Chocolate Chip Cookies at Their Best

Chocolate Chip Cookies at Their Best

1 cup (1/2 lb) butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. lemon juice
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon, optional
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 large packages (12 oz. each) semisweet choolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts

In large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, shortening, sugar and brown sugar on high speed until very light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and lemon juice. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon (if used), and oats. Gradually add to butter mixture, blending thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Use a scant 1/4 cup of dough for each cookie. Drop dough onto lightly greased baking sheets, spacing cookies about 3 inches apart. For soft cookies, bake in a 325º oven for 17 to 19 minutes or until light golden brown; for crisp cookies, bake in a 350º oven for 16 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to racks and let cool. Store airtight. Makes about 3 dozen.