There are certain smells that seem to slow the world down.
Fresh bread is one of them. A pot of soup simmering on the stove is another. But if you ask me, cinnamon has a way of working its own quiet kind of magic.
You can almost hear it.
The oven hums along. Someone opens the screen door without knocking. Before long, another voice calls from the next room.
“What are you baking?”
Funny thing is, nobody ever really asks because they need to know what’s in the oven. They’re asking because they want to stay a while. Somehow, a kitchen that smells like cinnamon has a way of inviting people to pull up a chair and linger just a little longer.
I suppose that’s why some of my favorite conversations have happened with a cookie cooling in one hand and a glass of sweet tea in the other. The cookies were wonderful, of course, but they were never the real reason people gathered. They were simply an excuse to slow down long enough to visit.
Since you’re already here, I think there’s still room for one more chair around the table. Before we lose ourselves in another story, let me write this recipe down for you. You never know when a batch of warm cookies might persuade someone to stay for another cup of tea.
Spiced Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Cloves
- Pinch of Nutmeg
- 1 cup Vegetable Shortening
- 1 cup Brown Sugar, firmly packed
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 3 cups Oatmeal
Directions:
In a bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
In a large bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, until incorporated.
Add dry ingredients, mix until just blended. Add oatmeal until just blended. (Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to mix it all together.). Add raisins, if using.
Drop by a tablespoonful or a cookie scoop (2” apart) onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, or until a light golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
You know…those cookies always remind me that the best visits rarely happen on a schedule. If you’re not quite ready to head home, there’s another rocking chair waiting for you back on the porch.
Come Back Anytime…
…I’ll leave the porch light on for you.
Until next time…travel safely.
Stroll Down Another Path
Another Porch Conversation
There’s always room for one more conversation.
Hands at Work
Sometimes the best conversations continue with busy hands
Another Garden Path
When one conversation naturally leads to another.
The Bookshelf
Stories, books, and favorite reads that have found a place on my shelf.
Front Porch
Head back to the porch and see what’s new.
Leave a Note on the Porch