Icebox Dessert

It is hard to buy my husband a gift early. He seems to always be home when it arrives. It is just my luck. Well, my husband loves coffee. He drinks it all the time. It doesn't affect his sleep at all. Now, I drink half decaf sometimes. If I drink any past noon, I will not be sleeping any time soon. Which could be why I tend to do my blog late at night. So the day my husband received his new coffee maker, he made two cups. The machine takes k-cups and he thinks it is the coolest thing. The next day he had four cups. I have a feeling he really likes it.

Now, I haven't been feeling the best so the kids have been helping me in the kitchen. This is the best dessert for kids to make for Dad on Father's Day. I only instructed. I did not make it. My daughter loves it so we have made it several times. The first time I heard about this dessert was on Smitten Kitchen's website but the recipe is also on the box of the chocolate wafer cookies. I will say the first food blog I ever checked out was her website. I still check it out.

Oh, this is going to be good!

Icebox Dessert
2 cups heavy cream
2 Tbsp fine sugar
1 (9 oz.) package chocolate wafer cookies
1 oz. semi sweet chocolate square 

1. In a large bowl, beat the cream with the sugar until soft peaks form.
2. Take one cookie and spread the whipped cream on both sides.
3. Add a cookie to the whipped cream cookie and continue to add cookies to each end to form a long train. 
4. Take the remaining whipped cream and frost the top and down the sides of the cookie train to cover.
5. Grate the chocolate over the whipped cream.
6. Cover the dessert and refrigerate for at least several hours or overnight.

Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen.

Singing is allowed during assembly

Did you already know...
-It is estimated to be over 70 million father's in the U.S.
-In 1909, Sonora Dodd conceived the idea Father's Day to honor her widowed father who raised his six children.
- In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson designated Father's Day to be the 3rd Sunday in June.
-June was the month Sonora Dodd's father was born.

Peanut Butter Florentines

Have you ever had florentine cookies? They are lacy and crisp. They are good. They are fickle when it comes to humidity. Why? The once crisp cookies becomes soft. It does affect the taste. They are still good soft or crisp. If your cookie becomes soft, they can be added to your yogurt parfait.

Or you can make an ice cream sandwich.

Or top a cupcake.

This weeks pick for The Project Pastry Queen was picked by Missy of Creative Missy. Please check out what the other members made this week. The original recipe called Ruby-Flecked Florentines since they are flecked with cranberries and raisins. I was in the mood for a plain, lacy cookie. They did come out good. Humidity made some of them droop but it was alright.

Peanut Butter Florentines
2 cups sliced blanched almonds
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup agave syrup
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup peanut butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Process only 1/2 cup of almonds in a blender or food processor until fine.
4. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
5. One at a time, add the sugar, agave syrup, flour, and peanut butter. Stir after each addition.
6. Stir in the grounded almonds with the sliced almonds.
7. Roll 1 Tbsp of the dough into balls. The dough will be sticky.
8. Space the balls of dough about 3 inches apart on the baking sheets.
9. Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before gently transferring them to a wire rack.

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen cookbook.

Where is my ice cream cookie? What my brother ate it?

Did you already know...
-Florentine cookies did not originate in Florence Italy.
-Dried fruit and zest are traditional additions to this cookie.
-The well wrapped cookies can be frozen up to a month.

Lemon Tassies

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. We saw my husband's Mom and my Mom this past weekend. We are fortunate because we do see both Moms frequently. I wanted to make my Mom and my husband's Mom a special treat. I knew they liked lemon desserts so I decided to make Lemon Tassies cookies.

Sometimes when I make a lemon dessert, they are too sweet or too sour. I think these were the right combination. The other nice thing about these cookies are they transport easily. I even stacked them and it didn't affect the filling. Next time, I may use the left over egg whites to make meringue to top the cookies. This recipe will make about 12 medium size cookies or 24 mini cookies. I actually made 18 cookies.

