Chocolate Chippers--The $250 Recipe

With ground oatmeal to give a nice texture and sweeter flavor, we think this recipe is the best for the all-time favorite cookie. They are flavorful and moist yet hold their shape. I just got done making them today for our three older kids to bring to their last day of religious education at church!

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2-1/2 cups oatmeal
2 cups flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
12 oz. chocolate chips
4 oz. Hershey bar (optional)
1-1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together butter and both sugars. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Grind oatmeal fine (in a blender, processor or coffee grinder) and add, with flour, salt, baking powder and soda. Grate Hershey bar in a processor and add, with chocolate chips and nuts. Roll a heaping teaspoon of dough with hands, place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly. Bake for 10 minutes until there's just a hint of them turning brown. Allow a minute or two to cool before removing from sheet to cooling rack (the cookies will hold together better). Yield: About 55 cookies.