What makes a bad cook? Bad food. Here’s a recipe for cookies I developed over the weekend; this recipe is my own, and may be the first installment in a series.

"Trick" Oatmeal Cookies

~they are no treat~

• Shortening and applesauce to make 1 cup
• 1 cup tightly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar (or leaving out all but 2 or 3 tablespoons, if thinking the applesauce is sweet enough)
• Small Quantity of chopped apples (peeled for appearance)
• 2 eggs (double, for firmness)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt 
• 3 cups old-fashioned oats

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Cream shortening, applesauce and sugars until smooth; beat in eggs and vanilla
3. Combine and blend thoroughly flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; beat into creamed mixture. Stir in oats
4. Drop by rounded teasspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Makes 6 dozen cookies (too many)

These are dry, and firm, and fleet of flavor; they stay the appetite, and they depress the mood.

They might be suitable served to someone you don't mind leaving saddened, but not unsated.

On the first day they are bearable, on the second day they are unchanged in appearance,  and the on third day they might be abandoned.