Thick, Soft, Chewy Chocolate Chips

2 ½ c. flour
1 t. baking soda
½ t. salt
½ c. butter - room temp- MAKE SURE IT IS ROOM TEMP!
½ c. shortening
1 ½ c firmly packed brown sugar
2 t. vanilla
2 eggs
1 12oz pkg. semi sweet choc. Chips
1 c. chopped nuts - optional

Preheat oven to 375
Mix all dry ingredients and set aside. Cream butter and shortening together then add vanilla and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time mixing well. Add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Bake about 10 min. until edges are brown but still a bit pale in the middle. Cool for 5 min.