This is a recipe that my mother made for us when we were kids and then I made for my own kids. They are chocolate-nut cookies, rolled in powdered sugar before baking to make them pretty. A good old standby.

Chocolate Chews

• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening (Crisco)
• 1 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 1-oz. squares unsweetened baking chocolate
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup nuts
• powdered sugar (to roll the cookies in)

Cream Crisco, sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs and chocolate. Combine dry ingredients, then add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir in nuts. Chill dough 2 hours.

Form in balls about 3/4-inch in diameter and roll in powdered sugar.

Bake at 350° about 10 minutes.

Please refer to my Cookie Recipe Basics to make sure your cookies turn out!
Read the introduction to my 1990s cooking blog for background information.