Peanut Butter Cookies

Months ago I signed up to bake for the monthly observance of co-workers' birthdays. Since the person who animated this tradition left the company the practice has all but died. One administrative assistant occasionally sends a desperate mass email looking for volunteer bakers, lately making the appeal, "you don't really have to bake!" And truly, if anything is contributed at all, it's a hydrogenated bakery cupcake or two, looking like the made-for-TV version of a true and lovingly baked good.

Strategic baking was clearly called for. What would inspire a return to this one humanizing gesture that makes cubeland that much more bearable? Nothing too fancy, or avant. This was not the time for rosewater or candied ginger. No, best to call on the comfort of an old friend. Peanut butter cookies it is-- may these fork tracks be the resting place of dreams.

I'm not sure I've ever made old-fashioned PB cookies from scratch. This one I did by the book. Or, more appropriately, by the website. I scarcely changed a thing, only a slight reduction of the white sugar. I'm pleased to follow the letter in this case, because I would not have intuited the need for extra rounds of refrigeration to ensure chewiness.

1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
>1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 egg

Cream butter and peanut butter together in mixer. Add sugars. Once sugars are incorporated add egg. In a separate bowl sift together salt, baking soda and flour. Add this mixture gradually to the butter mixture. Mix until a sturdy dough forms. Remove dough and double wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 min. Form chilled dough into balls and flatten with fork. Refrigerate the pressed out cookies again for 15 minutes before baking in a 300 degree oven for 18 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen.

**

They came out OK.. I achieved the chewy texture I was looking for, but I don't think they're peanuty enough. I would bump the peanut butter up the 3/4 and reduce the white sugar to 1/4 cup or none at all.