Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Place the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and combine thoroughly. Set aside. I usually sift the ingredients into the bowl.

Step 3: In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter, shortening, peanut butter, vanilla and the sugars.

Step 4: Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well between additions.

Step 5: Add the flour mix and blend at until thoroughly incorporated.

Step 6: Place the rolled oats into a grinder or magic bullet container and pulse several times until the oats are slightly chopped but definitely not pulverized. You still want to see some whole oats. Then add to the cookie batter and mix until incorporated.

Step 7: Stir in the chocolate chips or whatever additions you chose.

Step 8: Line a cookie sheet with parchment or silpat. Using a 1 1/2 inch cookie scoop, drop balls of dough 2 1/2 inches apart. No need to flatten the cookies, they spread beautifully.

Step 9: Bake for 13-15 minutes then remove from oven. Let stand five minutes, then remove them to a rack to cool. If you like your cookies crisp (like I do!) let them bake for 2 minutes longer.

Step 10: NOTE: Because there's only two of us, I make five cookies at a time. The rest goes in the fridge for use over several days, or I freeze the "balls" and throw them in a plastic bag for longer term use.