Memories

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to cook and to eat. Some foods bring back memories of people and places. Every time I see a pot of peas and okra, I think of my Meme and her house. Every time I smell fried chicken I think of my daddy. Every time I make, see or smell peanut butter I think about my Aunt Pat and her Peanut Butter Cookies.

Aunt Pat was my great aunt, she passed away a couple of years ago from cancer after a long and courageous battle. We met when I was about 13 or 14 and I did not see her again until after Jay and I married. She lived near here and she and I got close. We cooked, shopped, swimmed, and anything else we could think of! She shared many recipes with me including her peanut butter cookies. Aunt Pat used to work in the lunch room near here. There is no telling how many children in this area grew up eating her cookies. One of my brother in laws said he ate a bunch of them when he was going to school!

I made a batch today and now my house smells like hers, and I just love it! My children won't remember her, but I like to think that a little bit of her lives on in me.

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup butter (softened)
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda

Cream together butter, peanut butter, and sugars. Beat in eggs. In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt and soda. Put batter in fridge for 1 hour.

Roll into 1 inch balls and place on baking sheet. Flatten with a fork making criss cross patterns. Bake at 375 for about 10 mins or until lightly browned. Do not over bake!