Chocolate Whoopie Pie with Strawberry filling

Chocolate, strawberries, and whoopie -what more can one ask for this Valentine's Day? I even made the whoopie pies in a heart shape. I piped the batter onto the cookie sheet and filled the inside with more batter. The filling with the strawberries were a great addition.

Chocolate Whoopie Pie with strawberry filling
Chocolate Whoopie Pie:
8 Tbsp butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup cocoa powder
3 cups flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Mix until fluffy.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until incorporated.
5. Add the buttermilk and the baking soda. Mix until incorporated.
6. In a medium bowl, combine the baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and flour. Mix until incorporated.
7. Slowly, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until just incorporated.
8. Scoop the batter with a ice cream scooper onto the parchment paper.
9. Space the batter mounds about 3 inches apart. (Like cookie dough).
10. Bake the batter for 5 minutes. Rotate the pan and cook for another 5 minutes.
11. Remove the pan from the oven and allow to rest on the pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris. 

Strawberry filling:
8 Tbsp butter, softened
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
8 oz. marshmallow fluff
1 lb. powdered sugar, whisked/sifted
1 cup strawberries, chopped fine
2 Tbsp milk

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter for a minute.
2. Add the salt, vanilla, marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar, and strawberries.
3. Stir until well combined. 
4. Add a little milk at a time until the desired consistency. 
5. (Add a little more powdered sugar if needed depending on the sweetness of the strawberries.)
6. Add a scoop of the filling in between two whoopie cakes. 
7. Gently press to sandwich the cakes to form a whoopie pie.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago............................I made Pirozhki Meat Pies.
Two years ago..........................I made Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.
Three years ago.......................I made Nutella Molten Cake.

Did you already know...................
-The average strawberry has 200 seeds.
-The green top of the strawberry is called a calyx. 
-Madam Tallien (French Revolution aristocrat) was rumored to bath in strawberry juice.

Heart Peanut Butter Cups

I figured I would try making some homemade peanut butter cups for my honey. Since Valentine's Day is approaching, I figured I would make them in a heart shape. What a perfect Valentine to make instead of buying his traditional box of peanut butter cups. My daughter ate most of this dessert. She loved them. I told her she could easily make them since they are made by the microwave. My husband said they tasted just like the ones I buy him which is a nice compliment when you are trying to duplicate a recipe. If you are looking for something more handmade then bought for Valentine's Day, this is a nice gift.

Heart Peanut Butter Cups
1 (12 oz.) bag of milk chocolate chips
1 cup reduced fat peanut butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar plus more for the pan
1/8 tsp sea salt

Directions:

1. Spray a heart shape cookie pan with nonstick baking spray.
2. Dust the pan with powder sugar.
3. In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips.
4. Microwave the chocolate for two minutes. 
5. Gently stir and allow the chocolate to sit for one minute. 
6. Coat the bottom and sides of the cookie pan with the chocolate. 
7. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
8. In a microwave safe bowl, combine the peanut butter with the powdered sugar and salt.
9. Microwave the peanut butter mixture for 1 minute.
10. Spoon a little of the peanut butter mixture into the chilled chocolate cups. 
11. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
12. Remicrowave the remaining harden chocolate for 30 to 60 seconds.
13. Spoon the chocolate over the top of the peanut butter to cover. 
14. Chill the chocolate until hardened. 
15. If the chocolate isn't easily removed from the pan then carefully emerge the bottom of the pan into hot water. Make sure the chocolate doesn't touch the chocolate.

Recipe adapted from Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Recipes.

One year ago.........................I made Borscht Soup.
Two years ago.......................I made Chinese Chicken Noodles.
Three years ago....................I made Cream Cheese Lemon Cookies.

Did you already know..........................
-In 1928, H. B. Reese (former shipping employee of Hersey's Chocolate) created the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
-In 1930, the Reese's Peanut Butter cups sold for $.01.
-In 1963, the Reese's company was sold to Hersey Chocolate Company.

PB Blossoms

My daughter had been asking for the peanut butter blossom cookies for weeks. She loved these cookies. I mean she loved them. The cookies had everything she loves peanut butter cups with peanut butter cookies. I thought I was making those rounded cookies with the kiss on top. The recipe I should have used was located on the back of the Hersey kiss package. Since these cookies were more flat, I figured I would top these with the heart shape peanut butter cups.

