The Baking Begins

Thanksgiving! It's my mom's favorite holiday and she sure isn't shy about it. Preparation starts well in advance and mom takes care of everything. My job is usually to keep my dad occupied and out of mom's way.

This year, I feel really honored that mom has asked me to make desserts. ME! I get to make something for Thanksgiving! I'm going a little overboard, but who knows when I'll get the opportunity to do this again!

The plan is a combination of traditional and traditional with a twist. I'm making 2 different types of cookies and two different types of pies (one traditional and one with the twist).

First up. The cookies.



My mom has many famous cookies. One of these are her chocolate crack cookies. So called because they have cracks on them - not because of their addictive nature, although one could easily make that mistake. I decided to add my own spin on these cookies by adding some peanut butter.......because I love peanut butter and chocolate!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crack Cookies

1 pkg. Brownie Mix
1/4 cup butter, melted
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
Chocolate Fudge Frosting (I make mine with melted chocolate and confectioner's sugar)

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2) In medium bowl, beat brownie mix, melted butter, cream cheese and egg 50 strokes with spoon until well blended (dough will be sticky). Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets to make 24 cookies; smooth edge of each to form round cookie.

3) In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and peanut butter with spoon until mixture forms a ball. With hands, roll rounded teaspoonfuls peanut butter mixture into 24 balls. Lightly press 1 ball into center of each ball of dough.

4) Bake for 10-14 minutes or until edges are set. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Cool at least 30 minutes.

5) Spread thin layer of frosting over peanut butter portion of each cooled cookie.