Lemon Tassies
Crust:
2 cups all purpose flour
10 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/4 cup and 2 Tbsp sugar
2 egg yolks
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp lemon zest, finely grated
1/2 tsp salt
cooking spray
Filling (recipe below)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Coat 1 muffin tins with cooking spray.
3. In a food processor, process the flour and butter until fine crumbs.
4. Add the sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt.
5. Process until just combined and sandy in texture. Do not over process.
6. With the dough, form 12 balls.
7. Place each ball into the muffin tin and press the dough into the tin to make a cup.
8. Bake the crusts for about 8 minutes and then rotate the pan.
9. Bake the crust for another 8 minutes or until lightly browned all over.
10. Remove the crusts from the muffin tins and allow to cool onto a wire rack.

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
3 Tbsp lemon zest, finely grated
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract together until smooth.
2. Fill each cooled crust with the cream cheese filling.
3. Place the cookies onto a cookie sheet.
4. Bake the cookies for 6 minutes and rotate the pan.
5. Bake the cookies for another 6 minutes or until the edges of the filling begin to color.
6. Transfer the cookies onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies.

Did you already know....
-Tassies are little cups with a filling.
-Tassies should be bite size.
-Other fillings for a tassie are pecan, peanut butter, caramel, etc.

May Day

When I think of May Day, I think of Maypoles, flowers, and ribbons. The flowers are in bloom and it is a beautiful time of year. In celebration of enjoying the warm weather. I made pinwheels. This time in the form of a cookie. I have made pinwheels out of paper and they aren't very hard to make. They usually work.

My husband liked the filling in these cookies. My children did not. So, I made them both ways. I preferred the cookies with the filling since it gave them a little more flavor. I normally do not show you the steps of making something but I did this time since I think it's always easier to show then describe.

Coconut-Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Dough:
2 cups all purpose flour (additional for work surface)
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Filling:
3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
3 Tbsp sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
Glaze:
1 egg, lightly beaten
fine sanding sugar, for sprinkling
1/3 cup strawberry jam

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese for about two minutes.
3. Add the egg and vanilla to the mixer.
4. Slowly, add the flour mixture. 
5. Mix until just combined.
6. Divide the dough into half and pat into disks.
7. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate dough for about 1 to 2 hours.
8. After dough is chilled and firmed, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
9. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
10. Make the filling by creaming together the sugar and cream cheese. 
11. Fold in the coconut and white chocolate chips.
12. Roll the dough to about 1/8 inch think on a lightly floured surface. 
13. Make 2 1/2 inch squares with a fluted cookie cutter or fluted pastry wheel.
14. Place the dough onto the baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
15. Repeat with the other disc of dough.
16. With a fluted pastry wheel, cut 1 inch slits diagonally from each corner towards the center. Do not cut all away across. (See above)
17. Place 1 tsp filling in the center of each square.
18. Fold over every other corner towards the filling. Form a pinwheel.
19. Press lightly to seal the corners. Make a well in the center of each cookie.
20. Brush each cookie with the beaten egg. Sprinkle each cookie with the sanding sugar. Bake 6 minutes.
21. Add 1/2 tsp jam in the center of each cookie.
22. Bake another 6 minutes or until the edges are golden.
23. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for about 5 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies.

Did you already know...
-May Day is the celebration of Spring.
-The celebrations date back to Egyptian times.
-The Celtics celebrated the Pagan holiday called Beltane on Mayday.
-Traditional May Day foods are oats and diary.
-The Puritans banned Maypoles.

Double Chocolate Cookies

Sometimes I will bake something and I never get a chance to post it. Why? My hidden stash is found. I think I will be finding a new hiding area. When I was a teenager, my best friend's father would hide his sweets in unusual places like the dishwasher. With my luck, my family would decide to do dishes for me and still find them.

Yes, these cookies are worthy of hiding them. I have made these cookies many times. At the moment, they are my favorite cookie.Since they are gigantic, I do share. It is a copy cat recipe from a cookie found at Levain Bakery.

Double Chocolate Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture.
4. Mix in the cocoa powder and blend until well incorporated.
5. Add the flour, salt, and baking powder and mix until just incorporated.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
7. Transfer the dough to a clean surface and knead briefly until well combined.
8. Divide the dough into desired portion size. For giant cookies, divide into 12 equal pieces.
9. Place the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. 
10. Bake the dough for about 16 minutes or until set.
11. Allow the cookies to cool for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. 

