Offshore Cookies

Before you start muttering under your breath, let me just say this...




Yes, I put my freshly baked cookies on newspaper to cool.




I'm sorry if this causes you psychological, physiological, or astrological stress, but that's what my Mom taught me to do.



The newspaper absorbs the excess grease, and doesn't make the cookies sweat.


No one wants a sweaty cookie.




I know, I know, it's possible that the newsprint isn't the best thing for food products, but honestly it's just one of those things (one of the FEW things I might add) that I have decided not to worry about.




What with all the time I spend worrying about the re-emergence of skinny-legged jeans on the fashion front, there's just not alot of worrying time left.




But let's stay on track... we're talking cookies here.



Early in our marriage, The Chief worked offshore quite a bit.



And in my loneliness, thus began my obsession with Sonic ice ...


No. No. No.

That is another story.




I learned early on that the only reason most men put up with the tough working conditions out there was because of the food.



Back in the heyday of the oil boom, companies hired pretty accomplished cooks to keep the workers well-fed and happy.




The Chief would always report to me what great dishes the cook was serving up.


Beside the requisite steaks, there was a plethora of cajun and seafood offerings.



A plethora, I tell you.



And desserts.



Oh my, were there desserts...



One time he came back waxing poetic about the most wonderful Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.








OK, maybe he wasn't waxing.



And I doubt seriously if it was poetic,



but you know what I mean.




I love a good challenge (especially if it involves The Chief and/or cooking) and felt sure that with a little practice I could replicate the recipe.



I even talked The Chief into asking for the recipe...




The man sabotaged me. The cook I mean. He left something out of the recipe.



Something important.



And lo and behold.



Where do you think the cook eventually ended up?



In a federal penitentiary, that's where.



Now I doubt this act of sabotage was the primary reason for his incarceration, but in my mind it was a crime...



So I was forced to spend the next 6-10 years of my life trying to come up with the perfect cookie.




I can be obsessive like that.




Well, except for exercise.


I'm not all that obsessive when it comes to exercise.




Anyhoo - I think I came up with a winner.



See important tips after recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!



Offshore Cookies



1 c. (2 sticks) butter (at room temp.)

1 c. sugar

1 c. light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg (now I don't mean to sound snobbish, but just leave it out if you don't have the fresh stuff)



2 shakes of cinnamon (I really should measure this out someday - I'm guessing 1/8 tsp.)

3 c. quick oats

1 c. golden raisins (see note below)**

1 c. nuts (walnuts or pecans) *optional (I usually don't put them in)







**I don't like regular raisins. It all goes back to a disturbing incident involving The Chief, West Africa, his luggage, and flesh-eating flies. But I probably shouldn't mention all this when we're talking about food, so nevermind...



Preheat oven to 375.



Lightly grease some baking sheets. In a large bowl, cream the butter, and both sugars until light and fluffy. About 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Beat the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Stir in oats, raisins, and nuts (if using). Drop by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheets.



Bake 10-12 minutes. (Do not overbake!!!)




Things you'll want to know...



I use a cookie scoop (2 tablespoon size) to measure out the cookies...







And the KEY to getting these cookies just right is to NOT OVERBAKE them. You want to take them out of the oven when they still look a little underdone.

Like this...





And as I've suggested before, please look away if the condition of my bakeware is offensive to you.

It's really clean and that's what counts.

And I like it.

Alot.

Hope you like the cookies!