The Baking Tutorial Video is at the end of this blog. Please do watch it as i feel it is the best way to learn how to make these cookies.
A song or piece of music, a smell, a taste? What triggers a memory for you? For me, smells and sounds evoke such strong memories and with those, such emotions. It is amazing where our mind and hearts take us.
You know when you are perhaps driving and then a song pops up on the radio and reminds you of your teenage years. You remember who you were with, perhaps where you were and what you were wearing but more importantly how you felt. You get whisked right back to another time and place. All because of that song on the radio.
Till today a whiff of my grandad's soap (imperial leather), reminds me of the times i spent in his home on holidays when i was a child. He would wake up super ealry and go through his morning routine, radio on and him humming along. He was a cheerful moring person, i remember this so vividly. Yet, it was at least 40 years ago. Amazing isnt it.
Chinese New Year for me is the smell of ba kwa being barbecued and you know you get goosebumps when you hear that first ra tat tat tat that signals that the lion dance is about to begin. Are you feeling me yet?
So here we are at the end of 2021. The year we had so much hope for after our 2020 of lockdowns. We have celebrated Halloween and Deepavali and you know that the rest of the year is going to zoom by.
This year, I don't have the the musty smell of bonfires and autumn leaves under my feet nor the sound of crunchy or squelchy fallen leaves. But I am starting to feel the need for cinnamon, mixed peel and ginger inspired bakes. Nothing feels more comforting than the smell of these warming spices baking in the oven. And it has been raining a lot and feeling a lot cooler of late.
These Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are so easy to make, and bring in those lovely spicy smells into my kitchen that i long for. I eat these usually after my dance classes for elevenses with an almond milk coffee. The sweetness is just right and the oatmeal keeps me full a little longer.
I used a cake mixer in this video. If you would rather do these by hand, do check the chocolate chunk cookie recipe video. You can use the same method to make the oatmeal raisin cookies.
Oh, and Panettone season has started for me, and just 19 days till it is time to start eating Mince Pies. Enjoy the cooler weather and the lead up to the festivities.