Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

This is a recipe, adapted slightly, from one my mom made when she was baking for teen-agers and I did the same, usually doubling the recipe and mixing it in the large (Braun) mixing machine, using the hook attachment for mixing in the dry ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, room temp.
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup sliced almonds (optional)

Method:

1. Beat butter, adding sugar, eggs and vanilla, until well mixed.
2. In a small bowl, mix dry ingredients together and then add to wet mixture, stirring until thoroughly mixed in.
3. Add oatmeal, chocolate chips and almonds.
4. Drop by Tbsp onto cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 11 minutes or until barely golden in color.

I learned a trick from my fellow recipe contributor, Marg, to bang the cookie sheet on a hard, heat resistant surface as soon as you pull the cookies out of the oven. This makes them shrink down, for that chewy texture. Yield: 3 1/2 - 4 dozen