Recipe adapted from Annie's Eats.

Waiting to take one of the last three cookies!

Did you already know...
-The first dishwasher patent was to Joel Houghton in 1850. His patent only splashed water on dishes.
-In 1886, Josephine Cochran decided to invent a workable, mechanical dishwasher in which she reveiled at the 1893 World Fair.
-Her main customers at the time were hotels and large restaurants.
-The general public was interested in her invention until the 1950s.

Does anyone know what famous company Josephine Cochran founded?

Sand dollar cookies

I can't wait to head to the beach. I will admit I do not go into the Maine water. Would you? It is just too cold for me. However, my children have no problem. I would rather look for sand dollars. If I find one, I may not be quick enough in grabbing it then I will be hit by a wave but normally I get lucky. I am like the little kids who run away when the wave comes near them.

 Last year, we were at the beach and a sea gull actually swooped down close. It was able to take my oldest daughter's sandwich right from her hand. She screamed so loud. I thought it was so funny. It didn't happen again since she was prepared. The rest of the visit she would just keep watching them. She would just keep scanning the sky. She wasn't going to fall for that again. It didn't help that my son was afraid of birds at the time.

These cookies taste very similar to a snickerdoodle cookie. 

Sand Tarts
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs (1 egg needs to be separated)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon zest, finely grated
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp water
2 tsp ground cinnamon
sliced almonds, for decoration

Directions:

1. In a mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy.
2. Add 1 cup sugar and beat until fluffy.
3. Add into the butter mixture 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, vanilla, and the lemon zest.
4. Add the flour and salt to the butter mixture.
5. Mix on low speed until the dough comes together.
6. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap well in plastic wrap.
7. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours or overnight.
8. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
9. In a small, whisk together the egg white and the water.
10. In another small bowl, combine the sugar and 3/4 cup sugar.
11. Roll out the dough on a clean, floured surface.
12. With a round biscuit cutter, (glass or other round object) cut round circles in the dough.
13. Place the circles of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. 
14. Brush the dough with the egg white water.
15. Decorate each piece of dough with 3 almonds to look like sand dollars.
16. Sprinkle each pieces of dough with the cinnamon sugar.
17. Bake the cookies for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Rotate about 5 minutes of baking.
18. Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies.

Did you already know...
 -Sand dollars tend to live for 6 to 10 years.
-Sand dollars can move along the sand or burrow in the sand underwater.
-Live sand dollars can be found below the low tide depths of the ocean.

Bourbon Cookies

Any surname with an O'..., you know is Irish. You don't have to guess their family nationality. When I met my husband, I knew he was Irish. (It really wouldn't have mattered his family origins anyways.) Now if he had told me his last name was O'Trouble, I may have waited for a longer courtship. 

My nationality is English, French, American Indian, Martian, and etc. I am just kidding about the Martian. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention. I am 100% Earthitarian. Earthitarian sounds more intelligent than Earthling. 

Since Saint Patrick's Day is next Saturday, I figured I would make some clover shaped cookies. I could not find a clover cookie cutter. I even had a 101 cookie cutter kit and it didn't have a clover. I ended up making one. I made some with currents and green sugar. I was pleasantly surprised how sweet they were even with the Bourbon. These cookies taste great the first day but the next day they taste a little flat. 

Bourbon Currant Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour, sifted (plus more for work surface)
1/3 cup bourbon
1/4 cup dried currants
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth.
3. Add 1 egg, flour, bourbon, and the currants.
4. Mix until well combined.
5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness.
6. Cut out desired shapes.
7. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg with the heavy cream.
8. Brush the cookies with the egg cream wash.
9. Space the cookies 1 inch apart on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
10. Bake until pale golden brown about 12 to 15 minutes.
11. Allow to cool on wire rack.

 Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies.

Did you already know......

-O'.. means descendent of ...
-A lot of Irish surnames have a coat of arms.
-There are maps to trace your family clan and surname to a specific location in Ireland. 

