Bacon Bit: Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven are one of life's true pleasures--the only thing you could do to improve upon the perfection of a fresh-baked morsel is to add bacon--so that's what we did.

Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 C butter, softened
1/3 C shortening
1/2 C packed light brown sugar
1/3 C granulated sugar
1 egg
1 T vanilla extract
1 1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 C (12-oz pkg) Hershey's Special Dark chips
1 lb bacon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Cook the bacon until crisp; drain, allow to cool, then crumble; set aside. Beat butter and shortening in a large bowl until well blended. Add brown sugar and granulated sugar; beat thoroughly. Add egg and vanilla; beat until well blended. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and bacon. Drop by rounded teaspoons (or tablespoons, if you prefer bigger cookies) onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Makes about 2 to 3 dozen cookies, depending on how big you made 'em.

By the way, see that book under the cookie plate? You can buy it here.