Cream shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Dissolve soda in hot water and add. Next, add flour and salt (sifted together), a little at a time. Up to this point, mixing can be done with an electric mixer. Now, mixing by hand, add oats, choc. chips, vanilla and (nuts, if desired). Mix well. Shape into slightly flattened walnut sized balls with wet hands. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until browned. Remove to rack at once. Cooking time will be 10 dozen minutes for chewy and about 15 min for crunchy. VARIATIONS Two more ways to make RONI'S CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES A: 2 TBsp more shortening 4 TBsp Cocoa (added with flour) B: 2 sq melted chocolate add to sugar, shortening and egg mix. NOTES: * or butter/margarine ** or quick oats *** or egg substitute **** we use walnuts. The astericks indicate substitutes my brother has worked out which reduce the fat and cholesterol. The changes do affect the taste though and I make them the way my Mom (Roni) developed them. Larry Luttropp ----