Since we are all Irish on Saint Patrick's Day, I figured we all need Irish names. I guess I'll go by Brianna next Saturday. Here is a site to pick your Irish name. Hopefully, I will remember to answer to the name.

Strange things

Do you ever see strange things inside your house? Do you want an example? I saw my 18 year old daughter holding onto my 8 year old daughter's leg. My youngest son didn't want to be left out so he was on top of my oldest daughter's back. My youngest daughter was trying to escape and managed (I don't know how) to drag both her siblings down the hall. Since my youngest daughter was laughing, I thought it would better just not to say anything. Sometimes, I think that is the best approach.

Shortly after, it sounded like my youngest daughter somehow escaped. Within a few minutes, my youngest son came running to me and ask if I knew where his oldest sister's phone was? I said I didn't. I had a good idea who had it. I think my oldest did too. Soon, my oldest was back downstairs with her beautiful hair a little messed up. It appeared like she retrieved her phone. My husband slept through this whole experience. The things he misses. 

My youngest daughter asked me to make peanut butter cookies. I really like this recipe a lot. I made a few sandwiches with jelly in the middle. I think next time we make these cookies we will just have to add ice cream in the middle-just to test it out.

Peanut Butter Cookies
3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup smooth peanut butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Whisk flour and baking soda in a small bowl. Set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugar and brown sugar until fluffy.
5. Add the egg and mix well.
6. Mix in the vanilla and peanut butter.
7. Slowly, add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
8. Drop the batter by large spoonfuls onto the baking sheet. 
9. Space the batter about 1 1/2 inches apart.
10. Dip the bottom of a glass in flour and tap off the excess.
11. Flatten the tops of the cookie dough ball with the bottom of the glass.
12. Dip a fork into flour to coat and then make two cross marks across the top of each cookie dough ball.
13. Bake the cookies about 7 minutes and then rotate the cookie sheet around.
14. Bake the cookies for another 5 minutes or until lightly brown.
15. Allow the cookies to cool completely.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies.

Did you already know.......
-In 1973, the first portable mobile phone was made by Motorola. 
-Martin Cooper was the first person to make a call using the portable mobile phone since he was the one who created it for Motorola.
-Martin Cooper called Bell Lab's Dr. Engel.
-Martin Cooper had previously worked on creating the first portable handheld police radio.

Cream Cheese Lemon Hearts

Valentine's Day is less than a week away. My youngest daughter has already completed all of her Valentine cards to her classmates and have brought them into school. I was the same way when I was her age.I always liked to give Valentine cards to everyone. I would even make one for my Mom.

I still really like to give Valentine's Day gifts. My husband leaves for work really early so I leave his box of chocolates in his cars so he will be "surprised"! Since I do this every year, I'm not sure he is really surprised anymore but he humors me. (It is also a good reminder for him about the day.) Guess what? He has never forgotten to give me something for Valentine's Day. 

I also give the children a small box of chocolate before school. On a normal day, the rule is no treats before 10:00 am. Valentine's Day is different so I allow one piece before school but only after they have eaten their breakfast.

My husband picked this recipe. The recipe is suppose to be bows but I just omitted the bottom part of the bow. I will give you a warning that the dough is thick so they are hard to pipe. I did make some as circles and some I just rolled into balls and flatten a little. These cookies are really good with a hint of lemon.

Cream Cheese Lemon Cookies
3 cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 Tbsp lemon zest, finely grated
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
powder sugar for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl.
2. Cream the butter and cream cheese together in a medium bowl. 
3. Add the sugar and continue to cream.
4. Add the egg, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix well.
5. Slowly, add the dry ingredients.
6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
7. Add a small amount of dough to a piping bag. 
8. Pipe the dough using a large finely ribbed French tip (like Ateco #865).
9. Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Let cool and dust with the powder sugar.
11. Cookies will store for up to 3 days in an air tight container at room temperature.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies. 

Did you already know...........
-One legend about St. Valentine is there was a Bishop Valentine in Roman times who would perform secret marriages. He was later executed on Feb. 14th by the Emperor.
-On Feb. 15th, the Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia (a fertility festival) to honor the Roman God Faunas.

