OATMEAL COOKIES (LIKE OTIS SPUNKMEYER'S)

"This oatmeal cookie recipe comes from Patricia Stewart of Rancho Cordova, who says the cookies taste a lot like the popular Otis Spunk-meyer version."

3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups quick oats, uncooked
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup craisins or raisins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, combine sugar, brown sugar and butter until creamy. Add egg and vanilla and blend well. Add cinnamon, baking soda, salt and flour and mix well.

Using a rubber spatula, fold in oatmeal, walnuts and craisins or raisins, making sure all ingredients are well-blended. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 3 inches apart on cookie sheets sprayed with nonstick spray.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes, just until light brown. Cool on racks.

Recipe can be doubled and cookies can be made larger, if desired. In this case, bake a little longer.

Makes 4 dozen small cookies
Source: Scramento Bee, August 15, 2007
Food/Wine - TASTE section, Page F3