Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda 
• 2 cups brown-rice flour mix 
• 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 12 ounces semi chocolate chips 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla 
• 1 cup vegetable shortening plus additional for greasing baking sheets (preferably trans-fat-free)
• 1 cup walnuts finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• oven
• whisk
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets.
2. Whisk together flour mix, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum in a small bowl.
3. Beat together shortening (1 cup) and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until just incorporated, then stir in chips and walnuts if using.
5. Drop heaping teaspoons of dough 2 inches apart onto baking sheets.
6. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until golden, 9 to 15 minutes.
7. Let stand 1 minute, then transfer cookies to a rack to cool and continue making cookies using cooled baking sheets.
8. Cooled cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature 1 week.