Blue Ridge Mountains Chocolate Chip Cookies

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 2 3/4 cups bleached all purpose flour (see note below)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips (i use ghirardelli brand)

Recipe

• 1 note: the recipe initially calls for 2 1/2 cups flour, but with the added note if you want them more softer and rounder cookie to add 1/4 cup flour. i add the 1/4 cup making it 2 3/4 cups total.
• 2 cream shortening, butter, sugars, then eggs and vanilla and almond extracts.
• 3 blend dry ingredients and add to mixture.
• 4 stir in chocolate chips.
• 5 drop by large tablespoons (i use cookie scoop) onto ungreased cookie sheet, leaving 2-inches room in between to allow cookies to spread. i press down lightly with a measuring cup to bake more uniform cookies).
• 6 bake at 375° for 10 minutes until lightly brown.
• 7 makes 2-3 dozen cookies depending on size.