Oatmeal, Apple, Ginger Cookies

I'm finally starting to feel a bit like my old self.  I knew moving meant lots of big changes, but sometimes it's the little ones that end up being the hardest.  I had to part with a big part of my cookbook collection, except for a few I grab for often.  I love staring at all the delectable photos in them, but most of the time I end up getting recipes elsewhere.  I do love having a couple of good reference books though and I consider The Joy of Cooking one of them.  Somehow I start with a recipe but end up somewhere completely different.  Do you guys have a favorite you just couldn't part with?

I was flipping through said book when I came across a familiar Oatmeal Raisin recipe, cringing and reading at the same time.  I love oatmeal; it's the raisins I have an issue with.  It's not like they ever did anything to me - I just don't like them.  My mom made Oatmeal Raisin Cookies all the time because they were my dads' favorite.  Key point here being they were his favorite.  I didn't like raisins, not that she cared or even asked my opinion or anything.  Not that I have an ax to grind with my mother or the like, I just don't like Raisins!  Holy smokes have we covered the fact yet that I don't like raisins.  I just need you to know - I don't like raisins.  

After composing myself I scoured the pantry for something different to put in my oatmeal cookies. I found some dried apples and crystallized ginger that were calling me and these cookies were born.

Oatmeal, Apple, Ginger Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup dried apples, diced or cut into small pieces

2 ounces crystallized ginger, minced

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Add the butter to a mixing bowl or the bowl of a mixer and mix until soft.  Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar and mix until combined.  Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs, and vanilla and mix until combined.  Add oatmeal and mix until combined.  Add apples and ginger and mix until combined.

Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to scoop out 1 1/2" balls of cookie dough, place the balls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment or a silpat.  Press the balls down slightly leaving them at least 1/2" thick.

Bake 12 to 14 minutes.

Makes 36 cookies.

Adapted from Joy of Cooking.

I had to laugh when a sweet friend asked me the other day, "So what happened to the bike?"   I had this grand plan all worked out to leave the bike parked behind the moving truck and tell the movers to back it up because the coast was clear.  My plan was foiled though by Hot Dog Dude who kept it under lock and key in our other garage.  So I will have to keep you posted if I find another way for it to mysteriously disappear.

Enjoy,

Gina