Garbage Cookies

While cleaning out my craft room I came across a small recipe box that I had not looked through in years.  I found this recipe for Garbage Cookies that my Dad made all the time when I was growing up.  They are basically an oatmeal cookie with peanuts, chocolate chips and raisins added.  He called them Garbage Cookies because he said that he just cleaned out the cupboards and threw everything in the cookies!  After I was married and moved away, I remember asking him to send me his recipe.   You will notice that he simply cut the Oatmeal Cookie recipe off of the cardboard oatmeal canister and added his variation at the bottom.  My Dad passed away in 1992 so when I saw this recipe tucked away in that box, it brought tears to my eyes and a flood of memories.  My Dad packed my school lunch every day.  I remember sitting on the bench at school taking these cookies out of the small wax paper bag that was used to pack all of our lunch food in.  You see, zip lock plastic bags were not invented yet!

I was so excited to make these cookies and they were just as good as I always remembered them.

My Dad and I at the beach (a long time ago!)

1 1/4 cup margarine

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

Beat together margarine and sugars until light and fluffy.

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

Beat in egg and vanilla.

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

(If you are not adding the salted peanuts, add 1 tsp. salt)

Add flour and baking soda – mix well.

3 cups oats (quick or regular)

Add oats – mix well.

1 cup salted peanuts

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup raisins

Add peanuts, chocolate chips and raisins – mix well.  Add some water if mixture is too dry.  (I did not need to do this).

Drop large spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.  Makes 27 large cookies.

Bake at 375 degrees for 11 – 12 minutes.  Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet.  Remove to wire rack to completely cool.

Store in an air tight container.

Recipe Source:  Dick Oakford (my Dad)

FULL RECIPE WITHOUT PICTURES —

GARBAGE COOKIES

1 1/4 cup margarine

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

Beat together margarine and sugars until light and fluffy.

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

Beat in egg and vanilla.

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

(If you are not adding the salted peanuts, add 1 tsp. salt)

Add flour and baking soda – mix well.

3 cups oats (quick or regular)

Add oats – mix well.

1 cup salted peanuts

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup raisins

Add peanuts, chocolate chips and raisins – mix well.  Add some water if mixture is too dry.  (I did not need to do this).

Drop large spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.  Makes 27 large cookies.

Bake at 375 degrees for 11 – 12 minutes.  Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet.  Remove to wire rack to completely cool.

Store in an air tight container.

Recipe Source:  Dick Oakford (my Dad)