Clerestorial’s Very Best Oatmeal Cookies EVER

1 C. (2 sticks) of butter, softened
1 C. brown sugar, firmly packed
½ C. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbs. vanilla extract
1 ½ C. all-purpose flour
1 Tsp. baking soda
2 Tsp. ground cinnamon
½ Tsp. salt
3 C. Oats (quick or old-fashioned, uncooked)
1 C. raisins
1 C. Ghirardelli chocolate chips

(I do not recommend these substitutions, but you can use margarine in place of the butter and 4 egg whites for the 2 eggs.  BUT please do not use those ‘other’ chocolate chips in place of the Ghirardelli chips.)

1.	Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2.	In a large bowl & using a mixer, beat together the butter and sugars until creamy.
3.	Add eggs & vanilla; beat well.
4.	Add 2 C. of oats and continue beating until well incorporated.
5.	Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon & salt; mix well.
6.	Mix in by hand the last cup of oats, raisins & chocolate chips.
7.	Drop by rounded tablespoon onto an un-greased cookie sheet.  (I use a cookie scoop.)
8.	Bake 10 ½ -11 minutes for a chewy or 11 ½ -12 minutes for a crisper cookie.  (OR bake 30-35 minutes in a 13x9” metal pan for a bar cookie.)  Cool 1 minute and then remove to wire rack.
Yield:  ~4 dozen+