Peanut Butter Blossoms

I have been debating getting a stand mixer for years.  Typically, I borrow my mom's if I have to do a serious bout of baking.  For anything else for which a stand mixer would come in handy, I just make due by some other means (like hand-mashing potatoes, which doesn't happen often).  When a stand mixer showed up on my doorstep a week ago as an early Christmas present from my husband, the first thing I made were these cookies - his favorite.  I used a recipe out of my recipe box from my mom.  I had to smile when I noticed it was the exact recipe from the back of the bag of Hershey Kisses.  (Incidentally, my kids loved to help - I shaped the dough into balls, they rolled the balls in the sugar and put them on the cookie sheet.)

INGREDIENTS:

• 48 Hershey Kisses
• 1/2 c shortening
• 3/4 c peanut butter
• 1/3 c sugar
• 1/3 c packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 c flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in a large bowl until blended. 
3. Add 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup brown sugar; beat until fluffy.
4. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well.
5. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
6. Shape dough into 1 inch balls.  Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.  
8. Immediately press a chocolate piece into center of each cookie.  Cookie will crack around edges.  Cool on wire rack.  Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Difficulty: I think these are relatively easy as far as cookies go, but I have made easier
Time: 10 minutes prep; 8-10 minutes baking per batch
Source: my mom (or the back of the bag of Hershey Kisses)