Colossal Cookie

This recipe came from a Woman's Day magazine 10-2-84.

Most everybody loves this cookie! When my son was in military school, he would sale each cookie for $1.00. When he ran out of cookies, he sold the recipe for $30. ..... We won't talk about his ethics

... If you don't like sugar and all the other candy, try my healthy version that's right below. This version is a great healthy breakfast, or any time, cookie....

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups (1 pound) peanut butter (You can use some crunchy peanut butter, but watch out for a too dry batter)
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats mixed with
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup M&M's (Multicolored sugar-coated chocolate candies or Reeses Pieces (sugar-coated peanut butter candies (or both mixed)
1 cup raisins
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces or peanut butter chip (or both mixed)

DIRECTIONS
Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electic mixer until pale and fluffy.
Beat in eggs, vanilla and peanut butter until well blended.
Stir in oats (mixed with baking soda) until stiff dough forms
Stir in candies, raisins and chocolate
Scoop by the heaped tablespoons unto an lighty greased cookie sheet
Flatten- cookies will spread out about an inch
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 8-10 minutes (could take 12 minutes- depends on cookie size and oven.) until lighty browned
Cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes, the remove to racks to continue cooling


HEALTHY COOKIE/BAR

This recipe can be done several ways, and you can use your own combination of fruits and nuts- experiment...
1/4 cup butter softened and
1/4 cup of "Lighter Bake" or applesause ( I skip the butter and use 1/2 cup Lighter Bake or applesauce) *(Ligher Bake is la fruit puree from plums and apples-like apple butter without the spices. )
1 cup honey (you may want a little more)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups (1 pound) peanut butter (Natural peanut butter is good for this cookie. Since you are using more wet ingredients, you can easily add some crunchy style peanut butter)
4 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats mixed with
2 teaspoons baking soda
2/3 cup wheat germ (honey roasted is good, too)
1 cup raisins
2 cups of your favorite dried fruit and nut mixture. (I like to use chopped dried apples, dates, cranberries, golden raisins, sunflower seeds... (dried blueberries are good, too)

DIRECTIONS
Beat first five ingredients.
Beat inpeanut butter until well blended
Stir in oats (mixed with baking soda) until stiff dough forms Stir in raisins and your favorite fruit nut mixture
Scoop by the heaped tablespoons unto an lighty greased cookie sheet (Or make into bars)
Flatten- cookies will spread out about an inch
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 8-10 minutes (could take 12 minutes- depends on cookie size and oven.) until lighty browned
Cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes, the remove to racks to continue cooling
Hope you enjoy this favorite!