Catt's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I think these cookies just smell like the holidays! I love them, the combination of the orange, cinnamon and nutmeg fills your house with the most wonderful aroma. I took them to a cookie contest at church once, with the dipping half of the cookie in white chocolate then sprinkling them with pecans, and they won first place. They were really gorgeous!

1-cup butter or margarine, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup pure orange juice or apple juice
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel (I would omit this ingredient if you use apple juice instead of orange juice)
3 cups quick cooking oats
1-cup raisins
1 cup chopped pecans (optional - I don't use them)

Cream butter; gradually add sugar beating at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg, beat well. Add juice, orange peel and vanilla, beating well. Sift in a separate bowl; flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg . Add to creamed mixture, beating just until mixed. Fold in oats, raisins and nuts if desired (unless you like female cookies as we do.) Mix just until blended. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto parchment paper on cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees for 13 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks and cool. If you don't want to use juice, use water.

When they are cool, for extra decadence, dipped half in white chocolate, let dry on wax paper. Before the white chocolate dries, sprinkle lightly with finely chopped pecans. Talk about professional -they look like they came from a gourmet shop!