Cowboy cookies (Thanks to Michael Pavan)

1 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached white pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups rolled oats
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat over to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, thoroughly cream the butter, sugar, and brown  sugar
with an electric mixer.  Add the eggs and vanilla and beat well.

In  a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking
powder.  Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture  and
blend well.

Mix  in  the  oats  using  a  large  spoon or your hands, fold in the
chocolate chips, and the raisins and walnuts, if  using.   The  dough
will be fairly stiff.

On  unoiled  baking  sheets, drop generous rounded teaspoons of dough
about 4 inches apart.  Bake for about 12 minutes, until golden.  Cool
completely before storing in a sealer container.

Variation:  Add  1  cup of raisins and/or 1/2 cup of coarsely chopped
toasted walnuts.

The variations I usually make  include:  1/2  cup  of  nuts:  usually
pecans,  sometimes  pignolis  and  1  to  1  1/2 cup of dried fruits:
cranberries, blueberries, cherries, and/or raisins, etc -Michael