Critter Cookies

From a Penzey's spice catalog.

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Serves: 18
• Yields: 36 cookies

Ingredients

• 1  cup shortening
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  jumbo egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2  cups flour
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1⁄2 cups  regular uncooked oatmeal
• 1 1⁄2-2  cups  chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Cream the shortening and sugars together until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. In a seperate bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon and baking soda. Gradually add the dry mixtureto the wet, a little at a time, until thoroughly incorporated. Add the oatmeal and walnuts. The dough should be very still and clining to the beaters. More flour may be needed to achieve this consistency.
2. Scoop the dough into ball, about the size of a walnut, which is 2-3 TB, place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 350for about 18 minutes. The cookies "poof up" while baking and the cookiesare very airy.