Its beginning to smell a lot like Christmas

So today was the first day of the deer hunting season. While NO ONE in my house hunts, and no one in my house ever will, it always seems that it is the start of the baking season. Now, I remember throughout the years it being very cold at this time of the year. I know that hunters like to have snow on the ground to track the deer. Well, today was nearly 60 degrees. So while it did not at all FEEL like Christmas, it sure smelled like it in my house!

The day started early, I was hoping for a little bit of quiet time, and yet 5 minutes after walking into the living room, I was joined by my 4 year old...which was followed about 10 minutes later by my 6 year old. UGH. So much for quiet time! Off I went to the kitchen. I mixed up gingerbread cookies which will be baked tomorrow, cut out cookies, which will be posted soon...after a few are decorated. After baking a double batch of cut outs, I decided to make peanut butter cup cookies. I knew that I was going to make them because I bought the peanut butter cups, but today happened to be the day!

While on my chocolate adventures....around halloween time.....I found dark chocolate peanut butter cups, white chocolate peanut butter cups...and of course milk chocolate peanut butter cups. Now, I have several things that I am baking for. Singing Christmas Tree is only 2 weeks away....must have cookies. Kylie will be arriving soon, and it is always fun to share....and getting ready for Christmas parties, Santa and Christmas itself! So.....I made a double batch of theses as well. :)

REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUP COOKIES
1/2 c. butter or margarine (room temp.)
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 bag mini Reese's peanut butter cups
Cream butter, peanut butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla. Add flour and baking soda. Roll into small balls and place in ungreased mini muffin pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes (look for cracks on top). Immediately press Reese's PB cups into the center of each cookie. Let cool for 10 minutes in pan. Remove carefully (do NOT flip pan over...chocolate will still be melty) and let cool completely on a wire rack. Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen.

I am THRILLED with how these turned out. Calvin says that he liked the white chocolate ones. I myself prefer dark chocolate to white chocolate, but I did not eat any of these today....rest assured....I will be eating them soon enough!

Tomorrow I will post the gingerbread men and women....provided Miss B does not eat them all first!!