This is Mom's official cookie recipe for posterity and also because it's on a tiny piece of paper in an overstuffed recipe box hanging on for dear life :). Mom has written in pencil directions for tripling the recipe for obvious reasons. (This is not the tripled version.) Mom always bought the holiday M&Ms to use in her cookies.
3/4 stick Crisco Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 3/4 all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
6 oz. plain M & M (seasonal colors are the best)
Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in egg.
Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into shortening mixture until just blended. Stir in M & Ms.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet (or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper). Bake 8-10 minutes for chewy cookies or 11-13 minutes for crisp cookies.
