Makes A LOT of cookies just FYI!

This recipe was given to me after I married into the Fender Family. These cookies continue to be legendary around the holidays and special celebrations. I even remember my mother-in-law, Judy having them frozen in little dough balls and we would sneak them out to much on as a snack. 

One evening a few years ago, Bryce and I were visiting his parent's trailer when our oldest son was a tiny baby. They lived in a trailer on property they bought while they were building their new home. Judy had promised to give me the recipe and she finally found it folded up in some of their evacuation paperwork.

(Their house had burned down in a wildfire back in 2003 and they have been overly prepared for a fire evac ever since after losing so many photographs, heirlooms and special items.) 

In her hand, she held a bright piece of red paper with a short story and a recipe typed up.

This is about how the short story went:

"I had lunch at a nice restaurant in a high fashion department store with a friend of mine. We enjoyed a wonderful meal and had a great time catching up.

I saw a waiter glide by with a gorgeous cookie set on a small white plate. My friend and I couldn't resist and ordered a chocolate chip cookie each. They were THE BEST chocolate chip cookies I have ever had! I asked the waiter for the recipe and he said he would bring it with the check.

To my surprise, our bill was over $300! I reviewed the receipt and read towards to bottom of the receipt "cookie recipe: $250" behind the receipt was the recipe. I was furious. I demanded to speak with the manager.

After some bickering, I decided I would keep the recipe since it was THAT GOOD and I would do as I please with it, since I now owned it. You are reading this story and I am sharing this recipe to you and anyone who wants to bake it to get my moneys worth out of it."

I need to find the actual words of this story. But, that is roughly how it went. This lady is awesome. I would have done something very similar if I were in her shoes! And now I kinda am recycling the favor, to YOU!

Ingredients: (makes about 48 cookies)

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 whole cubes of butter (2 cups)
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 24 oz bag chocolate chips
• 5 cups Quaker Oats
• optional: chopped nuts

**Sometimes I will cut this recipe in half. Or, I will bake half and freeze the other half already prepared in dough balls on a cookie sheet. Once frozen, I transfer the dough balls into a food saver bag or a ziplock bag.**

Directions:

1. Set oven to 375º
2. Mix together sugars, room temp butter, eggs, vanilla in a mixer with the whisk attachment. 
3. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
4. Slowly add in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. 
5. Swap to the paddle mix attachment and add in the oats, chocolate chips and optional nuts. 
6. Place cookie balls onto sprayed parchment paper and bake for 8-10 mins
7. When finished, they should be just starting to turn golden on the top. Place cookies on a baking sheet to cool completely. 

Thank you Judy for sharing this recipe to so many!