Irene's $250,000 Cookies

                                                                    


Irene's $250,000 Cookies
(Also known as Neiman Marcus)

5 cups powdered oatmeal
4 cups flour
2 tsps. baking powder
2 tsps. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
8 ounces Hershey Bar candy, grated
3 cups chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
2 cups butter (1 pound), softened
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

Place oatmeal in a blender or food processor and grind to a powder~measure out 5 cups and place into a large bowl. Add flour, baking powder, soda, and salt to the oatmeal powder and mix well; set aside.
Grate the chocolate bar and combine with the chocolate chips and nuts in a separate bowl, set aside.
Cream together the butter and sugars till light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well to incorporate. Add vanilla and mix. Mix in flour mixture until well blended. Stir in chocolate and nut mixture and blend well. Form into balls the size of walnuts and place 2" apart onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 6 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Makes about 112 cookies.
Cookies can be frozen. Recipe can be halved.