Playing in the Mud

We interrupt this quilt blog to bring you a new recipe... I used to make these cookies all the time when Soccer Boy and College Girl were much younger. They loved them and so did all of the neighborhood children. I never quite knew what to call them. "You Know...The Peanut Butter Cookies That You Bake In a Mini Muffin Tin and Then Stick a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in the Center" just seemed like too long of a name for these kid friendly delights. One day when my friend, Laurel, was making these cookies for her boys, they came up with the perfect name and it stuck...Mud Puddles.

Mud Puddles seemed so appropriate. Especially since they have a brown ooey gooey center. And boys know all about mud puddles, don't they?
College Girl came home over the weekend to visit her friend whose mother passed away from cancer last Monday. When I talked with her in the middle of last week she asked if I would please make her some Mud Puddles when she came home. I knew it had been a long time since I had made them, but I didn't realize just how long it had been until I mentioned them to the Ballerina (a.k.a. the Chef) and she had no idea what I was talking about. Now, not only does she know what they are, but she also knows how to make them!!! And so will you...

MUD PUDDLES
(Approx. 4 dozen cookies)

Cream:
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar

Add:
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Then add:
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. soda
1 1/4 c. flour

Roll dough into a small ball and put into a mini muffin tin. Ball should fill up 3/4 of each cup. Bake at 375 deg. F. for 8-9 minutes, until they just begin to turn brown on top. Remove from oven and press a mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup into each cookie. Allow to cool for 5 minutes and gently remove from the tin with the edge of a knife.
Just a note: Laurel and I used to scour the markets after the major holidays when the seasonal candy went on sale. One market would sell the candy for a $1.00 a bag. We'd stash away the peanut butter cups and pull them out when we were ready to make cookies. A cheaper way to make cookies when you're on a budget!