Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies

I watched an episode of Oprah the other day. I know what you are all thinking - a stay at home mum watching Oprah tsk, tsk. However you have to trust me when I say this, it is not a normal occurrence in this household. Usually Zoe and I will listen to an awesome playlist that Mat created for me on our media center. The playlist includes all my crooners, my necessary dose of Michael Jackson, some alternative-country by Mr Ryan Adams, The Royal Crown Revue and lots of easy listening music.

But anyway, I was talking about Oprah. This episode was all about extreme life lengthening. They had this one man on the show who was in his 50s and was on a calorie controlled diet - 1950 calories each and every day, and most of those calories come from raw food. Some professionals believe that he could very well be the first man to live to 150. The first thing that came to my mind was "how could you possibly live for 150 years and not enjoy delicious food?". No cupcakes, no cookies, no cake, no crossaints, no buttery french toast, no bacon and eggs for breakfast, no ice-cream - I think I would rather be dead. So I say no to a calorie controlled diet and instead I will enjoy my oatmeal and raisin cookies with a nice glass of full-cream milk. I hope that you will do the same.


Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies (from Bringing Home the Baking by Quincella C. Geiger)
Makes approx 5 dozen cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups plain flour
1 1/2 tsp bi-carb soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts (I used walnuts)

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. Beat butter at medium speed until cream. Gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
3. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture; mix until well blended. Stir in oats, raisins, and nuts.
4. Measure dough evenly (I used an ice-cream scoop) and place on baking trays lined with baking paper. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely.