Remembering Dad’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Today is National Peanut Butter Cookie Day. We’ve talked Peanut Butter Cookies before, and I’ve even shared this very old recipe before. So today’s share is going to be more about the memories surrounding Peanut Butter Cookies.

This is my Dad’s recipe – sort of. My mother received a Woman’s Companion Cookbook to help her adjust to married life – I guess. She gave up a lot in the name of love when she married Dad, including a life of leisure with servants. Mom, with help from Dad, became skilled in the kitchen. I don’t think she had ever actually prepared a meal before finding herself in a strange land with strange foods. I can remember when people hung brooms on the walls like decorations. Mom thought it was strange, since she had only seen brooms as something the maids used to clean the Mahogany wood floors. And while I can remember those days, I’m in agreement with Mom – that’s just strange.

My parents shared Mom’s cookbook. For holidays, they prepared many of our meals together, each with their special skill and talent. But when it came to cookies, that was Dad’s department. He baked dozens upon dozens of cookies in anticipation of the Thanksgiving-Christmas season. Our house was the place to be. Mom would whip up her hot chocolate while Dad put out trays of goodies for those who dropped by. And drop by they did – the house was filled with people nearly every weekend until New Year.

I can remember so vividly one evening sitting in our living room with a few of my friends. I don’t remember exactly what we were doing – knowing teenage girls, we were probably talking about boys. Anyway, Dad came bolting out of his bedroom, wearing nothing by his underwear and carrying a rolled up newspaper. Somehow he had heard our dog, Tina, break into the garage where Dad had trays of cookies cooling. Dad actually had baker’s racks built for his cookies, that’s how much he baked. Tina was a huge, not too bright Great Dane. And she had eaten several dozen cookies by the time Dad heard her. I was horrified as my half-naked father went running through the house chasing that damn dog. She went under the kitchen table, he went under the table. She leaped over the coffee table, he leaped over the table. My friends were laughing and I was screaming and Dad was yelling and the dog was howling. It was total mayhem.

Whenever I think of Peanut Butter Cookies, I cannot help but smile. Today that’s a funny story. It wasn’t so funny when I was sixteen.

Dad’s Old Fashion Peanut Butter Cookies
1-1/4 cups Flour
3/4 teaspoon Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Shortening
1/2 cup Peanut Butter, Creamy
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg, well beaten

Sift flour; measure; add baking soda, baking powder and salt; sift again. Set aside.

Cream shortening and peanut butter; gradually add the sugars and cream together thoroughly. Beat the egg well, add to the creamed shortening. Combine the dry ingredients and creamed mixture together. Chill well.

Form into balls 1-inch in diameter and place on a lightly greased and floured baking sheet. Flatten with a fork dipped in flour, making a crisscross pattern.

Bake in a moderate oven (375 degrees) for 8 to 10 minutes. Let rest on pan for 1 minute, then transfer to a rack to cool.

Depending upon the size of the balls, this recipe will yield between three and a half to four dozen cookies.

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Teach me Your paths, my God,
and guide me in Your truth.