/*adapted from “The Best Recipe,” written by the editors of Cook’s Illustrated (Boston Common Press, Brookline, MA., 1999) /

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup candied ginger, diced small

1. Adjust oven racks to low nd middle positions and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper (or, if you have Silpat, use this; it is preferable.

2. Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, nutmeg and ginger together in medium bowl and set aside.

3. Either by hand or with electric mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add sugars; bet until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time.

4. Stir dry ingredients into butter-sugar mixture with wooden spoon or large rubber spatula. Stir in oats. Stir in candied ginger.

5. Working with generous 2 tablespoons of dough each time, roll dough into 2-inch balls and place balls on parchment- or Silpat-lined cookie sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between each ball.

6. Bake until cookie edges turn golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Halfway through baking, turn cookies sheets from from to back and also switch them from top to bottom. Slide cookies, on parchment, to cooling rack. Let cool at least 30 minutes before peeling cookie from parchment.

This book is an excellent cookbook and is chock full of great recipes, including the best I’ve ever followed for fried chicken.

Big Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

I get Baker’s Cut crystallized ginger from Trader Joe’s. There are three Trader Joe’s in Connecticut, one in Westport, one in West Hartford across from the Westfarms Mall, and another in Orange, and lots in Massachusetts. Silpat is a French product, a silicon-treated sheet that fits on a cookie sheet and almost assures superb baking. It is also incredible for rolling out pie dough or kneading bread. It is washable and is good for use hundreds and hundreds of times. It is available through the King Arthur Catalog (800-827-6836) or at Williams-Sonoma at Westfarms Mall.