When a Friend is Sick, Bake!

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.

Helen Keller, American author and activist (1880-1968)

Sadly, a friend is going into hospital for a mastectomy. As friends gather round, most feel helpless and useless in the face of her tough physical and emotional trauma. Age-old wisdom says: when a friend is sick, cook; so Mom and I and other quilting friends have prepared meals to stock her refrigerator with nourishing food. Since cookies provide comfort to six- and sixty-year-olds, I searched for a healthful recipe and found "Outrageous Oatmeal Cookies". Full of raisins and cranberries and oats they certainly look healthy. Hopefully our friend is feeling just as healthy and outrageous very soon!

Outrageous Oatmeal Cookies
Yield: about 3 dozen

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar (I omitted)
2 large eggs
3 cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup dark raisins
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup dark raisins, for topping
1/3 cup golden raisins, for topping

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined.
3. Gradually add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and oats.
4. Add raisins and cranberries.
5. Combine raisins for topping in separate bowl and set aside.
6. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons (or use ice-cream scoop), 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets.
7. Place 1 mounded teaspoon of raisins on top of each cookie.
8. Bake about 12 minutes, until cookies are golden brown, but still soft. Cool on sheets before serving.

Source: Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog. Originally a Starbucks recipe.