About Crisco: Smart Balance used to make a trans fat free shortening in the same 3 lb. containers, competitively priced. Unfortunately the best you can get now are the expensive tubs. Smart Balance makes a pareve slightly reduced fat (9 grams vs. the normal 11 -13) margarine that can be substituted for regular margarine as it’s still pretty high fat.
A few great recipes:
The “Neiman Marcus” one with the ground oatmeal (grind a lot and keep it in your freezer for easier baking, just freeze in the amounts you’ll need). I leave out the nuts and extra grated chocolate, and instead of 2 cups of margarine, use one each of margarine and shortening, or 2/3 each of marg., short., and oil.
In one of Levana Kirschenbaum’s cookbooks she has a wonderful choc. chip cookie recipe with oil. I’d share it but it’s copyrighted and this is too broad a forum.
Ditto for an out of this world cookie from America’s Test Kitchen. It’s in their cookbooks. It’s a double chocolate chip cookie. A bit of a patchke but sooo worth it. And use Taster’s Choice French Vanilla coffee for the coffee powder called for. (A great sub all the time.)