CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES (Makes 8 dozen)

3 cups sifted flour
2 t baking soda
2 t salt
2 cups vegetable shortening
2 cups white sugar
2 cups light brown sugar (firmly packed)
4 large eggs
2 t vanilla
6 cups dry quick cooking oats
2 cups raisins
1 pkg. (12 oz.) chocolate chips (or 2-6 oz. pkgs.)

Preheat oven to 375.

sift flour, soda & salt together and set aside.  In mixer cream both sugars and shortening with eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Add the flour mixture and blend well.  (Transfer to extra large bowl at this point.)  Add oats, raisins and chocolate chips and stir with wooden spoon until evenly distributed.  Lightly grease cookie sheets.  Roll in 2" balls or use small ice cream scoop and place 2" apart.  Bake about 12 minutes or until light golden brown.  Remove after 2 minutes cooling time.  Cool on wire racks.

I made half a recipe and it made plenty, enough to fill a cookie jar.  12 minutes baking time is perfect because one more minute and they would've been too dark.  They're nice and chewy, kinda like an oatmeal cookie with the added bonus of chocolate chips!