Russian Tea Cakes

It is always nice to have unexpected company. Every time I think we are going to have a quiet weekend, we have someone visit. I will admit my Dad visits me almost every day. I like when he stops to see us. He likes to give my husband a hard time which my husband thinks he is being abused. Believe me, my husband gives my Dad a hard time back so please do not feel sorry for him. My sisters occasionally stop to see us. My favorite friend visits us often which we like especially the kids since she spoils them and she is one of their favorite people too.

This past weekend we had unexpected company from out of town. I served these cookies to them. I asked them if they were blog worthy and they agreed. My husband liked them so I'm unsure if he knew there were nuts in them. My oldest daughter brought them to school to share and they agreed they are good. I hope you like them too!

Russian Tea Cakes
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped nuts (I used pecans)
1/4 tsp salt
1-2 cups of powdered sugar to coat the cookies

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix the 1 cup of butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla.
Add the flour, nuts, and salt. Mix until the cookies form a ball.
Roll the dough into one inch balls.
Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet about one inch apart.
Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until set but not browned.
Let cool for about 1 minute and transfer cookies to a cooling rack.
After a few minutes cooling, roll the cookies in the powdered sugar.
Place the cookies back onto the cooling rack to cool for about four minutes longer and then roll the cookies in the powdered sugar again for a second coating.

Recipe adapted from the Betty Crocker website.

Did you already know................
-The Russian Tea Cake originated from Russian in the 18th century. 
-Catherine the Great was inspired by prevailing French customs began to have tea ceremonies with confections including the Russian Tea Cake.
-Similar cookies can be traced to the Medieval Arabian region before being introduced to Europe by the Moors.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

My youngest sister loves chocolate. When I was a child, we would receive chocolate for the holidays. My sister would eat all of her chocolate and then wait. Why was she waiting? She knew I would eat a few pieces of my chocolate and hide the rest for later. After a couple of weeks, my sister would always find my hidden stash. I would normally catch her in my closet with the evidence. I never got mad at her. She was just to cute.

Today, I decided to bake up some cookies. Within the hour, my youngest sister happen to visit me. She didn't know I was making cookies and I wasn't expecting her. I wasn't surprised since my family would joke and say if there was chocolate around, my sister would find it.

My sister and I agree these cookies are good. Aren't all chocolate chip cookies good? I have previously told you how my youngest sister will eat dessert instead of her meals. These cookies were my sister's breakfast. These cookies do have my sisters stamp of approval.These cookies are a nice start to kick off the holiday season.

Warning: These cookies need to be chilled for at least 24 hours.

Chocolate Chip Cookies from Jacques Torres
2 cups cake flour, measure and take out 2 Tbsp of the cake flour
1 2/3 cups bread flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup (2 1/2 sticks) butter, unsalted
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
1 cup and 2 Tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 lbs. bittersweet chocolate disks or chips
sea salt for the top of the cookies

Directions:
Whisk the cake flour, bread flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
Cream the butter and the sugars in another bowl.
Add the eggs, one at a time and mix.
Stir in the vanilla and mix well.
Add the flour mixture and mix well.
Fold in the chocolate pieces and mix until the chocolate is incorporated.
Press plastic wrap against the dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours.
Next day, scoop the dough onto a baking sheet about the size of a golf ball.
Sprinkle the top of the dough with sea salt.
Bake between 16 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown and still soft.
Wait about a minute and then transfer the cookies onto a wire rack to cool.

Recipe adapted from New York Times website.

Did you already know....................
-Jacques Torres was raised in France but now makes his home in New York City.
-In 2000, Jacques Torres opened his first chocolate factory in Brooklyn, New York.
-Mr. Torres makes his own chocolate by starting from the cocoa bean.
-Mr. Torres is referred as Mr. Chocolate. He is married to a fellow chocolatier.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies

A while ago, I use to give my sister a subscription to her favorite magazine. It was a gift that she could enjoy all year long. Maybe think of me? 

