Recipe
last week when no one was home, left them on the kitchen counter and went into town to get some groceries. When I got home and came in the door, my son informed me that Grandma had brought us the “most awesome cookies.” I was quick to inform him, that I had made the cookies and that I also know how to bake. These cookies are crisp on the outside and cakey on the inside and the sprinkle of sugar makes them very sweet. They are so good, that the kids will think that Grandma made them.

Peanut Butter Cookies
• 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
• ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• ½ cup peanut butter chips
• For sprinkling: 1 tablespoon sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, the baking soda, the baking powder, and the salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the butter and the peanut butter together until fluffy. Add the sugars and beat until smooth. Add the egg and mix well. Add the milk and the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat thoroughly. Stir in the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Place sprinkling sugar on a plate. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls into the sugar, then onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion. Using a fork, lightly indent with a criss-cross pattern but do not overly flatten cookies. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Do not over bake. Cookies may appear to be underdone, but they are not. Cool the cookies on the sheets for 1 minute, then remove to a rack to cool completely.

Kids Korner
This is a fun hand print craft. You can use it to brighten your spirits on a gloomy day.

Hand Print Sun
• Paper Plate
• Construction Paper
• Crayons, Markers, or Paint
• Craft Glue
• Scissors

Start out by painting or coloring the paper plate yellow. This will be the sun’s face so you can paint either the back of the plate or the front, which ever you choose. Set it aside to dry if necessary. Trace 6 hand prints onto yellow or orange construction paper. Cut them out. Put a little bit of glue on the bottom edge of the palm of each hand print and press them onto the edge of the non-painted side of the paper plate. Spread the hand prints out so they fit all around the paper plate. Let the glue dry. As a finishing touch, draw or paint a face on your sun. Now you can hang it up, or even attach it to a craft stick or dowel and use it as a puppet.