How to Make Oatmeal Cookies in Brasil

The first thing to know is that the idea of cookies are, well, different here. They have bolachas, which are great, and come in an assortment of flavors, textures and styles – I have a particular penchant for a line or two of bolachas de milho verde when they have them, but will settle for anything with coconut. But chewy oatmeal cookies that Milton decided he had to make are non-existent, mostly because if things are cooked here, they are well done.

So Milton decided he was going to make cookies to bring to the New Year’s party he is going to. So here I am along with his mother, Barbara and Tiago in two supermercados looking for things like baking soda, walnuts… and they of course think it’s funny that I have no idea what these things are called in Portuguese. But first we had to go back to Pernambucanas and exchange some cool new shorts that Regina and family gave me as a going away present. They were very sweet, but slightly under estimated the girth of this blogger.

One must begin making cookies by retuning or exchaning an item of clothing downtown first. Since it’s raining cats and dogs there was of course no parking to be had for blocks, and Dona Helena has to walk very slow, so it was an excellent example of who gets wetter, someone who walks fast or walks slower? The answer: the faster one does (because they don’t have an umbrella). So being a full committee, everything here in the democratic socialist country is done with your sogra and sobrinhos if possible. I mean why would you go to a store and return something by yourself in the rain? That’s just plain silly! So returning something being a near act of gawd, especially as the moças who work in this particular store, can’t be bothered with the customers. So the moça who “helped” me was rather put out with having to exchange the shorts, as she had to walk upstairs to get a form, since they couldn’t possibly have one there at the caixa. And since I was the one causing her to have to go get permission and the form, she wasn’t at all pleased with me. Thank gawd I had my CPF card as I needed that. So after the shorts were exchanged we walked back to the car and set off for Supermercado Guarani.

Upon arriving, we again all piled out and into the store, Milton having the recipe my mother was kind enough to send… we got everything, after me trying to guess, and opening this or that to smell and figure it out. When traveling anywhere there are two things that are always interesting to see hardware stores and supermarkets. I like to see how things are organized, and try to think why?

In Guatemala I learned the eggs and toilet paper were often sold on the same isle. Guarani has baking goods strung all over the store, it’s interesting, and makes for great fun when you have a sogra and sobrinhos with you na get disoriented. Everyone was clueless as to where anything was except of course Tiago who once again proved himself invaluable. So we got everything we needed, and went to check out, the sogra, being meia disligado puts her purse on the conveyor belt, and begins to reorganize everything for some odd reason when we were supposed to put the stuff in the cart there, so as she is reorganizing her purse the purse begins to move, and she just moves along with it as if this is normal, the kids and I are in hysterics…

They had no nozes (walnuts) so we had to go to another supermercado. When we got home there was no shortening, so I as I write this, off they send Barbara to the corner store to retrieve shortening which we think is called gordura (lit: fat)… at least that is what google translation tells me…

At any rate, I had best check on them as they are busy in the kitchen mixing… good luck with the forno, as the sogra’s forno has three settings (high, medium and low). That’s way too much kitchen science for me.

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Dot´s Oatmeal Icebox Cookie Recipe

Dot says:

The first recipe is my favorite. I presume you can get all these simple ingredients there. It was one my mother used to make a lot, too.(tsp ma\eans teaspoon measure) Hope one of these works. Let me knot.

Oatmeal Ice Box Cookies

1 1/2 cup flour 1 cup shortening

1 tsp. salt 1 cup white sugar

1 tsp. soda 1 cup brown sugar

3 cups oatmeal (dry not cooked 2 eggs

1 cup raisins 1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream shortening and sugars until mixes well. Add eggs and vanilla. Then add all dry ingredients, nuts and raisins. I often like to mix both yellow and dark raisins. Divide and make long log like rolls and roll in waxed paper. Chill in refrigerator for several hrs. I usually make a double batch and keep in refrigerator until I want to bake them. Slice into wedges and Bake at 350 degrees 8-10 min. (I don't have time written down so bake a small one first to see how your oven goes before doing a whole pan)

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Tata took these pics and M sent them to me to post, enjoy!