The Ultimate Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1 1/4           cups  packed brown sugar
  1                cup  butter or margarine -- softened
  1           teaspoon  baking soda
  1           teaspoon  ground cinnamon
  1           teaspoon  vanilla
     1/2      teaspoon  salt
  2                     eggs
  3               cups  quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
  1 1/3           cups  all-purpose flour
  1                cup  raisins, if desired

Heat oven to 350º. Beat all ingredients except oats, flour and raisins in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in oats, flour and raisins.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

The Ultimate Refrigerator Cookies

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1                cup  packed brown sugar
  1                cup  butter or margarine -- softened
  1           teaspoon  vanilla
  1                     egg
  3               cups  all-purpose flour
  1 1/2      teaspoons  ground cinnamon
     1/2      teaspoon  baking soda
     1/2      teaspoon  salt
     1/3           cup  chopped nuts

Beat brown sugar, butter, vanilla and egg in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Stir in nuts. Shape dough into rectangle, 10 × 3 inches. Wrap and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.

Heat oven to 375º. Cut rectangle into 1/8-inch slices. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until light brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.