Cooking 101 - Peanut Butter Cookies

I needed a snack to send to my daughter's class today and with NOTHING in the pantry and no sedatives to get me through a grocery shopping trip with 3 tired boys, I scrounged around the house for things I might throw together. OY...I hate that.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES! Perfect. A little substance to go with the sugar and the kids will make it through the end of the school day! Plus, who wants to be the mom who sends carrot sticks or saltine crackers?! GEEZE. Social suicide for a Kindergartener...

Here's a classic recipe I love that doesn't use Crisco. I know, I know, butter isn't great either - but it's better than Crisco!!!

CLASSIC PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES:

2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups peanut butter (I like crunchy)
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, peanut butter, eggs and sugars together. Add flour, baking soda and vanilla and combine well. Roll spoon-fulls of dough into little balls, about the size of a small walnut. Gently press down with a fork, making a criss-cross shape in the middle. (don't squish 'em) Bake for about 8-10 minutes depending on how chewy you like your cookie.

For a chewy cookie, take them out just before they start turning golden brown. Otherwise, leave them in until they're golden brown a little on the edges.