Best Oatmeal Cookies

1 1/4 cups (2-1/2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened

3/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups  all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon  ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon  salt (optional)

1/4 teaspoon  ground nutmeg

3 cups oatmeal, uncooked

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; mix well. Add oats; mix well. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 9 minutes for a chewy cookie or 10 to 11 minutes for a crisp cookie. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Bar Cookies: Press dough onto bottom of ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered. 24 bars

Variations:

Stir in 1 cup raisins or chopped nuts.

Omit spices; stir in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or peanut butter-flavored chips.