My earliest memory of these cookies was when I was about seven. Me and my best friend had walked home from the bus stop and upon arriving, our babysitter Rhonda told us that our activity for the rest of the afternoon was going to be baking cookies. Thrilled, we grabbed wooden spoons, measuring cups, bowls and set about creating our chocolate masterpiece. I don't remember where the recipe came from, or how it all got mixed together, but what I do remember is how many went into the oven. If my memory serves me right, it was somewhere around 12, maybe even 11. Once the dough got all mixed together, Rhonda told us that we were in charge of scooping the batter, using two spoons, onto the cookie sheet and getting them ready for the oven. She, on the other hand, had to watch The Young and the Restless, but at first commercial break, she would be back to ensure that everything was going according to plan. You'd better believe that by the time she rounded the corner to settle into her soap opera seat, our fingers were into that dough faster than you could say The Young and the Restless. True to her word, she launched into the kitchen to assess our progress, and found 4 cookies on the sheet. Delighted by what she saw, she left again.
We quickly realized after she failed to appear during the second commercial break, that we had an entire bowl of cookie dough to ourselves and no one supervising. Without any hesitation, we shoved our spoons into the bowl and didn't stop. We would occasionally hear a sound coming from the TV room, which would propel us to drop a few more cookies onto the sheet, but when nothing became of the noise, we continued to inhale, stiffling giggles between bites. Suffice to say, when Rhonda appeared on the baking scene at the end of her show, she was shocked by the empty bowl, 12, maybe 11 cookies and two girls looking at her with very convincing, innocent eyes. I don't remember what she did with us, but I can only imagine that it didn't end well.
As you can see from an earlier post, not much has changed, only my age and the location of the cookie dough. This time though, I don't need to hide it. I still giggle at the thought, which is quickly followed by "oh shit, what are you doing..?" but in the long run, I don't care. Life is too short to deprive yourself of all that is good in this world, and cookie dough, raw or otherwise is part of that good.
Ms. Elaine's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Although Elaine claims to have received the recipe from someone else, they will always have her name in the title. These cookies are great to keep around, either as dough or baked. They freeze well and will keep for a long time in an airtight container.
2/3 cups Shortening
2/3 cups Butter of Margarine
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup White Sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
2 1/2 cup Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1 cup Large Flake Oatmeal
1 cup Chocolate Chips, or more to taste
Cream your shortening, butter and sugars together until it is well blended and creamy looking.
Around 5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until incorporated. Do not over blend.
In a separate bowl, combine your flour, baking soda and salt. Add to cream mixture all at one and beat until combined. Add your oats and chocolate chips and mix until incorporated.
Note: This is a pretty fool proof recipe. It's not fussy or temperamental. Add everything (in the order listed above) and enjoy.
If you are unlike me and want to bake them, set the over at 350 F and back for 12-15 minutes.
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