Oatmeal Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

This recipe is from Holly.  It is one of the many reasons Dustin has to go to the gym all the time.  Holly, I miss the excuse you gave me to eat sweets all the time!

1c. Shortening
3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1t vanilla
1/2t water
1t salt
1t baking soda
1/2 c flour
2 c old fashioned oatmeal (you can use quick oats, but old fashioned are sooo much better)
2c chocolate chips OR 2 c raisins (or some combination if you're daring!)
1t nutmeg
2t cinnamon

Bake at 350* for 10-15 minutes.  Makes a great cookie cake.

P.S.  I stopped using shortening a while ago and haven't tried this recipe with butter.  I don't imagine it would cause too many problems if you use butter.

Ginger (Molasses) Cookies

I got this recipe from Mrs. Bauder.

Cream 3/4 c. shortening or margarine (use oil for harder cookies) with 1 c. sugar.  Add 1 egg and 1/4 c. molasses.  Add 2 c. flour, 1 T ground ginger, 2t baking soda, 1t cinnamon and 1/2t salt.  Chill until firm.  Roll into balls and roll balls in sugar.  Slightly press down on to baking stone.  Bake 13 minutes at 350*.  Cookies will be slightly underdone.  Allow to cool on pan for chewy cookies.

P.S. I stopped using shortening a while ago and haven't tried this recipe with butter. I don't imagine it would cause too many problems if you use butter.

Updated: I used butter last night and they were better than ever!  I won't ever go back to the other options.