I hear this is a common thing – wives that can’t quite make
foods “just like mom’s” for their husband. In our house, this is the case with
chocolate chip cookies. Even though I asked my MIL what recipe she used {the
one off the back of Nestle Toll House chocolate chips}, I’ve tried to get mine
to turn out just like hers to no avail. I’ve bought identical ingredients {even
using – gasp! – the same brand of margarine she used [I bake w/butter only]},
but mine have never come close to looking or tasting like hers.
Don’t get me wrong, Vic likes my chocolate chip cookies{as evidenced by the
swiftness in which they disappear from our house}, but I’ve given in to
the fact that my chocolate chip cookies will never be his favorite version of
the classic.
PS: In my humble
opinion, after perfecting the technique this past year, I make a GORGEOUS looking
chocolate chip cookie {and I’ve been told they taste good too!}!
That being said, I was determined to make a cookie that he’d
LOVE. And this is IT!
Peanut Butter Kisses
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter {I use JIF, and probably closer to 1 cup}
1/2 cup shortening {I use Crisco}
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tbs. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour {I use 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1 cup unbleached white flour}
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Additional white sugar for rolling
~30-36 Hershey Kisses {most of a bag}
1. Heat oven to 375*.
2. Beat shortening and peanut butter together in a large bowl until well blended. Add both sugars and beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla, then beat well.
3. In a seperate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat the flour mixture into the peanut butter mixture.
4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar, then place on an ungreased cookie sheet. {TIP: They don't spread much, so you can bake a lot at once.}
5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned on top {cookies will crack around the edges, too}. While they bake, unwrap the kisses.
6. As soon as you pull the cookies out of the oven, press a kiss onto the top of each one. Remove from cookie sheet and allow to cool completely on a wire rack {Vic likes them cold and hard, from the fridge!}.
The recipe says it makes about 4 dozen, but I usually get about 30 cookies... I guess mine are much bigger than what they make!
I love making cookies {more recipes to come!}, so lucky for
me, Valentino will have a wide variety of “Mom’s” cookies to call his favorite…
sorry future daughter-in-law!
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