Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies bring back lots of memories of my childhood. My mama would make these cookies often. The house would smell incredible and the anticipation for the oven timer to go off would only be made worse by the growling stomach and watering mouth.

After moving out on my own and meeting Mr. Sideline Chef I had to have my mama's recipe. Peanut Butter Cookies are his favorite kind of cookie. She kindly recited it off the top of her head and after hanging up the phone I raced to the store to pick up the ingredients to surprise him with these cookies.

That was four years ago. I haven't pulled the recipe out since. Such a shame really. I recently came across the recipe and knew I needed to make them again and soon.

Mr. Sideline Chef was home for a total of 24 hours this weekend before he had to return back out on the road for work. I had the best of intentions to make these for him while he was home. Unfortunately, I never got around to making them since we had other things to accomplish with Itty Bitty's 3rd birthday coming up at the end of the week.

He's back on the road but a craving for these cookies hit. I had to make them. Shh! Don't tell Mr. Sideline Chef. The way it always goes is this... I make yummies... I eat ALL the yummies. It's really hard for me to share save any. Next time he is home I will make these cookies for him. ALL for him. Really. If I keep convincing myself of this it may become a truth sooner or later. Right?

Make these Peanut Butter Cookies today and enjoy them hot out of the oven with your loved ones. Share them. Really.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe has been passed down from 4 generations. Not sure the original origin.

Makes 28 Cookies

Stars of the Show:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup peanut butter - I used chunky peanut butter since that is what we have on hand.
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp salt

And Action:

In an electric mixer bowl combine the shortening, sugar, and brown sugar. Beat.

Add the eggs, vanilla, peanut butter, flour, baking soda and salt to the bowl. Beat until dough forms.

On a non greased baking sheet use a tablespoon scoop and set the dough balls. With a fork, press the dough down and then press the fork the opposite direction to create a crisscross effect.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

Let cool on a rack... if you can wait that long. Enjoy!