The key to a successful marriage is having at least a few things in common. For Tom and me, the list includes visiting Civil War battlegrounds, watching 'Breaking Bad', hiking... and eating.
Especially desserts.
Especially Cyclops Cookies.
It's his mom's fault. And I thank her profusely.
I remember that first Christmas, before we were married, when the decorated coffee can overflowing with fudge and cookies arrived.
I remember that first bite of peanut-butter-and-chocolate heaven.
Oh. Oh. Oh.
I also remember our dismay the next Christmas, after we were Mr. and Mrs., when the can didn't arrive. She informed us only the single boys got coffee cans full of sugary goodness. Once her sons married, she was no longer responsible for satisfying their Christmas sweet tooth, and considering she had nine sons altogether, I can't say I blamed her.
(I think that was the first time Tom wondered if he'd made a mistake in marrying me.)
Mom didn't leave us totally on our own, though. We got the recipe. Then we practiced and practiced and practiced until now we have the art of Cyclops Cookies down to absolute perfection, even if I say so myself.
And that's a very dangerous thing.
My name is Barbara, and I am an addict. A Cyclops Cookie addict.
And so, for the sake of our waistlines and arteries (Tom is an addict, too) I only make them for special occasions, like birthdays and Christmas...
...most recently my son Daniel's birthday, when I discovered that if I take lots and lots of photos of them, I don't inhale the whole batch before they have a chance to cool.
Saved by my camera, once again.
Okay, okay... here's the recipe. But don't say I didn't warn you, and don't blame me if your pants suddenly get too tight. I don't remember how many this makes, but it's not enough - I always double it.
Cyclops Cookies
Ingredients
½ cup of butter or margarine
- ½ cup of peanut butter
- ½ cup of sugar
- ½ cup of brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons of milk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1 ¾ cups of flour
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda
- a bowl of extra sugar
- Hershey’s Kisses
- In large mixing bowl, mix butter or margarine and peanut butter together, using an electric mixer on medium for about 30 seconds.
- Add sugar and brown sugar and beat till fluffy.
- Add egg milk and vanilla to mixture. Beat again till fluffy.
- In medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking soda.
- With mixer on low speed, gradually put in flour mixture to peanut butter mixture, stir well. If necessary, cover and chill about 1 hour for better handling.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in additional sugar.
- Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake in oven about 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm.
- Immediately after baking, press a chocolate kiss atop each cookie.
- Try to resist eating it.
- Oh, okay, go ahead and eat that first one. You deserve it.
