I remember being excited for mom's cooking growing up. When I saw this recipe I automatically thought "this has to be a good one". Since recipes that survive from the 1940's will only do so if they are good ones.

Mom’s Oatmeal Cookies, 1940

1 ½ cup flour

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp cloves

2/3 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

¼ cup water

2 cups oats

1 cup raisins

Preaheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together. Add moist ingredients. Beat until smooth. Blend in oats and raisins. Drop by the teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes for the first batch and 10-12 for each batch after the first batch.

These will almost look underdone, but they maintain moistness if let to sit for 5 minutes out of the oven.

John C. Walsh, Quarryville PA