As we've mentioned before, Ellie and Ollie call my mom Duchess.  I couldn't think of a better way to honor her than to name our latest cookie, The Duchess.  Duchess loves oatmeal cookies, but doesn't necessarily like raisins in them.  After asking around, I found that most people DO like raisins in their oatmeal cookies.  So, as a compromise, I decided that Duchess wouldn't mind raisins if they were first soaked in dark rum because she does like rum.  The plump raisins and a few extras in this moist and chewy cookie really make it the best oatmeal raisin cookie I've tried.  Ellie is in complete awe of this cookie because she eats oatmeal with raisins for breakfast.  As far as she is concerned, why not just have some cookies for breakfast? 

For all of you out there that seek your mother's approval, you'll really appreciate this cookie.  I went through batches of cookies before this one came to fruition.  I cried, I called my mom, I scoured my grandma's recipes to no avail, I said a lot of bad words (in my head when E&O were around), I cried some more, and then I just drank the rum 'till I didn't care. 

I just realized something as I wrote this.  My mom probably did all of the above on a daily basis while raising my sister and I.  We certainly weren't the easiest kids on earth, but surely not the worst (surely?). 

To all the moms out there I say thank-you.  This "mom" business is hard stuff, and I appreciate all of you that came before me.  As for you, Mom, I love you very much and thank you for being my mom.  I'm a lucky girl.

Here it is.....the cookie that we've all been waiting for....the Red Haute.  She's quite the sassy cookie dressed in red with a devilish kick at the end of each bite.  Red Haute "smacks ya in the kisser" I've been told.

This gem of a cookie is made from dark chocolate, cinnamon and a dash of cayenne pepper that leaves a tingle at the back of your throat that makes you wonder "What was that?" Red Haute's beautiful dark red hue comes from a quick dunk in red sugar before baking.

The Ellie&Ollie Red Haute is not for the faint of heart.