Melba's Swap Shop: Share your favorite recipes from Mom

DEAR MELBA: My mom, Amanda Palmer, was by far your biggest fan. She died last year. She was our Valentine, and I thought you might want to share her recipe for peanut butter balls to make for Valentine's Day.

MANDY'S PEANUT BUTTER BALLS

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 pound confectioners sugar, sifted

1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons shortening

In large mixing bowl, cream peanut butter and butter. Slowly add confectioners sugar, beating until blended. The mixture will have the consistency of dough. Pinch off in pieces and roll into balls. Place on buttered baking sheet. Refrigerate until cold.

In double boiler, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Place toothpicks in the cold peanut butter balls and dip into chocolate until well coated. Lay on waxed paper until chocolate cools.

Sometimes, Mom would vary the recipe by adding chopped nuts or coconut to the peanut butter mixture. Either way, they are delicious.

SYLVIA PETREY, Norman

I'm sorry to hear about Amanda's death. Our meeting was spectacular. Many years ago, I was at the OPUBCO Building at the State Fair and saw a neat lady with a big grin coming toward me. I had never met her, but we corresponded frequently, so I felt like I knew her. As she got near, I said, “You must be Amanda Palmer.” I have no idea where that statement came from, but Amanda looked so startled, I thought she was going to faint. When I realized what I had said, I thought I might faint, too.

Thank you, Sylvia, I appreciate your sharing your mother's peanut butter balls recipe. I made them, and they are delicious.