Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies

My mom has made these cookies all my life and they are hands down the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever had. My mom taught me how to make them and now I get asked when I'm going to make "those chocolate chip cookies you made that once" all the time! It makes a very big batch so I usually freeze half the dough for another time.

• Ready In: 32 mins
• Yields: 7 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄3 cups shortening
• 1 1⁄3 cups butter, softened to room temperature
• 4  eggs
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 5  teaspoons vanilla
• 2  cups sugar
• 2  cups brown sugar, packed
• 7  cups flour
•  semi-sweet chocolate chips
•  walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. 1. Preheat over to 350 deg.
2. 2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl by hand. My mom swears that mixing it all by hand makes all the difference.
3. 3. Roll dough into one inch balls.
4. 4. Bake for 12 minutes.