Learning to Cook : First Courses : Just Like Mom Made

Some of us learned to cook from our mothers. Some of us learned to cook in spite of our mothers. Actually, our mothers didn’t have all that much to do with the process--as the following stories prove.

Although we all came to cooking via different paths, all of us vividly remember the first foods that we cooked. And while they’re not generally dishes that we find ourselves cooking up every day, when we recently tested these recipes, we found, somewhat to our surprise, that they are all delicious.

In our home Saturday was the day to bake cookies, cakes or pies for the week. We traditionally had desserts at the end of dinner, and they were almost always homemade.

At the age of 6 or 7 I began helping my mother bake desserts for our family. Mother would measure out the ingredients for the recipe and I would mix them together. Peanut butter cookies were especially fun to make because after shaping them into balls I enjoyed making the criss-cross pattern with a fork.

“Betty Crocker’s Cookbook” was our favorite. Our peanut butter cookie recipe is a variation of one from that book, but adds vanilla.

At 9 or 10 I started serious cooking, helping my aunt at her resort in mid-western Wisconsin. I began making simple cakes such as chocolate, spice and yellow and other easy desserts. Each summer, until I graduated from college, I worked at the resort, learning new things in the kitchen. It was a great way to learn how to cook.

MOTHER’S PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream together shortening and peanut butter. Beat in granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.

Combine 1 1/4 cups flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Beat into creamed mixture until well mixed.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheets about 3 inches apart. Flatten by pressing with floured fork in criss-cross pattern.

Bake at 375 degrees 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.