Mondays with Mom, Oatmeal Rock Cookies

"Monday's with Mom" is a new segment I've decided to add to my blog. Every other Monday I will be sharing one of my moms recipes.

Most of her recipes are just good old fashioned comfort food.  Recipes I imagine she learned from her mother.  Mom passed away many years ago. I think of her often and miss her, but her recipe book has been such a great comfort to me. The book is in her own handwriting...recipes jotted down here and there...with newspaper clips and bible verses stuck in the corner pockets.

 It's old and taped, worn out, but every time I open it up, it brings back wonderful memories of her. I hope you'll enjoy the recipes as much as I do!

My love of cooking came from my mom..in a round-about way I suppose. I can't say for certain that my mom LOVED to cook and bake, or that she was an expert at it, but I think she did enjoy it. She sure spent alot of time cooking with 5 kids!

 She certainly realized how much I loved to cook and bake at an early age, and was always encouraging me to help her in the kitchen, or to try new recipes. She became a 4H food leader for my 4H Club and taught many kids the basics in cooking. The one event I remember most was making a spaghetti dinner for our parents. We were so excited! We had to make invitations to send to them, plan the meal, buy the ingredients, make the meal, and serve it.  I still make that sauce I learned way back when!

But.... today I'm sharing her, "Oat Meal Rocks." These were my oldest brothers favorite cookie. I remember many a time filling an old Foldiers coffee can full of these wrapped in wax paper to send to him at college. I wonder if they are still his favorite? I guess I'll ask him next time I see him.  Above the recipe she wrote,"mother used to make often." So I guess she grew up with these....and then...so did we. They were in the cookie jar often!

I can assure you they do not taste like rocks, or are as hard as rocks! I can only imagine they are called that  because of their shape... kind of like a mound. Of course these are not sweet enough for Brent, so when I make them I always top them with a bit of icing. This time I used Burnt Sugar frosting. While I do like them as is, I am not adverse to adding more sugar {or butter.... or chocolate} to anything!

Oatmeal Rocks

1 c. sugar

3/4 c. shortening

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

1 c. raisins {boiled in water until plump, then drained and cooled slightly}

5 Tbsp. water from the raisin water

1 tsp. soda

2 c. flour

2 c. rolled oats

chopped nuts, if desired { I ALWAYS desire nuts}

Boil raisins until puffy. Cool. Cream the shortening and sugar. Add the beaten eggs and salt. Mix 1 tsp. soda with the 5  Tbsp. raisin water. Add to mixture. Stir in the flour, oats, and nuts. Drop by tsp. onto greased baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10-12 min. until browned.