Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are one of my top 2 all time favorite cookies (the other one is white chocolate macadamia nut).  Something might be wrong with my husband and children in that they do not like them.  I hardly ever make them, maybe twice since we've been married, and when I do make them, they don't measure up to this ideal in my head of these cookies that Steve's mom made, and I ate, a long time ago.  My mother-in-law makes the best oatmeal raisin cookies.  I have not ever gotten the recipe from her because it seems foolish to make cookies that only I will eat.  Foolish because #1 I will eat them all myself and #2 because it is a waste of baking ingredients if they're only going to be for me.  But this fall I have had a hankering for them and I said to myself "what the heck I'm going to get the recipe AND I'm going to make them.  AND I'm going to eat them."  So I called her last night, and it took her a minute to figure out which ones I was talking about, but then she gave me the recipe.  I made them today and they came out perfect.  They are the cookies I've been dreaming about.  My puppy-dog-eyed husband and children convinced me last night that if I was going to make these today, I should make half of them with raisins and half with chocolate chips.  So I did that because I love them lots (this puppy-dog-eye strategy is the same one they employed that caused us to get 2 cats when I wanted 0 cats...it is very effective when they all use it at once against me).  I still get an entire half batch for myself.  Which is good, or else really bad.  When you read the recipe, don't worry.  You should still make these.  Even though they have shortening and a LOT of brown sugar, also they have oatmeal and raisins.  So it's like they're good for you.  And I don't care anyway, they taste so good.  I just ate 2 of them with some coffee.  And in the morning I'm going to eat 2 more of them with more coffee. 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups quick oats
1 cup raisins (or, if you have eclectic housemates who hate raisins, 1/2 cup raisins and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips)

Cream shortening and brown sugar in large mixing bowl (of course I used my Kitchen Aid).  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add vanilla.  In separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda.  Add slowly to sugar mixture.  Once combined, add oats.  Stir in raisins (at this point I divided the dough in half and added raisins to one half and chocolate chips to the other). Drop dough by approx 1 1/2 tablespoonfuls (I used my Pampered Chef scoop) onto cookie sheets and flatten slightly with fork.  Bake at 375 for 8 minutes, just until starting to brown around the edges.

I think I've said enough about how I feel about this recipe.  Best oatmeal raisin cookies ever.  EVER.