Peanut Butter Cookies

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So I was invited (asked?) to donate some baked goods for a fundraiser last weekend.

My natural inclination of course was to go all crazy and make some over-the-top extravaganza. That's my typical M.O. afterall.

But the more I thought about it (and after I made the gluten-free fudge. Yum.) the more I realized that as much as I like challenging myself to bake, I believe equally in the power of a classic cookie.

A perfect cookie draws you in and whisks you back to childhood. It is a reminder that no matter what the papers and the politicians say, the world is still a fun place and baked goods are just plain happy making.

Don't know about you, but these past few weeks, I've needed to be reminded of that.

So, I made these Peanut Butter cookies.

After I made them I took that hilarious picture. Which normally I wouldn't post, but it just struck me as being all very domestic, innocent and sweet. And we can all use a bit more of that these days.

Indeed.

Now try this my peaches, and taste the joy.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup peanut butter

Preheat your oven to 350F

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until soft. Add the sugars and blend to incorporate. Add the egg, salt, vanilla, and then the rest of the ingredients.Roll the dough into small balls and space out on a greased baking sheet. Using a fork, press down a cross-pattern into each cookie. (While I wonder if that is actually needed, it certainly is traditional)Bake for 10 -12 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to rack to cool.

(As for my participation in the Eat Local Challenge...these weren't local. Obviously. Well, the egg was, but that's about it. They were organic though!)

© 2008 Fresh Approach Cooking
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© 2008 Rachael at "Fresh Approach Cooking" http://www.freshcatering.blogspot.com

People in the U.S. eat more than 600 million pounds of peanuts a year.

In 2006 a new edition of the Joy of Cooking, based on the writing and structure of the 1975 edition was published to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Irma Rombauer's self-published cookbook. -Simon & Schuster

What is a bake sale? Allow Wiki to explain.