Dad's Favorite Oatmeal Cookie

AKA Traci's favorite and my favorite, too.  My mom has been making these cookies for my dad for years.

Double Batch
1 1/2 C shortening
2 C sugar
2 eggs
1/2 C water
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 C flour
6 C oatmeal
Optional:  chocolate chips, raisins.  (I like chocolate chips)

Cream shortening with sugars and eggs.  Add water and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients.  Add chocolate chips and/or raisins if desired.
Bake at 350º for 10-12 minutes.

Special Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cubes butter, softened
1 cup oil (I used canola)
1 1/2 cups sugar (I reduced this to 1 cup)
2 cups brown sugar (I reduced this to 1 1/4 cup)
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
5 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 lb chocolate chips

Cream butter, oil and sugars. Add eggs, vanilla and almond extract. Add dry ingredients. Then stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Best when underdone and cooled completely.

Ranger Cookies!!

I've been making this good ole' Betty Crocker recipe for years! The reason I love this recipe is because it has so many good and nutritious stuff in it, like Wheaties, coconut, and oatmeal. I always add chocolate chips, which is not in the original recipe. This is for a double batch.

1 cup shortening (can also use butter, which makes a richer cookie. I personally like the shortening)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar (I always reduce the sugar by half for my tastes)
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups quick-cooking oats
2 cups whole wheat flakes (I use bran flakes. You can use Wheaties, or Total or even corn flakes)
1 cup shredded coconut
1 to 2 cups chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375°. Mix thoroughly shortening, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Drop by rounded spoonful two inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. (my sheets have silicone mats on them) Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until set, but not hard. Cool about 3 minutes or baking sheet.

Lindy's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I really love these cookies.  But they really taste their absolute best in the month of October!  I got this recipe on My Friend's Favorite Recipes blog.

1 c. Butter (2 sticks) softened
2 c. sugar
4 c. flour
2 c. pumpkin (canned okay)

2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. orange zest
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder 12 oz. chocolate chips

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add egg, vanilla, orange zest and pumpkin. Mix well. Add dry ingredients and chocolate chips. Mix. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Makes approximately 8 dozen cookies.

Can be refrigerated and used in batches. Or use a scoop to make cookies to freeze. I put them on a wax paper lined cookie sheet and freeze overnight. When frozen, place as many as you want in freezer bags and put back in freezer.