JOY OF COOKING'S OATMEAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sift (sifting is important!) flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg (its not in the recipe, but I add about 1/8-1/4 tsp of ground cloves, too) into a mixing bowl.
• Beat butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with a hand mixer at medium speed.
• Sift (yes, again!) flour mixture into butter mixture and mix well.
• Fold in raisins (or chocolate chips or chocolate covered raisins) and oats.
• Spoon 1.5 inch balls onto non-stick cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350°F for 6-9 minutes, rotating half way through baking. (Should be lightly firm in the center when done) Be careful -- oatmeal raisin cookies don't look done when they are, so they are very easy to over cook (unless you want then to be crispy) :).