Happy Birthday Milton Hershey!

Today is Chocolate Day, in honor of Milton Hershey, father to the Hershey empire based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Here is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe in order to celebrate this wonderful day.

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups butter

4 cups flour

2 tsp. soda

2 cups sugar

5 cups blended oatmeal

24 oz. chocolate chips

2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated)

4 eggs

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet or drop by teaspoonful onto the cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, or 10 to 12 minutes for a crispier cookie.

Makes about 10 dozen cookies.

Bob, Ashley and I made Pennsylvania our vacation destination in the 90s. We had a wonderful time with all the historical places. We stayed at Eagle Muir in a cottage that belonged to some friends. It remains one of my favorite vacations. The town of Hershey smells just like chocolate!