Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup butter1 cup firmly packed brown sugar#189; cup granulated sugar2 eggs2 teaspoons vanilla extract2 cups flour#190; teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt3 cups uncooked old-fashioned oats 2 cups semisweet chunks 1 cup pecan pieces, optionalHeat oven to 350 degrees.Beat the butter and sugars with a mixer until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat well. Add the flour, baking soda and salt to the butter mixture, and mix well. Stir in the oats and chocolate chunks (and pecans if using). Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets and bake 10-12 minutes or until golden. Let the cookies cool a bit on the sheets, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.Nancy, Virginia, via frugalvillage.com