Peanut Butter Cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was going to make many more cookies than just these two, but realized that by making more means that I would be eating more as well.  I decided since I started so late that I would just make 2 favorites.

Here is my all time favorite peanut butter cookie.  I love this recipe because the cookies turn out flavorful, light and very peanut buttery.

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup non-hydogentated shortening
1 cup peanut butter (this is what makes the cookie awesome, I use Organic Once Again Creamy Peanut Butter (no stir) - Out of all the peanut butters I have tried over the years this one is the best)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour

Cream sugars, shortening and butter.  Add peanut butter and mix well.  Add eggs and mix well.  Add baking soda, salt and vanilla.  Gradually add flour.  Drop onto a parchment lined cookie sheet with a scoop (this saves you from hand rolling each cookie).  To flatten the cookies use a fork.  The trick I learned is to use a fork dipped in sugar instead of flour (a lot of recipes tell you to use flour).  For the first dip slightly push the fork against some of the cookie dough that is in the bowl, then dip the fork into the sugar and press across the top of the cookie going both directions to give it a waffle pattern.  Don't push down too hard just enough to leave an impression.  Once all the cookies have been flattened sprinkle a little bit of sugar over the tops.  Bake in a 367 degree Fahrenheit oven for 10 - 12 minutes.  Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

For the chocolate chip cookies I actually used the recipe on the back of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip bag.  This is really just a basic cookie recipe and you could use any kind or brand of chocolate chips you want.

2-1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips

Stir together flour, baking soda and salt.  Beat butter with sugars until creamy.  Add vanilla and eggs one at a time, mixing until incorporated.  Gradually add dry ingredients into creamed mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop by Scoop fulls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 9 to 11 minutes in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven.  Makes about 4 dozen cookies.