Christmas Cookies -- Chapter 1

My best friend is a foodie, so I committed myself to giving him a homemade Christmas gift. Since he knows I am domestically challenged, I know this will mean a lot to him.

First step: I found the easiest recipe ever. Bonus: it's made with tons of peanut butter, which my friend loves.
 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons any flavor jelly or fruit preserves

Preheat oven to 350º. Mix peanut butter, sugar egg and vanilla until well blended.  Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Make a few holes/dents into the top of each cookie and fill with the jelly.  Bake for 8-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown.  Cool. 

Second step: Buy ingredients. I thought that organic, all-natural peanut butter would be best. I was wrong. Here's why:

Third step: First batch. So runny, oil actually spilled off the cookie sheet onto the floor when I took the cookies out of the oven.

Fourth step: Running to CVS for Jif Crunchy Peanut Butter.

Fifth step: Perfection! Well, almost. The holes I made for the preserves were too deep and the jelly seeped through one or two of the cookies. I must try again.

But I admit I am sick of the process now. It took me more than two hours to whip up these two batches yesterday. (Yes, I know it's pathetic. One person commented of the recipe that her 7 year old daughter makes these cookies all by herself. Gulp.) And I am beyond disgusted by the thought of peanut butter and sugar right now. Maybe I'll experiment more later today, but not now.