Recipe: Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and re: What is shortening for Steph.

From Chef Webby's site:

"To answer your question,shortening is basically solid fat made from vegetable oils. Although made from oil, shortening has been chemically transformed into a solid state through hydrogenation, a process that creates trans fatty acids and converts the mixture into a saturated fat, thereby destroying any polyunsaturate benefits.

Vegetable shortening is virtually flavorless and may be substituted for other fats in baking and cooking. It can be stored at room temperature for up to a year.

A common shortening brand would be CRISCO, which is available at most supermarkets. It comes in regular (blue can) and butter flavorer(yellow can). It can be quite expensive though so it is not really recommended for commercial baking.".

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
6 dozen cookies

1 cup seedless raisins
1 cup water
3/4 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Simmer raisins and water in saucepan over low heat until plump for 20 minutes. Drain raisin liquid into measuring cup. Add water to make 1/2 cup. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cream shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in raisin liquid. Measure flour and combine with, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices. Stir into creamed mixture. Add oats, nuts and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2" apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.