Joy of Cooking's Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 lb butter, soft
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup raisins
• 3 1/2 cups rolled whole oats

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. 2

   Sift (sifting is important!) flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg (its not in the recipe, but I add about 1/8-1/4 tsp of ground cloves, too) into a mixing bowl.

3. 3

   Beat butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with a hand mixer at medium speed.

4. 4

   Sift (yes, again!) flour mixture into butter mixture and mix well.

5. 5

   Fold in raisins (or chocolate chips or chocolate covered raisins) and oats.

6. 6

   Spoon 1.5 inch balls onto non-stick cookie sheet.

7. 7

   Bake at 350°F for 6-9 minutes, rotating half way through baking. (Should be lightly firm in the center when done) Be careful -- oatmeal raisin cookies don't look done when they are, so they are very easy to over cook (unless you want then to be crispy) :).