Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a great chocolate chip cookie recipe, soft and chewy. The recipe comes from my Auntie Jan and is probably as old if not older than I am. My mom has used this as her staple cookie recipe when we were growing up and you can tell how often it's been used by the condition of the recipe card! Over the past couple years I have tried to find a better/different cookie recipe; from the ones in famous cookbooks to the back of the chocolate chip bag. In the end this one is truly the best!

Last night after a tough first swimming lesson I offered to make a treat for the little guy as a reward for sticking with it and jumping in so many times (not his favourite part of swimming lessons) He picked classic chocolate chip cookies! Bright and early this morning I made a quick batch. This recipe is simple and quick to make. Although I'm trying to avoid sugar and gluten right now I had to sneak a warm chocolate chip cookie off the baking sheet this morning! 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 cup  white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup walnuts (optional)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a mixer cream shortening and butter. Gradually add in sugars, creaming thoroughly.  Beat in eggs & vanilla. Add in flour, baking soda and salt. The dough will be on the moist side. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Put teaspoon size dough balls on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. If you like them crispy, bake them a couple minutes longer.