Since my Mom knew I like to read magazines, she asked me if I wanted a subscription to her favorite magazine. I said sure. In the magazine, it has a monthly recipe contest you can enter. I thought sure, why not. Wouldn't it be cool to win something? The recipe contest for that month featured peanut butter. My husband loves peanut butter. I had experimented with lots of recipes that weekend and this recipe is the one I entered two years ago. I was very happy when I heard that my recipe was selected and featured in the magazine. I didn't win the top prize but I did win. I did the happy dance because I won. Any time I win something I perform the happy dance. My husband finds me very amusing. The kids just dance with me.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies
1 (12 oz.) package miniature semisweet chocolate chips
2 Tbsp milk
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups all purpose flour
Filling recipe below


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Set aside 1/4 cup chocolate pieces to sprinkle on cookies.
3. In microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup of the chocolate pieces and 2 tablespoons milk. Microwave for1 minute or until melted; stir once. Set aside. 
4. In another bowl, beat butter and peanut butter until combine. 
5. Add sugar, soda, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; beat to combine. Add eggs, 1/2 cup milk, vanilla, and melted chocolate; beat until combined. 
6. Beat in cocoa powder and flour until combined. 
7. Stir in remaining chocolate pieces except the 1/4 cup of chocolate pieces.
8. Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with reserved chocolate. 
9. Bake 9 minutes or until tops are set. 
10. Cool on sheets 1 minute. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely. 
11. To assemble, spread flat sides of half the cookies with Filling; top with remaining cookies.

Peanut Butter Filling

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup marshmallow creme

2 cups powder sugar

2 Tbsp milk

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients except the milk.

Add one Tbsp milk at a time until the desired filling consistency.

My recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens.

Did you already know.............. 

-Better Homes and Gardens has been around since 1922.

-In 1924, Fruit, Garden and Home changed its name to Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

-In the U.S., Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

My son was telling me about his writing journal at school. He was writing about recess and playing on the monkey bars. He asked how to spell monkey. I told him that he should already know how to spell his first name. He said my name isn't monkey. I teasingly asked if he was sure. Then I taught him how to spell monkey and to sound out bars which he spelled bowls (I guess he spells it with an accent). After a few minutes, I asked my son how to spell his first name and he said "m-o-n-k-e-y-s" and started laughing. He is quick. I love his sense of humor. Isn't he so much fun? 

We are very lucky and have a wonderful bus driver.  On occasion, he has to wait for us in the morning as we run to catch the bus. Mornings are not the best time of day in my household. How about yours? One day we made it to the bus and my son was carrying his shoes. Why he didn't have them on? I don't know. 

Since Mr. Keith is so great, I make him cookies as a thank you. So my children ask him what type of cookie "we" (which translates to me) should make him, Mr. Keith requests this cookie. His favorite cookies are peanut butter and oatmeal raisin. He had the wonderful idea of putting his favorite cookies together. I hope you enjoy these soft peanut butter oatmeal cookies.

Yes, these have raisins since Mr. Keith likes raisins plus no one eats them.

Mr. Keith's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of salted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup of flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup of oatmeal
1/2 cup of raisins (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the peanut butter, butter, and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla. Mix well.
4. Add in the flour and salt. Mix to combine.
5. Gently stir in the oatmeal (and raisins) until incorporated.
6. Scoop onto a cookie sheet about 3 to 4 inches apart since the cookies will flatten.
7. Bake about 10-12 minutes.
8. Let the cookies cool on the hot tray for about 2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.
Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

 3 Blind Mice for Halloween.. Aren't they creepy?

To make the creature. I omitted the raisins except for the two for the eyes. I added several sliced almonds for two ears and one tail. After the cookies were in the oven for 8 minutes, I pulled the tray out. With the back of a spoon, I pushed in the sides of the cookies to shape them. I put the tray back into the oven for about 3 more minutes. I removed the tray from the oven and reshaped the cookies. I let the cookies cool on the tray for 2 minutes. I transferred to a wire rack to finish cooling.

 Did you already know.......
-Peanuts are not a nut. Peanuts are legumes and grow underground. 
-Peanut plants first grew in South America.
-Both President Thomas Jefferson and President Jimmy Carter grew peanuts.
-One 12-ounce jar of peanut butter contains about 540 peanuts.
-In the United States, peanut butter must contain at least 90 % peanuts.