Peanut Butter Cookies

I donated a year's worth of tasty treats in a United Way fundraising auction at work. It went for over $200. Nancy's kindly volunteered to help. She'll do a few of the monthly batches. I made the November batch: peanut butter cookies; half with chocolate chips.

Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
chocolate chips (optional; mini or regular semi-sweet; mini Hersey's peanut butter cups are also a yummy addition)

Mix together shortening, peanut butter and sugars. Add egg. Mix together dry ingredients then add to moist mixture. Add chocolate chips. Form into 1" ball and place on cookie tray (I love using parchment paper-lined sheets so I don't have to wash the cookie trays afterwards). Flatten with fork. Bake at 350' for 8-12 minutes depending on your oven and how well you like them baked.

I usually double the recipe (just as easy since I have all the ingredients out).

I hope you enjoy trying to make some.

I package up 4 dozen of them and kept a few for my family to try. Neither Heidi nor Roland are fond of peanut butter, so it may just be Stefan that wants some, so I may have a few extras to share at work (since I'm trying to avoid sweets this month).