Cookie Monster

The Soccer Monster has a problem.

A big problem.

He's addicted to sugar.

And like many addicts, he can exhibit some unsavory behavior when it comes to his addiction. He can wheedle and whine. He can plead and petition. He can even cry over sugar. (Which, when it happens, makes me feel like I have done the most god-awful parenting job in the world. Who lets their kid cry over sugar, for chrissakes?)

But sometimes, like all addicts, he can turn on the charm to get what he wants.

The other day, out of the blue, he handed me this:

I let him sweat for a few days. But then, because I am an enabler (Aren't all moms?) I gave in and decided to do what he asked.

But I chose peanut butter cookies. Peanut butter has protein. It has fat. If, like the Soccer Monster, you resemble a late-stage famine victim, it's actually good for you.

I'd never made peanut butter cookies before. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. I had to pick the kids up at 3.

So this recipe, in its simplicity, appealed to me.

It has exactly four ingredients: sugar, eggs, chocolate kisses, and peanut butter.

And there's no mixer involved. Simply take a whisk and mix together the eggs, peanut butter, and sugar until it looks like this:

Then take a measuring tablespoon and measure out level tablespoons, roll them into balls, and place on the cookie sheet. The recipe said to flour your hands because the mixture would be sticky, but I didn't find this necessary.

When your cookie sheet is full like this:

Put it in a 350 oven for about 12 minutes.

While the cookies are baking, unwrap as many chocolate kisses as you have cookies on the sheet. (I had 20, but probably could have fit more. They don't spread much.)

When the cookies come out of the oven, while they're hot, press a kiss into the top of each one. Let cool.

Eat.

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kisses

2 cups creamy peanut butter (natural is ok)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

chocolate kisses

1) Heat oven to 350.

2) In a bowl with a whisk, cream together eggs, peanut butter, and sugar.

3) Use a measuring tablespoon to measure out level tablespoons of the dough. roll into balls and place on cookie sheets.

4) Bake for about 12 minutes.

5) As soon as they come out of the oven, place a kiss on top of each one, pressing down so that the kiss sinks in a little.