Toll House Cookies

Our favorite chocolate chip cookies are still the old recipe on the back of Nestle's chocolate chips. We've even been known to have eaten some of the cookie dough before it is baked! I've got it memorized, but you never know when you'll need it!

1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
(1/2 to 1 c. chopped nuts optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream butter, both sugars, and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating slightly until smooth and glossy. Add baking soda and salt and mix well. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time until well mixed. Add chocolate chips and nuts (if adding) and mix well.

Chill dough for half hour if desired. Drop about 1 Tbsp. rounded dough on ungreased baking sheet (or baking sheet lined with parchment paper). Bake for 9-11 minutes until golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on the pan for 2 minutes before moving them to a cooking rack.

Makes about 4 dozen  or more cookies. Store in an air-tight canister.