Cookies with a kiss

Remember these cookies? I had them when I was a kid: peanut butter cookies with a Hershey’s kiss. They were a treat, and the more chocolate to peanut butter cookie the better… and they were BEST just out of the oven, while the chocolate was still gooey.

I don’t usually make these. Partly because they have shortening, partly because beyond the peanut butter and those worthwhile moments of self-indulgence, they really aren’t that good for you. But I like a good excuse, and this one is unbeatable: I signed up to make 2 dozen cookies, once a month, for four months.

At my boys’ school, they have an annual auction to raise money. It helps benefit the school; the school encourages everyone to attend, and expects a donation from each family. It is flexible: you can volunteer to work at the auction, to help organize, or you can purchase an item to be bid on in a silent or live auction. This year, I decided to offer something that didn’t require great expense, but was still worth a bid or two. So I offered to make two dozen homemade cookies, hand delivered, once a month from January-April (the auction was in December).

It sold immediately. How cool is that?

Each month, I wrap up 2 dozen cookies, usually 1 dozen of one kind, and a dozen of another kind. February cookies included these peanut butter, chocolate kissed cookies. And the side benefit of this monthly gift? It is a double gift (cliche for the gift that keeps on giving): I make extras, and my boys enjoy little treats in their lunches. It forces me to take out time to make homemade cookies—to offer lovingly baked treats in their lunches… kind of like a little midday, mom-delivered kiss.

Cookies with a Kiss
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, pressed
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt

Mix shortening, peanut butter, sugars, and egg. Blend dry ingredients (Okay, Betty Crocker says chill for an hour; I am thinking: what, shot of tequila, feet up, read a book? Hey, when Betty says ‘chill’ I an all over it. Who would argue? The dough can wait… put it in the fridge while you take a break). Oven to 375. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, roll in sugar. Bake 10-12 minutes. When just out of oven, insert 1 hershey kiss into each cookie, pressing it into the cookie.

•