Oatmeal Cookies

½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup shortening (Crisco sticks with no trans fat)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 ¾ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups oatmeal
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 cup coconut (optional)

Cream shortening, butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat. Add soda, salt and ¾ cup of flour. Stir until thoroughly blended. Add the rest of the flour and mix. Add the oatmeal slowly and stir. (You may need to do this by hand with a wooden spoon.) Add nuts and coconut if desired. Form into small balls (1 inch) and place at least 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. (I usually press each one down with a spoon or my hand.)
Bake at 375 F (350 F if baking sheet is dark) for 10-12 min or until lightly browned. Cool and remove from baking sheet. Makes 5-6 dozen.
As made by Ethel