Country, Dessert, Duet | 12 comments
The food:There’s nothing—and I meannothing—like your grandma’s cooking. Try as she might, your mom can never perfectlyreplicateher mom’srecipes. There’s just something about the love our grandmas put into their food. Or at least, thatwas the casewith myGrandma Gertrude (or Dirty Gertie, as somefriends called her), who made the best down-home Southern meals and desserts. Visiting her in the Ozarks meant biscuits and gravy for breakfast, ham and beans with cornbread for supper (I’m still not sure if that’s lunch or dinner), and snacking all day on amazing homemade candies and cookies.These oatmeal raisin cookies were one of the family favorites. They are super sweet,more gooey than floury, and chockfull of raisins.My grandma is gone, but her memory lives on when I sit down to eat one (or a dozen) of these.
The music:Pairing cookies with bluegrass may not make sense to everyone, but that’s the only genre that fits my grandma’s cooking. Her husband, my Grandpa Orval, was a master fiddler and banjoist. His jam sessions were the soundtrack of my childhood, and I still love listening to classiccountry pickin’ tunes. A new favorite is 1982’s “Here Today” by five musicians who weren’t really a band as much as pals who shared an appreciation for bluegrass. This was the only album recorded by David Grisman, Emory Gordy Jr., Herb Pedersen, Jim Buchanan, and Vince Gill. You may recognize a couple of those names.You may also recognize some of the classic songs on this record, including “Foggy Mountain Chimes” and “Hot Corn, Cold Corn.”
One of my favorite things about this recipe is looking at mymom’s copy of it. It’s old(made on atypewriter!) has been used a lot over the years (so manystains!), and is with awash in love (look at thosesuperlatives!). Most people I know(including me)storerecipes on computers now, and itmakes me a little sadthat we are all soon going to lose this type of hand-me-down artifact.
Looking for other ways to use oats? Try my recipes for Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars, too.
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup seedless raisins
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4-1 cup sifted flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cupsquick oats
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Rinse and drain raisins. Combine with shortening and water. Heat until only shortening melts, stirring constantly. Cool.
- Stir in sugar and vanilla.
- Combine flour with salt, soda, and cinnamon. Blend into raisin mixture. Stir in oats.
- Drop by heaping teaspoonful onto greased baking sheets.
- Bake about10mins, until golden brown. Cool cookies on wire rack.
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- Chocolate Cookies / INXS “Kick”
- Duet: Overnight Oats / Cat Stevens “Greatest Hits”
stlbroadon January 5, 2015 at 10:59 am
Just for the record, I was the one who typed the recipe on the card from mom’s handwritten one. Those stains are from the many times I made these cookies for you and your brother – and yes, they were never as good as grandmas. They had all the same love in them though!
MOMstlbroadon January 5, 2015 at 11:08 am
I also want to say that your grandma would be so pleased with the way you presented this along side the bluegrass music that she and dad loved so well!
Jay and Deeon January 5, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Really enjoyed reading this. Will have to try out the cookie recipe and and will see if I can track down the album too.
Still enjoying the blog 🙂
DeeMission January 5, 2015 at 3:51 pm
What beautiful memories of our grandparents, cousins, and aunts you revived for me. After I stop being teary, I’m making Grandma’s cookies, thanks to you.
Lou Lou Girlson January 12, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Oh my! This looks so amazing. Pinned and tweeted. Thank you so much for being a part of our party. We really appreciate you! I hope to see you on tonight at 7 pm. Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Beckyon January 12, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Thank you so much! I am excited to participate in your link ups and to get to know your community.
Beckyon January 13, 2015 at 6:53 am
Thank you. It was very special to write.
Beckyon January 13, 2015 at 6:54 am
Thank you, Missi. I’m glad you enjoyed reading it. It was really special to write.
Gentle Joyon January 13, 2015 at 9:51 pm
That recipe card looks like it was well used and well loved…. a favorite. 🙂 Looks like a great recipe.
Beckyon January 14, 2015 at 7:01 am
Pretty clear it’s been a family favorite, eh? 🙂 Thank you for reading! Becky
twopurplecoucheson January 15, 2015 at 8:25 pm
Some of my favorite recipes are the ones that are stained a crumpled… I think that’s the sign of a great one 😉 These sound delicious and comforting, and I love that you’ve paired them with music! What a beautiful way to remember your grandmother! Thanks for linking up to our Creative Spark party last week! Please join us again this week 🙂
Beckyon January 15, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Thanks for stopping by and reading. I’ll definitely be back to the party — thanks for hosting! I hope we can connect on social media and keep in touch. Becky
