Peanut Butter Blossoms!  If I had to name one Christmas cookie that I can remember always being in grandma's cookie jar, it is definitely Traditional Peanut Butter Blossoms.  I remember getting so excited to add the most important part (the chocolate kiss, of course) as soon as she took them out of the oven.  And don't worry, I always was sure to eat a few while they were still warm, chewy, and super-messy!  After all, that melted chocolate was finger-lickin' good!

Now that I have kids of my own, I think about those memories a little differently.  When I was a young girl, I was simply making cookies with grandma.  But now, as I look back, I realize I was watching her every move, wanting to do things just like she did.  I watched her reaction when I tried to perfectly place the chocolate kiss in the center of each cookie.  I beamed with pride when she told me how good I did.  

As I do the "simple" things in life with my own children, I try not to get caught up in the craziness of life.  Instead, I want them to be able to remember the precious moments that we shared together.  Thirty years from now, I want them to look back and smile.  I want them, if just for a moment, to feel like that innocent child again, without a care in the world.

Some may say it is just a cookie.  But to me, these Traditional Peanut Butter Blossoms are filled with love, laughs, and sweet memories.  My simple hope for you is to not only make and enjoy these cookies, but I want you to create your own sweet memories that will forever put a smile on your face!

Ingredients for Traditional Peanut Butter Blossoms:

• 1½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup shortening
• ½ cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Extra sugar, for rolling

Directions for Traditional Peanut Butter Blossoms:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 

2. Combine shortening, peanut butter, and sugars until fluffy.

3. Mix in egg, milk, and vanilla.

4. Add flour, baking soda, and salt.  Blend until smooth.

5. Form dough into 1-inch balls.  Roll in sugar and place on a greased cookie sheet.

6. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

7. When removed from oven, immediately press a chocolate stars into each cookie.

8. Allow cookies to cool on a cooling rack.