PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE CHIP-OATMEAL COOKIES

1 cup butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups chocolate chips

1 - 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats

1 cup unsalted roasted peanuts, chopped

In a bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and peanut butter until well blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

In another bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Stir or beat into butter mixture until well incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips, oats and peanuts.

Drop dough in rounded 2 tablespoon portions, 3 inches apart, onto buttered or cooking parchment-lined baking sheet. With a lightly floured fork, flatten slightly into 2 - 1/2 - inch rounds about 1/2 inch thick.

Bake in a 350 F oven until cookies are golden and tops fell set when lightly pressed, 12 to 14 minutes (they will feel underdone but firm up as they cool).

Let stand 5 minutes on sheets, then, with a wide spatula, transfer cookies to racks to cool. If hot cookies start to break, slide a thin spatula under them to release; let stand on pan to firm up, 2 to 5 minutes, then transfer to rack to cool completely.

MAKES: about 30 cookies

NOTES: The best accompaniment to these indulgent cookies is a cold glass of milk.

IRRESISTIBLE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

These peanut butter cookies are a great soft cookies. I developed this recipe with my youngest son when I was home schooling him. He is now 21 years old and we still like cooking together. We did a mother/son baking contest at the New Mexico State Fair that Crisco was having. We won second place. Try making these irresistible cookies with one of your loved one. Baking with a loved one can be fun and a memory that last a life time. Remember what you do with your heart n soul is made with love.

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 F. Place a sheet of foil on the countertop for cooling cookies.

In a large bowl cream together

3/4 peanut butter

1/2 cup Butter Flavored Shortening

Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended

1-1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

3 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 egg

Add to creamed mixture at low speed

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Then add and just mix until blended

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly in a crisscross pattern with tines of fork

Bake at 375 F for 7 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. After you remove from the oven let set for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then remove from cookie sheet to foil.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.