Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, vanilla, flour, salt, and baking soda. Beat for 3-4 minutes (batter may be dry). Add chips and nuts, or raisins and oatmeal for oatmeal cookies. Cover cookie sheet with wax paper. Scoop dough out with a large spoon. Place 5 cm apart on sheet; change wax paper for every new batch. Bake at 180ºC or 8-11 minutes. (Cookies may not look completely done). Do not halve this recipe or it will not turn out as well.