Oatmeal Crispy Cookies

I finally got a new hand mixer after having been without one for a year and a half and what better way to break it in than by making some cookies!  I tagged this recipe when going through my cookbooks because I thought it sounded similar to my favorite cookies and I’m a sucker for oatmeal.  Well it turns out it’s one ingredient shy of my favorite cookies!  They turned out very yummy as usual and I could eat probably a dozen in one day.  Trust me they are that good!  I really have eaten six in one day, what can I say I was nursing and needed the extra calories.  Hmmm…I think I could still eat that many and am not nursing any longer.  Houston we have a problem!!  Our son loved them too!  He wouldn't take a second bite of daddy's chocolate chip cookies but has fits for mine!!:)

I use half old fashioned oats and half quick cooking oats for different texture.  I also only used ½ c of pecans and no raisins.  This was my first time to use pecans and they were a good addition.  But if you don’t have any trust me they are just as good without.  I roll into logs on wax paper and store half in the fridge and half in the freezer to be a quick indulgent snack every now and then or maybe every other day!

Recipe taken from - W.M.U Centennial Cookbook (1988)

1 c Crisco

1 c brown sugar, packed

1 c white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 ½ c flour

1 tsp salt

3 c uncooked oats

1 c pecans and/or raisins

Mix first 5 ingredients.  Add dry ingredients, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes.

Please give these yummy cookies a try.  Either this version or my favorite cookie version!

Mexican Wedding Cookies

There was a star next to these cookies so I knew I would have to give them a try.  They were super easy and super yummy!  My hubby took his first bite and said they were good then his second bite they were really good and then by the third bite they were delicious!  My husband made the comment when tasting the dough, quality controlJ that they were like sandies.  Sure enough when they came out of the oven that’s what they were.  It didn’t click for me before. 

I cooked mine for 15 minutes and that was perfect.  I did just two at first to make sure and I was disappointed there were only two because they were so good I wanted the next one right away but we had to wait patiently!  Also, she says to “drop” them on the cookie sheet I just used a cookie scoop and that worked perfectly.  I think it made about two dozen cookies.

Recipe taken from – Hearts of the Home (1982)

½ c butter

½ c plus 2 Tbsp shortening

1 c powder sugar

2 c flour

1 c pecans

2 tsp vanilla

Chop pecans coarsely.  Cream butter and shortening.  Beat in sugar, then flour, vanilla and pecans.  Mix well and drop.  Bake at 350 for 15-21 minutes.

Give these six ingredient cookies a try.  They’ll be done and in the oven in no time.

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies

I think I’ve stated once already that I love any recipe that has oatmeal in it and so of course I knew I wanted to make these.  This recipe however called for still cut oats not instant so I was even more intrigued.

I followed the recipe exactly* and sadly the first batch got way overdone because again the baking time is way off.  The second batch I still did too long at 8 min so the next batch I did for about 7 minutes and 20 seconds which seemed to be perfect.  I think I’m going to start baking one cooking at a time until I get the right time because it seems that there may be a trend with the cook times being too long.

*I always type that and then when typing the recipe I see I did something different!  I used butter and not margarine is the only thing.  And I didn’t add the raisins.

Overall, these cookies were good.  They got eaten by the family we had in town so I guess that’s a good sign!  They reminded me of a bowl of oatmeal in the morning with cinnamon.

Recipe taken from – Wish Cookbook **

¾ c Bluebonnet margarine

2 ½ c raw oatmeal (not instant)

½ c flour (less 1 Tbsp)

1 tsp cinnamon

Raisins (optional)

½ tsp salt

½ tsp baking soda

1 c brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

Over medium heat melt margarine; add oats and sauté until lightly brown (about 5 minutes).  (Toasting the oatmeal adds a special flavor to these chewy cookies).   At the same time the oats are cooking, combine all other ingredients and beat until smooth.  When oats are cooked, immediately add the oats to the other ingredients and mix quickly.  Drop on cookie sheet and flatten.  Cook at 375 10 to 12 minutes.

