"TEXAS STYLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES"

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, sift or whisk thoroughly together the first 3 ingredients, then set aside.
• 2. In your electric mixer bowl (if you have a Kitchen-Aid you will WANT to use it!), cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
• 3. In a smaller bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add the vanilla. Mix into the creamed butter.
• 4. Carefully add the flour mixture beating slowly to avoid splattering all around you. This makes a lot of dough, and you don't want to over beat, or spill it all out. Add as much as you can at once, scrape the sides and bottom periodically to ensure that you get all of it in there from the sides and the bottom. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER MIX, HOWEVER, BECAUSE TOO MUCH MIXING MAKES FOR TOUGH COOKIES.
• 5. Combine the chocolate chips, nuts, and any other add-ins. Add this mixture to the butter mixture.
• 6. Combine well.
• 7. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Roll dough into 2" balls (you can use a cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop for this if you have one. Try to keep the cookies uniform in size and shape).
• 8. Place them on ungreased cookie sheets, and flatten each cookie (to about 3/8" height) gently with the palm of your hand. Bake for 12-14 minutes (for big ones, and 10 minutes for smaller ones) or until barely set and light brown around the edges.
• 9. Remove from the oven. Leave on the cookie sheet to cool about 5 minutes.
• 10. Remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
• 11. These cookies will not only make you everyone's favorite for the day (if not for a lifetime) but also make fancy, schmancy gifts... if you are successful in achieving uniformity; these will not only taste and smell out of this world, they will easily look very professional, and make an impressive and delightsome gift!
• 12. BTW, This recipe can be bent to accomodate individual creativity. Try them with M&Ms, with or without nuts, white or chocolate chips and dried fruit, white chocolate chips, coconut & macadamia nuts, chopped Rolos, chopped Snickers or almost any quality candy bar (not Nerds, etc.!), peanut butter cups, etc., etc., etc. Have fun!