My Best Effort Yet

Yes, I made the best peanut butter cookies I've ever made. After church on Sunday, I asked Zach what kind of treat he would like. He, of course, said he didn't know (this is always the response I get). When I suggested peanut butter cookies, that hit the mark. Naturally, I wanted to try a new recipe-this is one of my favorite things to do...try new recipes. I found this recipe in Essential Mormon Celebrations by Julie Badger Jensen. I made ONE alteration: I do NOT use margarine, I only use real butter (Mom, you should be proud of me). I think these would be amazing with chunky peanut butter, but I never buy chunky peanut butter because Zach doesn't like it, so I probably won't ever try it. If anyone does, let me know if it delicious! Without further ado:

Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
sugar
Hershey's kisses, if desired
-Cream together butter, sugars, eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture and beat together. Roll dough into balls and dip/roll in sugar. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes (mine took 11 minutes b/c I used my 2 tbsp cookie scoop). If desired, place a Hershey's kiss on top while still warm. (Obviously, I didn't do this part.)

Can I just explain WHY these peanut butter cookies were so amazing? They were soft...and they STAYED soft. AND they tasted amazing, too. Bonus. Maybe nobody else has ever had issues with their peanut butter cookies getting a little hard, but I have. EVERY recipe is always delicious, but doesn't stay soft and I LOVE soft cookies. Try it! Or don't, whatever. It's not like I'll ever know the difference. I just love sharing.
-Kirk out.

Cookies You Can Make When You Can't Decide What Kind You Want

I wanted to make some cookies yesterday. I always make the same kinds of cookies with the same great recipes. BUT...I wanted something new. I found this recipe on allrecipes-which is my absolute favorite online resource for yummyness. This did NOT disappoint.
Like I have said before, oatmeal cookies are kind of my nemesis. I can't get them soft. Anyway, these are amazing. Zach loved them and he's not crazy about my oatmeal cookies, usually.

Baker's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
1 cup flour (I used half whole wheat, half white)
1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder (if you use whole wheat flour, put in a little extra)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanillla
6 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used chocolate chips, not chopped)
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt; sat aside. Beat butter, sugars and peanut butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until well blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate.
-Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets. (I used a medium cookie scoop.)
-Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute; remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely.
I totally forgot that I was going to take a picture and post it...I will try to put up the picture later. :)

Mmmm Cookies

Story:
I have tried sooo many oatmeal cookie recipes and never had success. They were flat, see-through, balls, too crunchy, not set up enough...you name it. I think everything that could have gone wrong with my oatmeal cookies, went wrong! Poor Zach, had to put up with all my failures. Anyway, a while ago, my dad sent me this recipe that my mom uses that always turns out really good. So, I thought, "what the heck!" and tried it a while ago. They turned out so good (not perfect, mind you, but leaps and bounds ahead of what came out of the oven before.) I made them again last night for Zach, and they were even better this time. Well, you know me, I had to document it. So, here's a picture-careful, you don't want to drool on your keyboard (bwahahaha)-and the recipe. If you try it and love it, thank my mom-of course, she could use any recipe to make anything and it would be delicious. :)

Quick Mix Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 tbsp water
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups oats (thanks Lois)

Mix first six ingredients. Add remaining ingredients, except oats. Beat till smooth. Fold in oats. Shape into small balls. Bake in greased cookie sheet at 375 for 12 to 15 minutes.