Now that winter has been replaced by dense fog and thunderstorms, it’s time to bring out the big guns and blast the gloom away. When I was a kid, we spent nasty Saturdays making chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Dad would hover like a vulture, exasperating me to no end by eating them as fast as my sister and I made them.

Once Hiram came into the picture and my younger brother developed a man-sized appetite, they joined Dad on cookie patrol. Over the years, others have joined in - my kids, a whole monastery full of monks, foreign exchange students. And every one of them will tell you of the positive mood-enhancing effects of these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

So if the fog and rain persists in our part of the country, or even if it doesn’t, or you live elsewhere, try this recipe on Saturday. You’re gonna love it.

Gloom-Busting Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

2 eggs                                    2 cups flour

1 cup softened butter          2 cups oatmeal

1 1/2 cup brown sugar        1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla               12 ounce package chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon salt                1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together eggs, butter, brown sugar and vanilla. Add flour, soda and salt. Mix well. Then mix in oatmeal, nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonsful onto a cookie sheet. Bake 10 -12 minutes. The recipe says it makes 5 - 6 dozen, but they never stick around long enough to be counted!

You can make bars instead by spreading the dough into a greased 10 x 13 cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes. Cut into bars while still warm.