Secret Recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are really yummy and so easy to make!

Prep time: 10 minutes | Bake Time: 16 to 18 minutes

1/2 cup rolled oats, regular or quick (quick if you don't ground)

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened- not melted

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp lemon juice

2 eggs

3 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or chopped dates or raisins)

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place rolled oats in blender or food processor and process until finely ground. Combine ground oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
2. In another bowl, cream butter, sugars, vanilla and lemon juice together using an electric mixer. Add eggs and beat until fluffy.
3. Stir the flour mixture into egg mixture, blending well. add the chocolate chips and nuts to the dough and mix well. Using 1/4 cup of dough for each cookie, scoop round balls with an ice-cream scoop and place 2 1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake until cookies are lightly browned. 16-18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cook completely. Store in a sealed container to keep them soft and chewy.

Tip: The lemon juice in this recipe helps to activate the baking soda, producing a softer chewier cookie.