Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

We all have vicious colds at my house right now. It seems to hit us around this time every year. And, if you were reading my blog last year, you might remember that I developed pneumonia and was sick for two months straight. It was a nightmare! So, this year, despite the fact that my daughter and I have both been hacking for nearly a month, and my husband (who never gets sick) caught it last week, I'm trying to stay busy, productive, and positive. I don't have a lot of energy. My house is mess. But I am trying with all my might to keep the Manriquez family happy and comfortable, making sure we keep our spirits up. We're renting funny movies and TV shows (recommendations are always welcome, by the way), and we're eating really healthy, nutritious - heavy on the leafy greenery - meals. Lots of green smoothies. Lots of jokes and laughing. I'm also taking tons of vitamins, including garlic pills, with the addition of as much fresh garlic as I can cram down my gullet. And I think it's working! The progress is very slow, but we do seem to be getting better, little by little, each day. Oh, and did I mention comfort food? Yeah, comfort food. When I am sick I am not on a diet. I do try to keep it healthy, but I like a little sweet snack in the evening when I'm convalescing. It helps with my congestion, y'see.

And that's where these cookies come in! What's so great about these is that they are crazy simple to make. Throw everything in a bucket, stir it all around, and stick 'em in the oven. Oh, and the raw dough is fantastic! About a quarter of the dough went right into my mouth uncooked, while I watched that episode of South Park where the giant guinea pigs take over the town. When I saw the guinea pig dressed as a bee, I shot a little dough out my nose. More good medicine. Because, honestly, the best medicine is laughter. I truly believe that.

1/3 cup soy or nut milk

2 tablespoons flax meal

2/3 cup brown sugar (organic preferred)

1/3 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup raisins

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, mix milk and flax seed together. 
• Add sugar, oil, and vanilla. Mix well.
• Add flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Mix well, but do not over-mix.
• Fold in oats and raisins. 
• Place by rounded teaspoonful, two inches apart, on a lightly greased (or sprayed) cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 minutes.
• Let cool on the pan for a few minutes before handling.
• Makes about 20-ish cookies.
• Enjoy!

I handed my daughter two cookies and said, "Give one to Daddy." But she kept them both and bit into them like they were one big cookie. And she's kind of a picky eater, so this is a definite testament to their yumminess!

I have to throw this second picture in too, because I think it's hilarious. When I look at it, I can just hear her speaking in a perfect British accent, saying something like, "The vintage of this nutmeg is just... uh, f'aw, f'aw,  f'aw... divine."

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