Cookie Memories

What goes better with a cup of coffee, than a cookie? Somehow a cookie just makes us better! And at our house, we are “cookie monsters.”

Each person in our family has their own cookie story. Take for example, my Mom, she makes the best applesauce cookie in the world. One day I found a note in my cookbook, “If you want a good applesauce cookie recipe, ask Jo Ann.” Indeed, I got Mom’s recipe and never used the cookbook recipe again. --- Our daughter’s specialty is double chocolate oatmeal cookies. It’s a chocolate drop cookie with chocolate chips and oatmeal. She keeps the hayfield cooler well stocked with her delicious cookies and we love her for them!! --- Then there was our Uncle John. He was an old timer that always had his cookie can filled and he expected you to have a cookie when you came to see him. His oatmeal peanut butter cookies were special because he pressed a few chocolate chips into the top of each cookie, he said they were less messy that way.

This week our Uncle John would have been 102 years old, but we lost him last May at the age of 101. We miss our uncle, but we celebrate his long and kind life. He was a Christian, pioneer, cowboy, friend, and cookie baker. In memory of John, here is his cookie recipe:

John’s Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie

1½ cups packed brown sugar
1 cup chunky peanut butter
¾ cup margarine
2 eggs
3 cups oatmeal (either quick or old fashioned)
1½ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat brown sugar, peanut butter, and margarine until fluffy. Blend in eggs. Add oats, flour, and baking soda; mix well. Cover and chill 1 hour. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Using bottom of glass dipped in sugar, press into ¼-inch thick circles. Press a few chocolate chips into each cookie. Bake at 350º for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown.