Number of servings:
makes approx. 4 dozen

Ingredients: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 c. brown sugar, firmly packed

1/2 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. flour*

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt (optional)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. cloves, (optional)

3 c. Quaker Oats ('quick' or old fashioned; your choice)

1 c. raisins, dried cranberries, or other dried fruit bits (optional)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Blend together butter and sugars until creamy.

Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.

In separate bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well, then add this to the 'wet' ingredients.

Stir in oats... and raisins, if desired; mix well.

Drop by rounded Tablespoon-ful
onto Un-greased cookie sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack (or a cold platter ;-)

Other suggestions and comments:
At High Altitude, increase flour to 1 3/4 cups.

The addition of cloves makes the cookie slightly spicier.

Old Fashioned oats will produce a more coarsely textured, high-fiber ("neighhh, Mr. Ed!") cookie.

If you substitute margarine for butter, please don't use a margarine with high water content; most cookies will then 'spread' and adhere to the baking sheet like Crazy Glue ;-) It is also helpful to cool the cookie sheet a bit between batches. I like to use 2 cookie sheets, and alternate them.

Even faster!!!: make the 'bar cookie' version, spreading the entire mixture into an Ungreased 9" x 13" baking pan, and baking for 30 to 35 minutes.

You might try chocolate chips, or even butterscotch chips. A bit of grated orange zest can be a flavor plus, too.