Mom's Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies

All that is left of summer break is the strewn flip-flops, Popsicle stains on the counter top and a stack of dirty swimming suits in the laundry room.  I heard, "Mom, I don't want to go to school." for the first time this year as I tried to wake one of my daughters this morning.  It is always a tough transition.  To make coming home feel comforting, I made these cookies yesterday.  The recipe is one that has been in my box to try for years, and now I am sad I hadn't tried it long ago!  These are yummy!!!  I like my cookies chewy, not crispy, but these can be either.  They look nice with the dusting of powdered sugar, but while I was dusting, my arm flab jiggled, so have your children dust for you....unless you are still young and lean.

Mom's Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies
1 c. margarine, softened
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
3 c. old fashioned oats
3/4 c. chopped pecans
confectioners' sugar

In a large bowl, blend margarine, sugars, eggs and vanilla; beat until fluffy.  Combine flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.  Add to creamed mixture; mix to blend.  Stir in oats and nuts.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Flatten with floured for to 2 inches in diameter (will spread to 4 in. when baked).  Bake at 350 for 12-15 min.  Cool on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack.  Sift confectioners' sugar over tops.  Yield 3 dozen.

Notes:  I substituted walnuts for pecans and my favorite baking time was 11 min.  leaving me with a chewy cookie instead of a crisp one.  I didn't use parchment paper, sprayed my pans with cooking spray, but then found I needed to scrape any cookie bits off and spray again between batches.

Jenny