Yes, there is such a thing as a life-changing cookie

When a reader on our new Kitchen Scoop Web site said she remodeled her entire kitchen around one cookie recipe, we knew we had to try those cookies.

"When remodeling my kitchen a few years back, I actually designed the whole project around my favorite oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookie recipe," said Margie Fendley of Summerville, S.C. "Mixer, ingredients, spices, baking pans, cooling racks and utensils were all within arm's reach and were between the sink and oven. I found that the arrangement served me well for many other recipes."

The aroma filling Alicia's kitchen as she tested and photographed Margie's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies for today's column was topped only by their flavor.

"I did half the batch with chocolate chips and half with raisins," Alicia reports. "These really ARE special. I love the cookies with raisins, but then again, I'm not much of a chocolate girl. The kids, of course, loved the chocolate chips."

This recipe makes a lot of dough, so it's easy to bake both versions. Or perhaps use chips and raisins in the same cookie. Now there's inspiration for a kitchen redesign.

• Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross are co-authors of "Desperation Dinners!" (Workman, 1997), "Desperation Entertaining!" (Workman, 2002) and "Cheap. Fast. Good!" (Workman, 2006). Contact them at Desperation Dinners, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016, or tellus@kitchenscoop.com. Or visit kitchenscoop.com.