Soft, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Make the batter the day before you bake the cookies.

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup shortening
1 cup raisins
1 cup water
2 eggs
2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/2 cups quick oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Cream sugar and shortening together by hand.

Meanwhile cook raisins in the water until there are 5 tablespoons of water remaining.  Cool.

Mix flour, baking soda, oats and raisins together.  Add eggs and the 5 tablespoons of water from the cooked raisins; mix well. Cover and put batter in refrigerator overnight.

The next day, drop teaspoons of the batter onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake approximately 13 minutes at 350 degrees F. Grease the pan before dropping each batch of cookies onto the sheet. Cool completely before storing.