Chocolate Chip Cookies

Simply the best...

Ingredients:

• 2/3 c. vegetable shortening (cut into small chunks)
• 2/3 c. unsalted butter, softened (cut into small chunks)
• 1 c. granulated sugar
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract (good quality)
• 3 cups AP flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°, put rack in center of oven. Have two cookie sheets ready (ungreased).
2. Cream the shortening, butter and sugar in a large bowl with a wooden spoon.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla extract.
4. Combine dry ingredients separately and then add to egg mix.
5. Work the mixture to eliminate any streaks of shortening or butter.
6. Drop by spoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet and cook for 8-10 minutes. Darker cookie sheets will have the cookies done near 8 minutes, silver ones can take up to 12 minutes. What you're looking for is when the edges just barely turn brown but the centers of the cookies still appear quite soft if not still wet.
7. Remove the cookies from the oven and let sit on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. You can get another cookie sheet of cookies ready and in the oven while these cool.
8. Take cookies off of cookie sheet with spatula and onto wax paper place over newsprint.
9. Let them cool and then place into a plastic container.