If you love having a bowl of oatmeal in the morning for breakfast you’ll be sure to love these too!

**  This is from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.  This is an amazing organization that was established to grant wishes of children between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 who have life threatening or terminal illness.  My family benefited through this amazing organization and we will be forever grateful.  If you ever are in need of a charity to donate to please keep Make-A-Wish in mind as they help kids dreams come true.

A Cookie or A Kiss

I love this one for so many reasons but one I'll share with you.  I've always told my husband before we ever had children that I was going to bake them cookies so when they came home from school they would always have a treat waiting for them.  He thinks I'm crazy and laughs and tells me our kids are going to be on the heavier side if I do that every day!  But when I saw this it made me smile and it let me show my sweet hubby that my idea wasn't so far off!  So bake your sweet precious children some cookies today and greet them with a hug, a kiss, and a cookie!  That's where memories are made.

Recipe taken from – W.M.U Centennial Cookbook (1988)

A household should have a cookie jar,

For when it is half past three

And children hurry home from school

As hungry as can be.

There is nothing quite so splendid

For filling children up

As spicy, fluffy ginger cakes

And milk from a cup.

A house should have a mother

Waiting with a hug

No matter what a boy brings home

A puppy or a bug.

For children only loiter

When the bell rings to dismiss

If no one’s home to greet them

With a cookie or a kiss!

Peanut Butter Cookies

I’ve been craving peanut butter cookies for awhile now but just haven’t made them but the other day I decided I would give in and make some.  This recipe seemed like it wouldn’t make too many (made 21 cookies) and it would be quick so I thought I’d give this one a try.  They were super easy allowing my son to help!

The cook time for these cookies is way off.  I took mine out after 13 minutes and they were pretty crunchy.  I like crunchy cookies but I wish they were a little softer.  I would suggest 8 minutes for softer cookies or lower the temp to 350 and maybe 10 minutes.

Recipe taken from – Heritage Cookbook (1976)

½ c shortening

½ c peanut butter

½ c white sugar

½ c brown sugar (packed)

1 egg

1 ¼ c flour

½ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp soda

½ tsp salt

Mix shortening, peanut butter, sugar and egg together.  Sift flour, baking powder, soda and salt.  Blend in creamed mixture.  Roll 1 1/4” balls, place on cookie sheet 3” apart and flatten with fork (crisscross).  Bake about 15 minutes at 375.

Two ladies submitted this recipe and one of the ladies noted that she substitutes ½ c dry egg mix (packed) and ¼ c water for the egg.  She does not use baking powder and uses only ¼ tsp soda and ¼ tsp salt.

These weren’t packed with a peanut butter taste so if you like a milder peanut butter taste then these will be the perfect cookies for you!

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

What can I say about these!?  As a kid this recipe was a favorite of mine and my sisters.  It was something that didn’t require baking and was fairly simple.  It required ingredients that were always on hand so it was a go to cookie recipe.  My husband and I still make them when we want something quick and easy.  I don’t have a picture of these but I will put a picture of the page in the cookbook where these are.  You’ll be able to tell very quickly that these were a favorite!

Recipe taken from – Recipes from the “Heart of the Home” (1982)

2 c sugar
½ c coco
1 stick butter
½ c milk
2 ½ c oatmeal
Chopped nuts (if desired) (we never have put nuts)

In saucepan, combine sugar and coco, stirring until smooth.  Add milk and stir till moistened completely.  Add butter and heat to boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil rapidly for 2-3 minutes (to soft ball candy stage).  Stir in oatmeal and nuts.  Take off heat and stir till cool enough to dry on wax paper.  For vanilla oatmeal cookies, use same recipe, substituting 2 teaspoons vanilla for the coco.

We also always put peanut butter in ours about ½ cup.  If you choose to add peanut butter add with oatmeal.

I'm sure this is a familiar recipe to most but if not give these a try soon.  You'll love the taste and the quick making and cleanup!