Soak raisins in milk and vanilla or rum for 10 minutes.

Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, shortening, sugar and eggs. Mash the banana and add to mixture. (Banana may be omitted - reduce recipe to 2 eggs instead of 3; reduce flour to 2 cups).

Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Add gradually to above mixture.

Add banana extract to milk (if using). Stir in raisins and the flavored milk they soaked in. Add oats and combine mixture well.

Form cookies and place 1 inch apart on greased cookies sheets.

Bake for 12-15 minutes at 375°F watching carefully; reduce heat if cookies are browning too quickly. Some ovens get hotter the longer they are on, so you may need to turn down heat for later batches.

Variation: Add 3/4 cup chopped nuts. For added nutrition, add 2 tablespoons of wheat germ or 1/4 cup of wheat or oat bran plus another tablespoon or so of milk.

Submitted by: CM