Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with a Chocolatey Kick

I remember making plain regular oatmeal raisin cookies when I was younger. I remember the mid 70's and winning the local girl scout cookie bake off with this recipe. I remember the thrill of going to the Sear's store in the next town and having to bake the cookies all by myself for the bake off. It was thrilling!

Flash forward to 2000. Needing my chewy oatmeal raisin cookie fix. Needing some chocolate. Chocolate? Raisins? (Listen for the aha music - light bulb sound clicking on) Let's put some Raisinets in these puppies.

Flash forward to...today! Standing in the candy aisle at Harmon's trying to rationalize a purchase of you guessed it - Raisinets. Wait-- do I see DARK chocolate Raisinets? Isn't dark chocolate good for our hearts? (Slight pause) Isn't oatmeal good for our hearts? Yes, yes it is.

I took the proactive heart healthy step, purchased the Raisinets ,ran home (exercise ) and baked up a batch of these delicious cookies. I will feel so healthy when I eat them tonight with a big glass of skim milk! (LOL)

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar,1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 1/2 cups all- purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3 cups Oats, 1cup (1bag -let's face it whatever makes it into the bowl) of Raisinets.

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 - 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack.

Enjoy! (I know I will).