C is for Cookie...that's good enough for me!!

Here are a few recipes of my favorite cookies to make! (the kids really enjoy helping too!) And I named the recipes after myself to give me a sense of validation in the realm of cooking.

Shannon's Favorite Oatmeal Cookies

3 eggs, beaten
1 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups rolled oats (I use quick oats)
1 cup chopped pecans (I never put these in, lol)

Combine eggs, vanilla and raisins in a small bowl. Cover and let it stand for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together. Sift together flour, cinnamon, and baking soda; stir into the creamed mixture. The stir in raisin mixture, rolled oats and nuts.

Drop by the teasponful onto an unprepared cookie sheet. (I use a medium sized scoop) Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Yields 3 dozen

Shannon's Iced Pumpkin Cookies

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg (I don't like nutmeg, so I skip it)
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin (or fresh, but has to be puree)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmet, ground cloves, and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup butter and white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg, and 1 tsp vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by Tablespoons (I use a medium sized scoop); flatten slightly.

Makes 3 dozen.

Bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool cookies and drizzle glaze with a fork.

Glaze:
2 cups confectionary sugar
3 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla

Combine conf sugar, milk, 1T melted butter, and 1 tsp vanilla. Add milk as needed to achieve drizzling consistency.

Shannon's Giant Chocolate Chip Candy Cookies

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, divided
1 cup milk chocolate chunks, divided
2 bars of your favorite chocolate candy (milky way and snickers work great!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. COmbine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl, mix well. In a larger bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Stir 2/3 cup of the n uts and 2/3 cups of the chocolate chunks into dough. Cut candy bars into pieces; set aside.

Using a medium scoop, drop 6 level scoops of dough about 3 inches apart onto cookie sheet. Flatten them slightly with your hand. Lightly press half of the remaining nuts, chocolate, and candy into tops of the cookies.

Bake 14-16 minutes or until cookies are almost set. (centers will be soft, don't overbake) Cool several minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet.

This yields 12 GIANT cookies.