Peanut Butter Balls

2 cups smooth peanut butter


1 cup butter or margarine, softened


5 cups confectioners' sugar


2 (12-ounce) packages of cholate chips


4 to 5 tablespoons of shortening


Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating





1. In a medium sized bowl, combine the peanut butter and butter and stir them with a wooden spoon, until they are evenly blended. Add the confectioners' sugar and stir until the mixture has the consistency of sticky play dough.





2. Melt the chocolate chips in a glass bowl placed on top of a 2-quart saucepan filled with boiling water, stirring frequently. (Use 2 tablespoons of shortening for semisweet chocolate chips or 3 tablespoons for white chocolate.)





3. While the chocolate melts, roll the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls and set them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Place in the freezer until the peanut butter balls are solid enough to pick up with a toothpick, about 5 to 10 minutes.





4. Insert a toothpick into each peanut butter ball, then dip it into the melted chocolate. Set the chocolate-coated balls on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Remove the toothpicks. Immediately place a chocolate or peanut butter chip over each toothpick hole. Cool the peanut butter balls in the fridge until the chocolate has hardened, about five minutes.





Makes 100 (1-inch) peanut butter balls.