My grandmother Reta knew that I loved her cooking. When we were young and lived close by it was always a treat to visit her in her old farmhouse. We would search for treasure in her attic, trace our fingers around the pattern in the old flowered carpet, and send whispered messages through the air return ducts, certain our code was undetectable. But before the games began, I would run to the cupboard for one of her famous cookies to much on even before hugging her or wiping my feet. I didn’t ask, she didn’t mind. That’s why we love Grandmothers.

One of my favorites was always this now, nearly 100 year old recipe for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, originally handed down from my Great Grandmother Essie Williams, and in my mother’s recipe archive still hand written in lovely cursive. Chock full of nuts, cake-like and moist, and full of extra spice, they taste like home and remind me that love created in the kitchen is the best code of all.
The recipe is below…make it with love and please, remember us when you do.