Peanut Butter Cookies

This month has been tough.  Transitioning into residency has been more difficult than I anticipated.  I knew I wouldn't have a life, but I guess I got use to fourth year of medical school.  Anyways, I haven't had any time to bake all month.  I spend most of my free time sleeping honestly and when I am awake, it is at night.  I have though been staring at various recipes that I have been dying to make.  Sarah Yoder gave me a book of recipes from graduation.  She is one of the best bakers I know.  Anyways, some of the recipes are lock and key type recipes and I will never publish them here.  However, some of them are not as secretive.  She gave me some advise that I have tried on several occasions but have been unsuccessful thus far.  This advise was as follows:  If you like a dessert at a restaurant or meal, ask for the recipe.  I was out with my mom a month ago and I tried this...it didn't work, but I will try again.  The worst they can tell you is no right?  :)  Anyways last Christmas, Sarah baked cookies as her gift.  These Peanut Butter Cookies were included in the package.  I remember them tasting quite awesome.  I can only hope that some of her baking skills rub off on me and I can duplicate some her success.

Ingredients
2 cups of Natural Peanut Butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 tsp vanilla
24 hershey's kisses(optional)

Recipe:
Stir peanut butter and sugar together until smooth.  Add eggs one at a time.  Mix in baking soda, salt and vanilla.  Chill dough at least one hour.  Preheat oven to 350 F.  Roll dough into balls (makes about 24 cookies); place on cookie sheet.  Flatten gently and bake 6 to 8 minutes.  Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet about 10 minutes.  Put kiss in cookie center while still warm.

Wow!  These cookies are as good as I remember them and so easy to make.  Literally mixing them was less than a ten minute task.  It's a perfect dessert for a time crunched individual.  I give them 4.5 out of 5 stars. Each bite is of peanut buttery goodness.  The cookies melt in your mouth.  Sarah's tip in this recipe was to use natural peanut butter.  I did and I think it is the key to success.  The peanut butter is more pure tasting in the cookie.  Like usual, better ingredients yield better results.  I am 100% positive that these cookies are absolutely awful for you...they are peanuts and sugar...but who cares right?