Taking the buscuit

It's a cold, grim day in January and frankly, one needs a biscuit. I am reminded of a story of the Duke of somewhere at the advent of world war one, when government officials came round to take an audit of his staff to see who could be spared for the war effort.

The official looked through his list :

'Well, your Lordship, you may keep your butler, the two under butlers, the four footmen, the two kitchen boys, the gardener, the two under gardeners, the chef, the sous chef and the game keeper, but do you really need the three pastry chefs?'

'What?' his Lordship snapped. 'Can't a man have a biscuit?'

As my man requested biscuits and we don't have a pastry chef, I turned to Jo's book and made these oatmeal and raisin cookies. They worked out at £1.80 to make, was ASDA smart price goods, and I made 33, so they aren't as budget as they might be but taste a whole lot better than the smart price biscuit alternative.

Cream together -

170 grams butter

125 grams white sugar

220 grams soft brown sugar -

then add

1 egg

4 tsp sunflower oil

In a separate bowl, sift in

225 grams plain flour.

with

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

then add

200 grams of rolled oats

200 grams of raisins -

Beat well and then roll into walnut sized balls, place onto a well oiled baking sheet, press them a little to flatten, you can fit about 9 on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 mins at 180 degrees.