Oatmeal Cookies Extraordinaire

So it's Christmas Day. The weather outside is frightful. I mean really frightful. Everything has been coming down out there, rain, sleet, ice, snow. The wind will start blowing next. Oh well, that's winter in the mid west. But it's Christmas so we have all been trying to get together as much as we can. I hope everyone has been safe out there!

I, on the other hand, have been baking and cooking. Or should I say experimenting? The things I have been trying are actually pretty good. The Beer Cheese and Bacon Dip is fantastic. (I'll put that on next.) The Apple Dip was so so. But these cookies are Extraordinary! Of course when you taste test one right off the pan before they are completely cool makes them even better.

I stole this out of a Cook's Illustrated magazine. With a few changes of my own, of course.

1 1/4 Cups Flour
3/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
Combine those items in a medium bowl.

1 1/4 Cups Oats (the original calls for old-fashioned rolled oats. I used quick-cooking oats. They turned out fine.)
1 Cup coarsely chopped Walnuts (they used pecans)
1 Cup Dole Raisins (Plumper and Moister)(they used chopped dried cherries)
1 Cup Cinnamon Chips (Hershey's puts them out this time of year.)(They used chocolate)
Combine those items in another medium bowl.

1 1/2 Sticks Butter, softened. (the real thing!)
1 1/2 Cups Dark Brown Sugar (You can use light, but dark is better)
1 Large Egg
1 tsp Vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.

Combine the softened butter and the brown sugar in a mixer. Beating till well combined. Add the egg and vanilla, mixing again till well combined. Add in the flour mixture just till combined. Do not over mix at this point.

Add in the oat mixture and mix till barely combined. Take the bowl off of the mixer and fold it over a few times to evenly distribute the nuts, chips and fruit.

Using a 1/4 cup scoop, portion out onto your baking sheets. I ended up with 17 cookies. Press them to flatten them a bit, to get a better shape and even baking. Bake for 16 minutes. Don't over bake or they will be dry and hard instead of crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. They may look under baked after 16 minutes, but trust me they are done enough.

Now I think it's time for a nap!