Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

I actually have this recipe memorized.  It's been one that I have used many times over the past 20 years!I have tried other chocolate chip cookie recipes but none have been as good as this one.  I always double it but I will type the single recipe version for you.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies
3/4 cup butter flavor Crisco shortening
1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans, optional  * if you choose not to use the pecans, add 1/2 cup more chocolate chips
(I make them both ways, sometimes with nuts, sometimes without.  The picture is without.)

       Heat the oven to 365 degrees.
       Combine butter flavor shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in mixing bowl.  Beat until well blended.  Add the egg into the creamed mixture.
       In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, and baking soda.  Mix into the creamed mixture, just until blended.  DO NOT OVERMIX.  That is what leads to greasy, flat cookies!
       Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans by hand.
       Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough 3 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake one sheet at a time for 8-9 minutes or until just barely starting to turn golden.  Don't overbake!  They will seem a little light and puffy when you take them out of the oven but as they cool they will darken and fall to a flat shape.  Cool 2 minutes on the cookie sheet and then remove to a cooling rack until completely cool.  Makes approx. 2 1/2 dozen cookies.