DESSERT RECIPE: Chocolate Chunk Cookies

½-cup butter, or margarine, at room temperature
1/3-cup granulated sugar
¼-cup firmly packed brown sugar
1-large egg
½-tsp almond extract
1 1/3-cup all-purpose flour
½-tsp baking soda
½-tsp salt
4-oz semi-sweet chocolate
½-cup rolled oats, or chopped almonds and pecans, or granola
½-cup sultana raisins

In a medium bowl, beat together the butter with both sugars until pale beige and fluffy
Beat in egg and almond extract
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt
Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture until smooth
Chop chocolate roughly into ¼” to ½” chunks
Add to cookie dough along with the oats (or chopped nuts or granola) and the raisins
Work in with your hands until all ingredients are well combined
Drop by tablespoons about 2” apart onto greased cookie sheets
Bake for 10-12 minutes in a preheated 375* oven until lightly browned
Leave on cookie sheets for 2 minutes to firm up
Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely

Makes about 2 dozen

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