Holt House Soft Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I've never called myself an excellent cookie maker. Quite the contrary, as a matter of fact. Both my husband Dan and youngest daughter Emma make delicious cookies. Whenever I put my hand to the task of baking cookies in the past they've always slid out of the oven a massive disappointment.

Until today. Today I made the most delicious oatmeal raisin cookies I've ever tasted. Here's the recipe:

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 handfuls of raisins
3 cups quick oats

** Very important** Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream together butter, sugars, vanilla and add eggs one at a time while mixing. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients and fold into butter and sugar mixture. Mixing slowly, fold in oats and raisins.

Spoon out balls as big as a walnut onto oiled cookie sheet or parchment paper. Bake for 8 minutes. Take out of oven and let sit for five minutes before placing on cooling rack. These cookies are soft and chewy.

AUGUST BLUES

I absolutely love the season of fall. It's mid August and already I'm dreaming of evenings by the fire pit, sipping cider and wearing my alpaca sweater. It must seem strange as I live in Northwest Florida...and lately it's one hundred degrees outside most days; most folks in the south vacation just down the road from where I live and yet I dream of living somewhere with four seasons instead of two.

Yes, this is my opinion we only have two seasons in my neck of the woods: hot and cold. More hot than cold normally, although last winter was very nice--longer than usual--and our last frost was mid March.

I have the August blues. I'm dreaming of fall and winter time when it's so hot and humid I dare not venture outside unless it's early in the morning or about dark. School is about to start and upon our shopping trip last week I purchased (for myself) four sweaters and a wool suit. I didn't realize until I returned home every item I purchased for myself I could not yet wear. I purchased cinnamon sticks in bulk last week, whole nutmeg, and have already made one peach cobbler.

I am resigned to sit inside with my lovely air conditioner unit turned to the "on" position until the weather outside decides to lighten up a bit, dream of making pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce and enjoy watching my dear girls prepare for the upcoming year beginning next week. Maybe Dan will humor me and cut me some wood.