1 1/2 cups (old-fashioned) rolled oats
1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup chocolate chips

preheat the oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the middle position.

measure out the oatmeal in a medium-sized bowl. melt the butter and pour it over the oatmeal. stir until it’s thoroughly mixed.

in a small bowl, combine the sugar, baking powder, flour, and salt. mix well.

add the sugar mixture to the oatmeal mixture and blend thoroughly.

mix in the vanilla and the beaten egg. stir well.

add the chocolate chips and stir the mixture until it is well combined.

line cookie sheets with foil, shiny side up. spray the foil lightly with pam or another nonstick cooking spray.

drop the cookie dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto the foil, leaving space for spreading. don’t crowd these cookies together, no more than 6 or 8 per sheet.

bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. remove them from the oven and cool them on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. pull the foil off of the sheet and over to a waiting wire rack. let the cookies cool completely.

when the cookies are cool, peel them carefully from the foil and store them in a cool, dry place.

makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies