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.

Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls

My oldest daughter has been applying to colleges. I have been proud of her for all the applications that she has sent out. I hope she will stay in state. Her paternal side really hopes she will go to a school in Ohio. My daughter has been receiving gifts since she was an infant with this school's logo or name. 

Since my husband loves peanut butter and my daughter just applied to this school in Ohio, I figured I should make some Buckeyes. This Buckeye recipe is very close to a peanut butter cup. It is a peanut butter ball with a coating of chocolate on the outside.

Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls


1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 to 4 cups powder sugar, sifted
6 oz. chocolate chips, semi-sweet
1 Tbsp shortening


Directions:
Cream the peanut butter with the butter.
Add the vanilla extract to the peanut butter mixture.
Add one cup of unpacked powder sugar into the mixture and combine.
Continue to add one cup of unpacked powder sugar into the mixture until a stiff dough forms. Try to prevent the peanut butters being dry.
Form the peanut butter dough into smooth balls and place on wax paper.
Stick a toothpick into the middle of each ball.
Refrigerate for about an hour or two so the dough can harden.
After the dough hardens, in a small saucepan melt the chocolate chips and shortening.
Dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate but leave a small area of the ball uncovered.
Place the covered peanut butter balls onto wax paper to set. Remove the toothpick and try to smooth over the toothpick hole. It may be easier to keep half the peanut butter balls in the refrigerator to stay hard.
Refrigerate for about 30 minutes for the chocolate to harden. 


Source adapted from Allrecipes.

Did you already know.............
-The Buckeye Tree is the Ohio State Tree.
-The Buckeye Tree received its name from Native Americans who thought the seeds looked like the eye of a male deer.
-The Buckeye nut is suppose to be a good luck charm.
-Since 1950, Ohio State has used the buckeye as it's nickname and later for its mascot.


Go Buckeyes!

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.