I've always had a sweet tooth. (My first word was "more" after all. I couldn't get enough!) Give me a choice between salty and sweet and I'm always going to go sweet. Nathan's the same way, so we don't usually keep dessert in the house or it would be gone in record time.

This weekend, however, we had company, and I decided we should actually have some cookies. And I knew just the ones I'd make: my mom's signature brown sugar cookies with caramel icing. Mmmm ... they're SO good. Dense in just the right way and the caramel is so deliciously rich. I knew I needed to share the recipe with you all!

Brown Sugar Cookies 2 cups brown sugar 1 cup shortening (margarine) 1 cup milk 2 teaspoons baking powder 4 cups flour 2 eggs 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla

Caramel Icing 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup milk 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1 3/4-2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375.

Cream together brown sugar and shortening. Add eggs and continue beating. Add milk, baking powder, baking soda and vanilla. Slowly add four cups of flour. Drop from spoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake. While cookies are baking, make the icing.

Melt butter in 8-inch skillet; add brown sugar. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add milk and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and cool. Slowly add powdered sugar and beat well with spoon after each addition until thick enough to spread. Ice and enjoy!

You're gonna love these cookies! :)