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
1/2 cup sugar plus more for rolling
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter softened
1 egg
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
18 miniature heart peanut butter cups

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 
3. In large bowl, cream the sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, and egg until well blended.
4. Slowly add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla. Mix until just incorporated.
5. Shape the dough into 2 inch balls. 
6. Roll the dough into additional sugar to coat.
7. Bake for 10 to 12 minute or until edges are light golden brown.
8. Allow the cookies to rest for 1 minute. 
9. Press 1 miniature peanut butter heart into the center of each cookie.
10. Remove the cookies onto a cooling rack.
11. Allow to cool before serving.

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker.com.  

 

One year ago.....................................I made Beef Stroganoff.

Two years ago...................................I made Health Bits Peanut Butter Cookies.

Three years ago.................................I made Teriyaki Beef.

Did you already know.........................
-Milk chocolate is the most popular chocolate.
-The average American eats over 10 lbs. chocolate a year.
-The average British eats over 19 lbs. chocolate a year.

Amish White Bread

So, my daughter was asking my husband if she was nicer than her sister. He wisely wouldn't answer. Since she didn't like his answer, she complained to me. So, I asked her if I was nicer than her sister. She said, yes. I asked her if I was nicer than her Dad. She said yes. Then I asked her if there was anyone nicer than me. She replied no. So I said what about my sister. My daughter replied yes that my sister was nicer. I started laughing. She realized her mistake and tried to tell me that no one was nicer than me. I told her it was to late. Well, my daughter thought I was nice when I made her some homemade bread. This bread is very good. It is soft with a little sweetness. I used mini loaf pans for a cute change and a little different than store bought bread.

Amish White Bread
2 cups warm water
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour

Directions:

1. Oil either 2 bread pans, 8 mini bread pans, or a muffin tin.
2. In a large bowl, combine the water, sugar, and yeast. Allow the yeast to proof for 5 minutes.
3. Add the salt and oil to the water mixture.
4. Stir in one cup of flour at a time. 
5. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes. 
6. Place the dough into an oiled bowl and turn to coat the dough.
7. Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour. 
8. Punch down the dough.
9. Knead for 2 minutes and then separate the dough into the desired prepared pans.
10. Allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes.
11. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
12. Bake the bread for 30 minutes. 

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.

One year ago......................................I made Russian Meatballs.
Two years ago....................................I made Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes.
Three years ago..................................I made Buttermilk Cornbread.

Did you already know............................
-One bushel of wheat can produce about 42 pounds of white flour.
-Bread has been found in Egyptian tombs.
-In 1928, sliced bread was first sold in stores.

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice

Lately, my daughter has been on a reading kick. She reads all the time. I think it's great. My son, however, still needs to be persuaded to read. It is part of their homework. After my son reads, he is suppose to write a paragraph about what he wrote. I really think he hates the writing the most. He does like helping me in the kitchen and doesn't mind reading recipes to me. He helped with this dish. We really liked this dish a lot especially my husband. Any meal with rice is a winner according to my husband. Even with the broccoli, he still really liked it.

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 lb. chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup uncooked Jasmine rice
1 lb. broccoli florets, chopped into bite sized pieces
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

1. In a large pot, heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the onions and saute for a minute. 
3. Increase the heat to medium high and add the chicken.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Brown the chicken. 
6. Add the garlic and cook for a minute.
7. Push the chicken to one side of the pan and add the other Tbsp of olive oil to the empty side.
8. Add the uncooked rice to the olive oil side and saute for a couple of minutes.
9. Stir in the chicken broth and white wine. Bring the mixture to a boil.
10. Lower the heat to a simmer and cover.
11. Allow the mixture to cook covered for 10 minutes.
12. Stir in the broccoli and cover. Allow to cook for another 10 minutes. 
13. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of cheese. 
14. Sprinkle the other cup of cheese on top. Cover and allow to sit for 2 minutes for the cheese to melt.

Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

One year ago..............................I made Oatmeal Batter Bread.
Two years ago............................I made Homemade White Loaf Bread.
Three years ago.........................I made Boston Baked Beans.

Did you already know........................
-Broccoli belongs to the cabbage family.
-The word broccoli is derived from the Italian word 'brocco' which means arm. 
-In 1990, President Bush banned broccoli on Air Force One.