This recipe is off the top of the Quaker Oatmeal box. Bobbie used to make them for her kids with all the ingredients, but daughter, Marcia and granddaughter, Victoria, both like them without the raisins or cinnamon.

Maw Maw Chambers (Bobbie) on a spring day with the dogwoods blooming behind her.

1 cup (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

3 cups Quaker Oats (Quick or Old Fashioned, uncooked)

1 teaspoon cinnamon (very optional)

1 cup raisins (extremely optional)

Heat oven to 350ºF. Beat together margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well.

Add combined flour, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Stir in oats. Add cinnamon and raisins, if desired. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack. Makes four dozen.

For bar cookies, bake 30-35 minutes in ungreased 9×13 inch metal baking pan.

Desserts, 2004