I’ve been on a cookie kick lately, and I am going to blame it on this little guy.

When I was putting away platters from my last party yesterday, this little guy was peering out of the mounds of table linens in my cabinet.  Have you ever had happy and sad emotions overwhelm you all at the same time?  This is exactly what this elfin cookie jar did to me.  I remember, as a little girl, going to my great grandparents home, placing my small pudgy hands into this jar, hoping for a cookie.   I was never disappointed.  The usual cookie was some sort of store-bought iced oatmeal cookie.  I don’t think I really even cared for the actual cookie, but knowing that they had thought of me, in a small, special way made the cookies delectable

Then, as I grew older, this cookie jar made it to the home of my grandparents.  Once again, it was always filled with something special.  A quick hello and kiss to the grandparents and zoom, I was off to the cookie jar to see what delightful little tidbit I would find.  Yes, there was always something to be found.

Then, as my grandparents sadly became older, my grandfather proclaimed that this jar should be mine.  I cordially agreed, with great happiness, knowing that this jar would always be so special to me.  Now more than ever because my amazing grandfather had decided that I was the one to receive it.

Then one visit my grandfather told me he had broken the elf cookie jar.

He tried, with great care, of gluing it.

It didn’t hold.  Quite frankly, it didn’t matter.

Yes, I still wanted it.  Seventeen years later, I still am reminded of how a simple cookie can make a child feel so loved.

And so, that is the story of why I love cookies so much.

The end.

Now, about these delicious old-fashioned peanut butter cookies.

Crispy on the edges, soft and chewy in the middle.  Seriously, what’s not to love?

Nothing special about the ingredients.  But please, do not use a natural-style, old-fashioned or freshly ground peanut butter.  It is too runny and the texture won’t be right.  Just use a good quality, smooth, jarred peanut butter.

Once all the cookie dough ingredients have been mixed, then drop about two tablespoons worth of dough into a shallow bowl of white sugar.  Coat the ball with sugar.

Place each sugar-coated dough ball on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Using the back of a fork, flatten dough balls and form crosshatch design on top.

To give it the signature look of any delicious peanut butter cookie.

Now bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven.  The recipe says 14 minutes, but I bake mine for about 9 1/2 minutes.  My oven is a beast.

Enjoy these delicious little cookies and I hope this cookie will remind you of your childhood, too.