Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Total Time: 27 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried cherries, chopped
• 1/3 cup hot water
• 6 tablespoons shortening
• 6 tablespoons butter or 6 tablespoons margarine, softened
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 teaspoons orange zest
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Recipe

• 1 in small bowl, soak cherries in hot water for at least 10 minutes.
• 2 do not discard water!
• 3 in mixing bowl, cream shortening, butter and sugars until fluffy.
• 4 beat in eggs, orange peel and vanilla.
• 5 combine oats, flour soda, cinnamon and salt and gradually add to creamed mixture beating til combined.
• 6 stir in cherries and chips with water you soaked the cherries inches.
• 7 drop by rounded tablespoon fulls 2" apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• 8 bake at 350°f for 12-14 minutes or til edges are lightly browned.
• 9 cool 1 minute before removing from cookie sheets to wire rack.