First runner-up: The Best Chocolate-chip Cookies (aka Karla's Cookies)

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Makes 5 to 6 dozen cookies

-- 5 cups oatmeal
-- 4 cups all-purpose flour
-- 1 teaspoon salt
-- 2 teaspoons baking soda
-- 2 teaspoons baking powder
-- 2 cups (1 pound) butter, softened
-- 2 cups sugar
-- 1¾ cups brown sugar (depending on how sweet you like them)
-- 4 eggs
-- 2 teaspoons vanilla
-- 24 ounces (4 cups) semisweet chocolate chips
-- 1 Hershey bar (7 ounces), cut into small chunks, or 1½ cups milk-chocolate chips
-- 2½ cups finely chopped walnuts or pecans

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Grind oatmeal to a fine flour in a blender or food processor. Set aside. Sift together flour, salt, baking soda and powder. Set aside.

3. Cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar. Mix in eggs, one at a time, and then vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and ground oatmeal, stirring after each addition. Add chocolate and nuts.

4. Shape dough into disks about 2 inches wide and ½ inch thick. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, allowing room to spread. Bake at 375 degrees for about 12 minutes. Transfer to racks to cool.

Submitted by Karla Bocek