Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

When I worked in Financial Aid, we had a carry-in for every birthday. I usually tried to bring something that I knew was a favorite of the birthday person. Birthday celebrations work differently at the station, so as each one rolls around, I find out what the fave food is - and I make it. When Lynne's birthday came, she requested oatmeal raisin cookies.

Uh oh.

I didn't have a recipe. Largely because I don't like raisins. But I DO like Lynne, so I hunted around until I found what looked like a scrumptious, reliable recipe (here is the original), modified it a bit to suit my impatient purposes, and took a batch to work, with fingers crossed.
She LOVED them and even shared! (Isn't she generous?) When Amy's birthday rolled around a little while later, she asked for them too. (Good thing, since I have raisins to use up!) So...here's the recipe. Last night I made it again...this time with chocolate chips instead of raisins. NOW we're talking!!

The Recipe

1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups oats
3/4 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Stir this into the butter/sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
My first challenge of this adventure was FINDING the raisins at the store. I assumed they would be in with the baking stuff. This is why I shouldn't assume. Finally found them on an end cap in produce. Why didn't I think of that?
I kept my tradition of not thinking ahead enough to soften the butter normally, so I cut it in chunks and stuck it in the microwave. Lazy, party of one!
Transfer the butter to a bigger bowl and add the brown sugar, egg, and vanilla.

Doesn't take long to cream together.

Mix together the dry ingredients (minus the oats)

Add that to your creamed batter...gets a little thicker.

Add the oats. (I move to hand stirring at this point.)

Nice and thick!

Then add the raisins (or chocolate chips!!!!!!!!!!!) - you know....whatever you prefer.

If your pan isn't very non-stick, you'll want to spray it. These cookies do get a little sticky on the bottom.

TA DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Add glass of milk and enjoy.