My daughter and I had just finished a salad at the Nieman Marcus Cafe and decided to have a small dessert. Because our family members are such cookie monsters, we decided to try the Nieman Marcus Cookie. It was so excellent that I asked if they would give me the recipe and they said with a small frown, I'm afraid not. Well, I said, would you let me buy the recipe? With a cute smile, she said yes. It asked how much, and she responded two fifty. I said with approval, just add it to my tab.

Thirty days later I received my VISA bill from Nieman Marcus and it was $285.00. I looked again and I remember I had only spent $9.95 for two salads and about $20.00 for a scarf. What in the world was so much? I looked again at the bottom of the ticket and it said Cookie Recipe $250.00. Boy, was I ever upset. I called them up and told the accounting department the waitress said it was two fifty, and did not realize she meant $250.00 for a cookie recipe. I asked them to take back the recipe and reduce my bill nd they said sorry, but because all the recipes were this expensive so not just everyone could duplicate any of our bakery recipes....the bill would stand....I waited, thinking of how I could get even or even try and get any of my money back, I said OK, you folks got my $250.00 and now I'm going to get $250.00 worth of fun.

I told her that I was going to see to it that every cookie lover will have a $250.00 Cookie Recipe from Nieman Marcus for nothing. She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this." I said I'm sorry but this is the only way I feel I could get even and I will - so, here it is and please pass it to someone else or run a few copies....I paid for it, now you can have it for free.

2 c. sugar
2 c. brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 c. flour
5 c. blended oatmeal
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
4 oz. chocolate chips
1 (8 oz.) Hershey bar, grated
3 c. chopped nuts

Cream butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add chips, grated Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 6 minutes at 375°F.

Makes 112 cookies. (Recipe can be halved.)

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder. "Have fun!"

COOKS.COM EDITOR'S NOTE: This recipe is an urban legend, passed around in email for years. Don't give it much credibility. It is preserved here for historical reference!