soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies - the ones form my childhood! This makes 3 dozen cookies.
Preheat oven to 375F
Cream the butter, shortening, sugars and eggs together.
Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water and then mix into the creamed ingredients
Add the flour a cup at a time, working into the creamed mix. Add the salt, vanilla, and mix well. Add 1 cup of chocolate chips and mix briefly.
Remove the bowl form the mixer and stir up from the bottom in case any flour or creamed mix is not incorporated. You should have a very stiff batter.
Bake 10-12 minutes until lightly browned. When I remember, I turn the pans half way through in case the oven has any hot spots. I find you can put in up to 2 pans, but 3 pans does not work well, should your oven allow for that. Really one pan at a time is perfect.
REmove and cool for a couple minutes, then using a thin spatula remove to the newspaper. Cool completely (if you can! they are wonderful when still warm!)
My mom used to add in chopped nutmeats, or turn them into a different cookies with peanut chips instead of chocolate ones.
Add 1/4 cup cocoa and make them chocolate -chocolate chip cookies! Or chocolate with peanut butter chips!