Nanny's Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

Nanny as she was known to the family was born Elsie Dora Robertson. She was the daughter of Swedish and English immigrants who settled in Mauston, WI in the late 1800s. Nanny was born in 1879. She married Edwin Forrest Smith in the early 1900s. He owned a general store in Mauston, was a sheriff and during prohibition was a G-Man. He monitored gin stills and illegal alcohol distribution throughout southern Wisconsin down to Chicago.

Nanny was the center of the home as is often the case of women who work there 24/7. Nanny was prim, proper, well-mannered and expected the same. She was a fantastic host and was known to be an excellent bridge player. The house was immaculate always and the food was made from scratch for the daily dinner.

They raised two daughters, Helen and Dorothy. When Helen's life took a different turn, Nanny and Grandpa Smith found themselves being parents once again. They took in Helen's daughters, Jeanne and Marilyn in the early 1930s and raised them from young girls to adulthood.

So, I hope you get a feel for this lovely and strong woman who took life as it came. Dealt with it and made the most of her day. Her family loved her and still make many of her recipes.

Nanny's Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

SUGAR MIX:
1 cup soft butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar

Mix these ingredients together.

CREAM:
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs

Add the creamed ingredients to the sugar mix.

FLOUR MIX:
2 1/2 cups of flour
2 tsps. of baking soda

Add flour mix to the creamed sugar mix. Will make a thick batter. Chill in the refridge or outdoors (when cold) for several hours. Make balls and roll in sugar. Flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Grandma Sandy's Peanut Blossoms:

Now recipes must evolve to stay current. My mother has adapted the above recipe for one of our favorites. Made with Hershey kisses and Nanny's recipe they are heavenly.

Make the cookies as above, but don't flatten. Bake the cookies in small balls (1 -2 inches wide). Remove from oven and immediately press one unwrapped Hershey kisses into the ball. The cookie will flatten and take in the kiss. Let cool until the chocolate hardens. Enjoy!