Shannon’s Scrumptious Oatmeal Fantasies

Recipe from Shannon Collins, Austin, Texas.

I was really in the mood for some oatmeal cookies one day, but when I went to put the ingredients together, I didn’t have really anything from the recipe. Having an extreme craving, I began to throw everything I could find in the cupboard that sounded good together (oatmeal, chocolate, raisins, etc.) and baked up a storm! When I was finished, I tasted my creation and was extremely delighted (not to mention that it was just what the craving had ordered) My family even thought they were delicious! I was thrilled.

makes: about 40

¾ cup prune puree
¼ cup applesauce
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon margarine
¼ cup molasses
2 eggs
¼ to ½ cup buttermilk (or skim milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup soft baking raisins
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, optional

Preheat oven to 400F. Grease a cookie sheet. With an electric mixer, beat together puree, applesauce, sugar, margarine, sugar molasses and eggs. Stir in milk. Sift together all dry ingredients; add to wet mixture and mix till slightly thick. Stir in oats, cup by cup, then raisins, nuts, and the chocolate chips. Drop by the tablespoon onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake 8 minutes. Cool slightly, then remove from pan.