Monday, October 27, 2008

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies
Adapted from the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter at room temperature (smooth is what we used, but I am pretty sure they use chunky at the bakery)
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon (for sprinkling) sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, the baking soda, the baking powder, and the salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and the peanut butter together until fluffy. Add the sugars and beat until smooth. Add the egg and mix well. Add the milk and the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat thoroughly. Stir in the peanut butter chips. Place sprinkling sugar on a plate. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls into the sugar, then onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion. Using a fork, lightly indent with a crissscross pattern (I used the back of a palette knife to keep it smooth on top), but do not overly flatten cookies. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Cookies may appear to be underdone, but they are not.

Cool the cookies on the sheets for 1 minute, then remove to a rack to cool completely.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Anita's Peanut Butter Brownies

Heaven in a pan!

1/2 c peanut butter
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 baking powder
1/2 t vanilla
6 T butter
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1 c flour
1/4 t salt
6 oz peanut butter chips

Glaze:
1 c powdered sugar
2 T peanut butter
Enough milk to make a medium-thick icing (3-4 T)

Cream the peanut butter, sugars, butter and eggs well. Add vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients and chips. Pour into a greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 30-40 min. Cool and glaze.

Elvis Cake

If you like bananas, you'll like this cake!

1 white cake mix
2-3 ripe bananas, mashed
6oz chocolate chips

Mix cake according to package directions, adding bananas and chips. Pour into a 9x13 pan (greased according to box directions). Sprinkle with streusel (see below), and bake at 325 for 30-45 minutes.

Streusel:

1/2 c flour
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c peanut butter
Mix these until crumbly, and spread over cake.

Anita's Apple Bread

1/2 c sour cream
2 c sugar
3/4 c oil
3 eggs
1 t cinnamon
2 t vanilla
1 t salt
1/2 t nutmeg
2 c shredded apples
3 c AP flour
1 t baking soda

Topping: 2T butter, melted; 1/2 c sugar, 1 t cinnamon, 1/4t nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix sour cream, sugar, oil, eggs, spices and apples. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and the baking soda. Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir only until moist. Divide evenly between the two pans.

Pour butter over batter in pans, dividing evenly. Sprinkle with sugar mixture.

Bake 50-60min or until a tester inserted in middle comes out clean.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

5 1/2 c mashed potatos (can use real or instant)
1/2 c milk
1 8oz pkg cream cheese (can use lite)
1 c sour cream (can use lite)
2 t parsley flakes
1 t garlic salt
1/4 t nutmeg
3/4 c cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 c cooked/crumbled bacon

Beat the first 7 ingredients until smooth. Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and bacon. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. If you like your bacon extra crispy, wait and sprinkle it on the last 5-10min of baking.

Amazing Cornmeal Muffins

1 3/4 cups cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup white sugar
2 cups buttermilk
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and grease 12 muffin pans.

In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the buttermilk, eggs and vegetable oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix only until moistened. Pour into prepared muffin cups. Bake 15min or until done.

Martha's Vegetable Beef Soup

In honor of my mother, who tweaked this recipe for several years. We served this at my house on Christmas night when I was growing up. Great served with cornbread!

1lb ground beef
1 10oz package frozen mixed vegetables
1 can beef broth (can use low sodium)
1 14oz can stewed tomatoes
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1/4 c dry onion soup mix
1 T sugar

Brown the beef in a pot (sometimes I add minced garlic and onion) until brown. Drain off excess fat. Add all other ingredients and stir. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 20-30 more minutes (or longer if you have the time).

The longer it cooks and sits together the better it is. It freezes really well too!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Homemade Breadsticks

So easy. This recipe is awesome, and it makes restaurant-quality breadsticks that are a great addition to any meal. Try them... you'll be hooked!

Blondies with Chocolate Chips & Walnuts

Courtesy of Martha Stewart, these are so easy, and so good. Wow. They are a new favorite quick big-hit dessert.

Powerball Cookies

Yummy little kid-friendly treats, from Wondertime.

Deep Dish Pizza Crust

Great, great recipe. Brian LOVED it.

Yummy-looking healthy cookies

From 101Cookbooks.com...

Apples, Apples & More Apples!

All in your slow cooker...
Applesauce
Apple butter
Apple dumplings
Apple oatmeal

Crockpot Chicken Curry with Sweet Potatoes & Coconut Rice

If you like curry, you'll probably like this!

Crunchy Chicken a la Darby

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded/chopped
Coarse garlic salt and black pepper
1 1/2 cans low fat or healthy choice cream of chicken soup
1/2 of an 8oz container of fat free sour cream
3/4 cup cooked rice
40 Ritz crackers
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4c melted butter or margarine

Bake the chicken breasts for 35 min at 350 degrees, after sprinkling both sides with coarse garlic salt and cracked black pepper. Make the rice on the stove per box directions.

Shred the chicken and combine it with all other ingredients except the last 3. Pour into an 8x8 dish. Crush the crackers, sprinkle with the garlic powder and mix in the melted butter. Pour that on top of the chicken mixture. Baked at 350 for 30 minutes.

Pumpkin Cornbread and Pumpkin Chili

Great idea for fall comfort food here...

Mini Pies

Great recipes for cute little pies here and here...

Oatmeal Waffles

1 egg
1 1/2 c oats
3/4 c milk
4 T butter, melted and cooled
1 t baking powder
1 T brown sugar
Mix together dry ingredients. Combine egg, milk and butter. Add to dry ingredients, mixing just until blended. Cook a little longer for extra crispness. Makes about 6 thick waffles. When I double, I use equal oats and flour.

All American Waffles

2 eggs, beaten
1 3/4 c milk, stirred into eggs
1/4 c veg oil, stirred into eggs & milk
1 3/4 c flour
2 T sugar
4 t baking powder
1 t salt

Add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt. Stir just until lumps disappear. Bake in waffle maker. Makes about 6 waffles. (I double the recipe and use half white whole wheat, and just 4 t baking powder to have a good stash for future breakfasts)