Dakota engine spit and sputter question

[harkauto]

I did a forum search on this topic before starting a new thread, but could not find a prior thread that matched my problem.
I have a 2001 Dakota 4.7 with 130,000 miles on it. Automatic transmission 4x4.
Twice recently I have experienced the following:

I start out in the morning and the truck immediately fires right up and runs beautifully. The engine is nice and smooth, the tack idles nicely right a 600 RPM with absolutely zero tack needle flutter. I run around town and do a few errands within a few miles of each other. I'm running at a variety of speeds from 25 to 50Mph and the truck is performing like a champ.....and then it happens...
I come out of a store and get in the truck and the starter spins over the engine and the truck starts but it....chokes...coughs....sputters and spits and tries to die, but I can baby the throttle and keep it running and this dose this for about 10 to 15 seconds and then gradually smooths out like nothing happened. Its then back to normal idle at 600 rpm with a rock solid tack needle with no flutter and back to running like a champ. I put it in gear and drive off like nothing had happened.
Today, a few days later I went out to run some errands and exactly the same scenario took place for a second time. The truck started out in the morning running like a champ and then after starting and stopping the truck at a few different errand stops it did exactly the same thing when I went to start the truck again.
This is not a daily driver truck. I drive it on occasion, sometimes two or three times a week at the most. But it does get some in-town and highway driving.
I am somewhat mechanically inclined but I don't know where to start a diagnosis. I have always been told to check the simple stuff first, but need some direction as to what could be causing this intermittent spit and sputter.
Also, it is not throwing any engine codes.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Harkauto