Creating food traditions: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Blogger's note: This blog post is the first in a series of recipes that I think will be part of my family of three's food traditions. 

One of the many things I have enjoyed about being married and now being a mom is creating food traditions for my family of three.

By food tradition, I mean the favorite dish you ate growing up that your mom or dad made and no one else could make it quite the same.  Didn't it make you feel special when they made it for you?

I have come to realize that not only is it special when you are on the receiving end of the food but it is incredibly fulfilling when you are on the delivering end as well.

This post is the first in a series of recipes I will be posting on the blog that I have found are a home run for my family.  I imagine these recipes will be staples in my cooking repertoire over the hopefully many years ahead that I have to cook for my family.

As my toddler becomes more willing to expand his food horizons, cooking is becoming more fun than ever.

My son recently discovered raisins.  And, he is obsessed.  Add to that an oatmeal fixation and I decided that oatmeal raisin cookies were a needed addition to our family recipes.  I took a standard oatmeal raisin cookie recipe and tweaked it after two rounds of experimentation in pursuit of the perfect cookie.  In the end, what resulted in the best cookie cutting in half the amounts of sugar and brown sugar used, added an extra teaspoon of cinnamon, and added half a teaspoon of cloves.  (On a side note, I credit my mother-in-law with the ingenious idea of cutting the sugar which results in cookies that are not flat and end up somewhat healthier as well.)

My husband isn't in love with raisins nor are my niece or nephew who were over visiting recently.  In case of an anti-raisin faction in your family, add milk chocolate chips.  The cookies are still divine though I might admit the cloves if you are going the chocolate route.

Upon finding the cookies waiting for him when he awoke from his nap, my son quickly ate the cookie and announced "More mommy cookies!"

With that, "Mommy Cookies" were added to the can't-live-without Turrentine family recipe repertoire.

I can't wait to send these as a treat with Davis when he goes to kindergarten, then off to college and eventually to send home a batch with him to share with his own children.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (a.k.a. Mommy Cookies)

Ingredients
*2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
*1/2 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
*1/2 cup granulated sugar
*2 large eggs at room temperature
*2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
*1 teaspoon baking powder
*2 teaspoons cinnamon
*1/2 teaspoon cloves
*1 teaspoon kosher salt
*3 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
*1 1/2 cup raisins

Details
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.  With the mixer on low, add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla.

Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together into a medium bowl.  With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.  Add the oats and raisins and mix just until combined.

Using a tablespoon, drop 2-inch mounds of dough onto the baking sheets (line either with parchment or using a silpat mat).  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until lightly browned.  Transfer to a baking rack and cool completely.

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten.