Save Money with DIY Convenience Foods

Love the idea of slice and bake cookie dough in your freezer? You can enjoy time and budget saving cookies whenever you want by making your own slice and bake frozen cookie dough. The best part is that you control the quality of the ingredients in the final product.

Another convenience with frozen cookie dough is that you can slice and bake just what you need. Does the widow down the street need a pick-me-up visit? Bake 6 cookies and surprise her with a plate of warm goodness. The church bazaar needs 6 dozen cookies? You are all set! Slice 72 rounds from your frozen (but soft enough to slice) dough, bake, and you are ready for the sale!

Try this easy recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. You will end up with six rolls of cookie dough - each roll yielding 2 dozen cookies. (Note - this is a recipe for 12 dozen cookies. The task is easiest with a powerful stand mixer, but it can be done with a hand-held mixer and some muscle.)

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups shortening

1 ½ cups (3 sticks) butter or margarine

3 cups light brown sugar

3 cups granulated sugar

6 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

4 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon salt

9 ¾ cups oatmeal - preferably "old fashioned"

1 - 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts

2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Beat together the shortening and butter or margarine until fluffy. Add the brown and white sugars; mix well. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add this to the butter mixture and mix well.

Stir in the oats, nuts and the chocolate chips. Knead the dough in the bowl for 1 minute. When the dough is thoroughly mixed, divide it into 3 equal portions. Divide each portion in half (total of six equal portions) and place on 3 separate sheets of aluminum foil, or heavy duty plastic wrap. Shape each portion into a log approximately 2 inches in diameter. Fold the foil up and around each log and seal. Wrap with a second layer of foil to prevent freezer burn, label, and freeze until solid.

Directions for baking

(Dough does not need to be thawed.)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

Unwrap the frozen dough and place on a cutting board. Slice as many 1/2 inch rounds from the log as you wish. (If you do not use the entire log, rewrap and return the frozen dough to the freezer.) Place on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden around the edges. Cool on the pan for a minute or two and then transfer to a wire rack until cool.