From Better Homes and Gardens, my standby peanut butter cookie through the years.   

 Ingredients: 

1. 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2. 1 teaspoon soda
3. ¼ teaspoon salt
4. 1 cup shortening
5. 1 cup sugar
6. 1 cup brown sugar
7. 1 egg
8. ½ teaspoon vanilla
9. ½ cup peanut butter

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper 

1. Sift the flour, soda, and salt into a bowl and set aside.
2. Cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the egg and beat until smooth scrapping the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
4. Add the peanut butter and cream the mixture until smooth.
5. Add the flour in two additions scrapping the sides of the bowl with a spatula until incorporated.
6. Roll a rounded teaspoon piece of dough into a ball and place on the prepared pan.
7. Using the tines of a fork that has been dipped in flour, flatten the cookie in a crisscross fashion.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Leave cookies on the pan for about 5 minutes before removing them onto a cooling rack.

Yield:  4 dozen cookies.