Cookies

FLOURLESS PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

A couple of the best convenience foods of
the century undoubtedly are peanut butter
(introduced at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair)
and chocolate chips (first sold by Nestlé in
1939). Separately, they are the basis of two of
the nation's favorite cookies. Together, the
ingredients are an unbeatable team.

• 1 cup super chunky peanut butter
• 1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate
  chips (about 6 ounces)
  

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix first 5 ingredients
in medium bowl. Mix in chocolate chips. Using
moistened hands, form generous 1 tablespoon
dough for each cookie into ball. Arrange on 2
ungreased baking sheets, spacing 2 inches
apart.
Bake cookies until puffed, golden on bottom and
still soft to touch in center, about 12 minutes.
Cool on sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool
completely.

Makes about 24 cookies.

COCONUT BARS

• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown
  sugar
  
• 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose
  flour
  
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter,
  melted and cooled
  
• 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped blanched almonds
• 2 large eggs, beaten lightly
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a bowl with a fork
stir together 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, 1 cup
of the flour, and the butter until the mixture
is combined well, press the mixture evenly onto
the bottom of a 13-by 9-inch baking pan, and
bake it in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes.
In the bowl with the fork combine the remaining
1 cup brown sugar, the remaining 3 tablespoons
flour, the coconut, the almonds, the eggs, the
vanilla, and the salt and blend the mixture well.
Spread the coconut mixture evenly over the crust
and bake the mixture for 20 minutes, or until it
is pale golden. Cut the mixture into 48 bars and
let the bar cool completely in the pan on a rack.
The coconut bars may be made 1 month in advance
and kept frozen in airtight containers.

Makes 48 cookies.