Recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies Sealed With a Kiss

Okay . . . don't laugh.

This recipe might seem a little counter-productive given yesterday's lengthy post about how I gained weight, bought a treadmill, nearly killed myself & my Hubby hauling the 200lb. treadmill upstairs, and then completely reorganized a closet (including un-installing and then re-installing the closet fittings) to hide said treadmill when it's not in use.

I figure as long as I consume these yummy morsels of deliciousness in moderation (maybe while on the treadmill?) I'll be okay.  Plus, peanut butter is health food, right?  Right?

Here's how to make this yummy classic, peanut butter cookies sealed with a kiss!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter (I used smooth)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 + 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (additional) granulated sugar
3 dozen chocolate kisses (unwrapped)

Steps to Deliciousness:

1. Beat shortening, peanut butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar & brown sugar with an electric mixer until creamy
2. Beat in egg and vanilla
3. In another bowl, mix flour and baking soda
4. Gradually add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture and blend thoroughly
5. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, then roll in the remaining sugar to coat (I poured the sugar onto a plate and rolled the dough balls in it)
6. Place cookies 2 inches a part on a greased cookie sheet (I used a parchment lined baking sheet instead)
7. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes, then remove cookie sheet to quickly press a kiss into each cookie, return to the oven for 3-5 minutes more
8. Bake until lightly browned
9. Transfer to cooling racks

This recipe yields:

More than I should eat.  Should be about 3 dozen but I was left with about 5 or 6 additional ones, which was unfortunate because I'd been eating chocolate kisses while I baked and ended up short by a few...

How many calories for all 40?

Here's my hot tip:

Eat/serve these within a couple hours or so of baking.  The chocolate kiss is still a bit soft but the cookies are cool enough to eat.  Pop one in your mouth and it will melt.  Heaven.  The next day they are still just as yummy but slightly pointier.  Eating them whole is not recommended the next day.  Ow.

P.S. Try these with a yummy London Fog (latte).