Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

This is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I decided I didn't want the tedious task of making all the cookies.  Bars are way quicker of a process!  We always used this recipe growing up and make I think a quadruple batch. I don't make quite that many, but normally make at least a double batch.  

Creamed "wet" ingredients

Ingredients:

2/3 cup shortening (part butter or margarine)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional, I never use nuts)

Cookie dough right before going into the pan

1 pkg. (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.  Mix shortening, sugars, egg, and vanilla thoroughly.  Stir dry ingredients together, blend in.  Mix in nuts and chocolate chips.  Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough about 2" apart on an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until delicately browned.  (Cookies should still be soft.)  Cool slightly before removing from baking sheet. (Makes 4 to 5 dozen 2" cookies)

To make the bars I just greased a 9 x 13 -ish pan and patted the dough into it, then watched it until it became golden brown.  It did get a little more brown that I wanted due to outside interruptions, but it still tasted good, and that's all that matters.