Cowboy Cookies

"I wanted to make cookies one night, and was thumbing through the All Recipes Cookie Lover's cookbook trying to find a recipe that called for ingredients that I had on had and their recipe for Cowboy Cookies fit the bill! Little did I know it would turn into the most favored cookie recipe I've ever made. I've probably made over a thousand of these cookies since (many times upon request) and they always appease the sweet tooth."

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups rolled oats
1-1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1-2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Grease baking sheets. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Gradually stir in the sifted ingredients. Stir in the rolled oats and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on to the prepared baking sheets.

3. Bake in preheated over for 8 to 10 minutes (until bottoms are lightly brown and tops are dull rather than shiny - they firm up as they cool). Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: 5 dozen
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook time: 60 minutes total

Source: All Recipes Cookie Lover's Cookbook, page 9, Cowboy Cookies III