Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

3 large eggs

2 cups raisins

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract  -- you will soak raisins in this mixture

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup packed brown sugar (dark preferably)

1 cup granulated sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cups old fashioned oatmeal

1/2 to 3/4 cup organic coconut milk (Unsweetened) or use 1/2- 3/4 cup water

Walnuts 1 1/2 cups (optional)

Dried cranberries (optional) or other add-ins of your choice

Directions:

Beat the eggs in a small bowl.  Add the raisins and vanilla and let soak for at least 1 hour, preferably longer.  This step is the "secret" to great cookies.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugars.  Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.  Beat until blended, then beat in the eggs, vanilla, raisins, and oatmeal.  Stir in nuts and/or other add-ins.  Dough will be STIFF.

Scoop golfball-size rounds of dough onto rimmed baking sheets (cover sheets with parchment paper) and flatten slightly.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until nicely browned.  Using a spatula, transfer to a baking rack to cool.

Store separately as much as possible in an airtight container or they will stick together (I put mine in-between wax paper and stacked in layers in an air-tight container or cookie tin -- make sure cookies are completely cool before storing).  These cookies are really soft and chewy.  Yum!