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Kaiden and Ashton’s school is holding their annual Frosty’s Wonderland this week.  Frosty’s Wonderland is a little shopping experience for the kids.  An envelope is sent home with them and we are supposed to fill out the envelope with how much the child is allowed to spend on each person they are shopping for, then fill the envelope with money and send it back in with them, so they can “Christmas shop” for their families.  Of course, I never want my kids to feel like they are not participating in something that all of their classmates are participating in, so while I was at the drug store two nights ago getting sinus medicine, I paid with my debit card and got $30 cash back in all fives, so that I could give both Kaiden and Ashton each $15.  Then I wrote on their little envelopes that they could each spend $2 on each of the following people:  Mommy, Daddy, Each Other, Gammy, Pop Pop, Aunt Kelly and Uncle Billy - which would total $14, so they could each spend the extra $1 on themselves.  I thought that was a fair deal and was already more money than I would have liked to have spent on the crap they would be buying - but it is all about the experience, right?  Kaiden’s class is shopping today… but Ashton’s class shopped yesterday.  The following is what Ashton brought home:

He completely ignored his envelope (and obviously no adult helped him with the envelope, like they should have) and he bought an Angel figurine for me, a #1 Sister Teddy Bear for Kaiden (I will admit it was cute that he bought her that) and then a car for himself (not pictured).  So, basically he selfishly forgot about everyone else on his list, except for the people that he lives with and he MADE sure that he was able to buy himself a Christmas present.  The envelope that I spent the time filling out, came home in the bag as well, all ripped open and ignored like a hookers blouse once it hits the floor!  Basically we spent $5 a piece on three dollar store items.  Ugghhh.

I can hardly wait to see how Kaiden’s shopping trip goes today.

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I know I have not posted in a while, but so what.  I am here today and that is all that matters!  I thought that I would share the absolute best cookie recipe in the history of cookie recipes.  My mom has this little green recipe book, that is old as dirt and that she has hand-written some of our favorite recipes in.  She never shares the recipes in this book.  NEVER.  Last year, my friend Nadine FINALLY got her to bend and give her this cookie recipe, after repeated begging and pleading.  I made a batch Thanksgiving Day and took some photos while doing so and told my mom I was going to blog the recipe.  She said “NO!” - I laughed and said, “Seriously Mom, have I ever listened to you when you tell me no?”  So without further ado, I am going to give you the recipe for the best oatmeal/raisin cookie ever - and I can say that with 100% complete confidence that it is a true statement because I ABSOLUTELY HATE oatmeal cookies and I HATE raisins even more - BUT I LOVE THESE COOKIES… if that tells you ANYTHING!

BEHOLD… the recipe for Oatmeal Mac Cookies:

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees.

2C Shortening
2C Brown Sugar
2C Granulated Sugar
1t Vanilla
4 Eggs
2-1/2 C Flour, Sifted
2t Baking Soda
1t Salt
1t Cinnamon
4C Quaker Oats (Quick 1 Minute Type)
Golden California Raisins (has to be the golden kind!!!!)

Okay - ready?  Get your ingredients together.

Combine shortening, sugars, vanilla and eggs and beat together in a bowl.

In a separate bowl combine flower, soda, salt and cinnamon.

Slowly beat the flour mixture into shortening/sugar mixture until all mixed.

Now it is time for the oats… before I go on, please note that when you open your container of oats, you will be immediately faced with a competing oatmeal cookie recipe.  IGNORE IT.  This recipe wants you to believe that the cookies will be “vanishing” because they are so delicious… that is a lie, they will only be vanishing because you are throwing them away for NOT tasting as good as this recipe.  Trust me!

Okay - back to the recipe… Fold in the oats (it will be thick and hard to stir… I mean it, Mr. T could not stir these oats in, so be prepared).  Add raisins to taste (about a cups worth or so).

Drop by heaping teaspoon onto un-greased cookie sheets.  You want these cookies kind of large.  You should plan on 2 across and 4 down on the cookie sheet, instead of the usual 3 across, 4 down that you are used to.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

And there you have it… Oatmeal Mac Cookies.  Good luck not gaining 30 pounds with them, because you will not be able to just eat one.  Here is the printable recipe if you want it: Oatmeal Mac Cookie Recipe (PDF)