Week 1 - Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies

I can’t believe a week has already gone by. It feels like I was just coming up with ideas for baking. My week has been spent planning a Toronto/Niagara Falls weekend with Mr. VIP for this upcoming weekend. It’s going to be wonderful I am sure. We also went and picked up Rico’s new tank, it’s huge!! Pictures next week when I have it all set up J.

Flu and cold season is upon us, and I have been feeling horrible all week, fortunately it looks like it has passed and I will be ready for my road trip. Although it is slowly going through everyone at work, and I don’t want it back. So this led me to something that would be comforting when sick.

Oatmeal cookies have a warm spice flavour and are great when you just don’t have the time for a meal. With fall season creeping up on us, the cinnamon and clove flavours just remind me of thanksgiving and changing leaves. You can add any type of dried fruit, my favourite is raisins, but you can do cranberries or blueberries. Basically any dried fruit that is soft, as well as chopped up nuts, can be added to the mixture.

Now I like big and rustic oatmeal cookies, none of this perfectly flat circles that are hard as rock. I like large soft oatmeal cookies. Oh and when I say soft, I don’t mean under cooked, I mean the dough wasn’t over worked and they are nice and soft when cooked through.

 

Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies

 

Oven 375F

 

¾ cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

¼ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1¾ cups all-purpose flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup raisins

 

In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and, if desired, cinnamon and cloves. Beat until well combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Stir in rolled oats and raisins.

 

Drop dough by the teaspoon 2 inches apart onto an ungreased or paper lined cookie sheet. Bake in 375F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, transfer to wire rack and let cool.

 

 

 

I like laying out my ingredients first, so I don't forget anything

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until eggs are added, mixture will be very sticky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft and chewy

 

Baking tip:

If you are afraid your recipes don't turn out due to missing ingredients or wrong measurements. Lay them all out before starting. Do it separately, don't do all dry in one bowl for example. You can get cheap little egg cups at dollar stores and put you teaspoon and tablespoon ingredients in those. Go down the list one by one and get everything out, and then follow the instructions to the point.

 

 

 

There it is, my first week :). I am a little rusty at the blog writing, but I am sure it will come back to me eventually lol. Next weeks may come a little late at night due to my trip, but it will be up I promise. If anyone has any requests or suggestions I would love to hear them, or if you have an amazing recipe I would love to try my hand at it. I hope everyone had a great weekend and a great week ahead.

 

Happy Baking!

 

Sey