Ingredients:
3 cups old-fashioned or quick-cook oats
1 ½ cups flour
1 ½ cups brown sugar, packed
1 ½ cups butter, room temperature (3 sticks)
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Optional add-ins:
¾ cup plain M&Ms
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¾ cup chocolate chips
½ cup chopped nuts
½ cup coconut
½ cup raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Wash hands. Place all the ingredients (except any add-ins) and use your hands to mix them together until well combined. The more you mix, the better the cookies will taste, so be aggressive. Mash! Knead! Pound! When everything is combined, add any add-in components and mix again. For best results, choose just one or two add-ins.

Use a spoon to scoop the batter into walnuts-size pieces, then roll each piece into a round ball. Place balls on an ungreased or parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart (cookies will spread as they bake).

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 17 minutes, until cookies are a light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for at least a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.