmeal, just use that – I did and they turned out great, just a bit smoother than if I had used rolled oats.
Directions:
Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy then add in eggs one at a time beating in completely.
Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon then slowly add to butter mixture with beaters on a slower speed.
Stir in oatmeal and raisins.
Cover bowl and set in fridge for at least 1 hour.
Pre-heat oven to 375F.
Put parchment paper down and begin making walnut sized balls then press down a bit when you set the ball of dough down.
See how big a walnut is? Don’t make it the size of a pecan like I did in the first batch. The right tray is baked.
Oatmeal Cookies – Kellis Kitchen
Set the timer for 10 minutes and then take them out – you will think the middle of the cookies are not done but wait 5 minutes – they will “cook” outside the oven.
They will be soft – especially with the golden raisins – and moist. The combination of the sugars and cinnamon are perfect making this one of the best cookies ever.
They sure made Top Girl and I feel better! Next week, we’ll bake more Oat Cookie Recipes together.
These sound like the cookies I’ve been making for over 60 years – still a favorite.
So sorry you and your daughter have been sick, but I know these cookies helped everyone feel better – even the ones who weren’t sick.
Forgot to mention that I loved the story of Nana making furniture and the picture of the dray.
Thanks Lillian! I tried to find a photo of the desk and side table – but couldn’t – Someday I will have to get one of those to show everyone!
Good thing to read to start the day at 6:00 a.m.! Wish we had just one more visit with our grandmother. I’d love a million, but that’s saved for heaven. Sure miss her like crazy! Wish these bugs would quit jumping on our family. So glad Top Girl’s grandmother (this story is about her great-grandmother on her mother’s side of the family) is recovering well after pacemaker surgery (which she couldn’t go to becauseI she was sick). My grandfather passed away when I was 20 making Kelli 19. Wish we’d have more Tim with them both! Glad you enjoyed the cookies and they made you all feel better. My grandmother did most of her working listening to KVOO and singing to George Strait! Where my love of music comes from!!! Loved the story!!! I knew it, but nice to look back!!!
I’m glad you enjoyed it cuz – as the family historian, I try to get all the stories I heard as a kid down…..there are generations of our family that know basically nothing and where they come from! How do you ever know where you are going if you don’t know where you come from?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I think your nana and my mother were the same person. . . in spirit and cooking style anyway.
These are my favorite cookies. And I don’t care if you use regular or golden raisins. Just the best – either way.
I just had two and yep – you are right Joan, they are the best! I bet my Nana and your mom would have gotten along famously!
I totally agree with you on the golden raisins. No matter how much I try to eat the dark raisins, I still don’t like them.
I pinned and saved this recipe.
Great! Thanks Danielle!
Hope you and your daughter is doing better today~ I love raisins and thats good to know they stay soft and moist a must try thanks Kelli great family story too!
Thank you!
What a great heritage recipe. And, thanks for the lesson about driving the drays. Never heard of that.
Thanks Debra!
There’s nothing like a warm from the oven cookie to cure what ails you! Your chewy oatmeal cookies look perfect, Kelli. I’m so glad you all are feeling better and I loved the story about your nana making furniture. There was no end to her talents!
Apparently not – she could do just about anything! 🙂 Thanks for stopping over!
I love oatmeal cookies! Yum! This looks like an awesome recipe, I may have to do some baking this afternoon! Have a great weekend Kelli, and I hope everyone feels better! 🙂
Kelli, these cookies sound so good. Approximately how many cookies are made (walnut sized) from this recipe? Thanks.
Hi Laurie – it made me 3 short of 5 dozen! You could half it if you wanted but I have lots of big boys in my family so they were gone in no time! 🙂