Cookie time

I once worked with a woman who could be a world-class grouch. On a bad day, rays of evil radiated from her, turning anyone within about 15 feet into a) a whimpering mess; or b) a similarly grouchy grumpo.

She also happened to be my friend, and after I learned the key to her heart (which up to that point seemed likely to be a very small collection of gravel), she became Janus-like, Mr. Hyde-ing the hell out of the populace but always Dr. Jekyll to me, but only if I was armed with:

Peanut butter chip cookies

• 1 cup (two sticks) butter
• 1 and 3/4 cups brown sugar

cream these in a large mixing bowl and add:

• 2 eggs
  
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 and 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract (yes, tablespoons)

make sure this mixture is homogenous (your hands are the best mixing tool here).
In a separate bowl, sift together:

• 1 and 3/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

and stir into the liquid portion. (I use my hands for this, too) Now stir in:

• 1 and 1/2 cup old-fashioned (rolled) oats
• One bag (10 or 12 ounces) peanut butter chips (I use Sunspire, but Reese's are OK, too)

I drop these in about 1-and-1/2-inch blops onto cookie sheets and bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes, until nicely suntanned. Makes about three dozen...

Cautionary notes: The cookie "dough" is very undough-like, and may seem to be too runny, but do not attempt to thicken it; it is supposed to be that way. And beware of overbaking.