Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup shortening
• ⅔ cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups all-purpose flour*
• 1 teaspoon soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

The Steps

1. Heat oven to 375°.
2. Mix thoroughly shortening, butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla.
3. Stir in remaining ingredients.
4. (For a softer, rounder cookie, add ½ cup flour.)
5. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
6. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown.
7. Cool slightly before removing from baking sheet.

About 7 dozen cookies.

*If using self-rising flour, omit salt and soda.

Variation

• Salted Peanut Cookies: Substitute 2 cups salted peanuts for the chocolate pieces and nuts. Before baking, flatten each cookie with bottom of glass that has been greased and dipped in sugar.