These are a lunchbox favorite, and just about the easiest in the world to make.

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Cream together shortening, brown sugar and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the peanut butter mixture until well blended. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Using a dinner fork, dip the fork in granulated sugar and make crosshatches on top of each cookie, dipping between each mark.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

With some supervision, your little cook should be able to do almost everything in the recipe except the oven work. The good thing about these cookies is they're very forgiving ... a measurement that's a bit off here or there won't destroy the result.