3/4 c. shortening or butter
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 whole egg or egg white
1/4 c. water
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. oatmeal quick or old fashioned, raw
1 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt, optional
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together shortening, sugars, egg, water and vanilla until creamy. Add combined remaining ingredients, mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonsful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, remove to wire cooling rack. Store in tightly covered container. For variety, stir raisins, chocolate chips, chopped nuts or coconut into batter. Makes 60 servings.