Chocolate Chip Cookies Basic Recipe

Thanks to my daughter learning how to make these, my recipe card needs to be thrown away, so I guess it's time to put the recipe here...

1 C. Shortening
1 C. Sugar
1/2 C Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 C. Flour
1 tsp. Soda
1 tsp. Salt
12 oz. Chocolate Chips

Mix shortening, sugars and vanilla. And eggs and beat. (You can throw in some peanut butter here too if you like, maybe  1/4-1/3 C.) Combine soda, salt and flour. Mix in. Fold in chocolate chips (and coconut if you're my husband)

Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 about 10-11 min.

Homemade Nilla Wafers

I made these to go with the Swedish Berry Cream Dessert. They were all right, not great. If I did it again, I think I'd replace the butter with shortening to try and have them not flatten out so much.

Ingredients
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (1 stick or 112g)
1/4teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar (210g)
1 vanilla bean, seeds only (I didn't have this so I just doubled up on the extract)
1 large egg white (~33g)
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk
1 1/3 cups AP flour (160g)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder (~3g)

Procedure
1. With an electric mixer, cream butter, salt, sugar and vanilla seeds until light.

2. Beat in egg white until well incorporated, scraping sides and bottom of mixing bowl to insure that all white has been incorporated.

3. Beat in extract and milk until well incorporated.

4. Whisk together flour and baking powder and add to butter mixture. Mix just to incorporate, scraping down sides and bottom of mixing bowl to insure that all flour has been incorporated.

5. Place by small spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet.

6. Bake at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes, until cookies are lightly browned. Cool completely before storing. Cookies will keep in an airtight container for at least a week.

Jumbo Oatmeal Cookies

I've tried so many different oatmeal cookie recipes and this is the only one I've found that works at this altitude. They don't get flat and gross. These are delicious. And since they have oatmeal in them, I'm pretty sure they're healthy too.

1 C. shortening
1 C. packed brown sugar
1 C. white sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
3 C. oatmeal
1 C. nuts (optional)
choc. chips (optional)
raisins (optional)
coconut (optional)

Preheat oven to 350

Cream shortening and sugars in large boal. Beat in eggs, then vanilla

In separate bowl combine flour, soda, salt, sinnamon, ginger and cloves. Then mix into sugar mixture.

Add oatmeal and any of the optionals you're using.

Scoop with 1/4 C. measuring cup onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 13-15 min.

Try to eat only one, I dare you!

Paula Deen's Ginger Cookies

Again, we consumed before I even thought about taking a picture.

Ingredients
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar, plus more for rolling
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. Using an electric mixer at low speed, cream the shortening and sugar until thoroughly combined. Add the egg and molasses and beat until completely incorporated. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt and add to the mixture. Stir until combined. Roll the dough into balls about 1-inch in diameter. Roll the balls in sugar. Place 1/2-inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Flatten the balls slightly with your fingertips. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.