Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars (2010.17)

Best thing I've cooked (new) all month. Great way to end April! We are having Joy Prom at Church tonight and these are for the hundreds of volunteers we will have:

Makes 16 - not healthy at all (but very yummy)

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 cup creamy pb (I used skippy, not all natural) - the whole regular jar - then used the jar for Oats in a Jar this morning for breakfast

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 roll (16.5 oz) chocolate chip cookie dough

350. square ungreased pan.

Press about 3/5 of the dough on bottom of pan. Mix sugar, pb, and vanilla. Spread on top. Crumble rest of cookie dough on top and bake for about 30 minutes.

Let chill for about an hour. Cut into bars.

Serve chilled or room temp. Get them out of the house!

Strawberry Oat Bars - 2010.15

I thought this recipe was going to be better than what it turned out to be: oh, well. I liked the jam - although it made it sticky. And I liked the dough before it was baked. But, it turned out dry. Oh, well. Here you go (because I even put fails up here). Ok - my roommate said they weren't a fail - she ate it. I told her I threw the rest of them out.

This is called learning:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup chopped pecans

zest of one lemon

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup applesauce

1/4 cup canola oil

1 1/4 cup strawberry preserves

Mix dry, add wet. Take one cup out and set aside.

Press the rest of the dough into the bottom of foil-lined 9x9 pan. Bake the dough for 20 minutes at 350. Remove from oven, spoon the jam over the hot crust. Top with remaining dough.

Bake an additional 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

This recipe is from my GoodNeighbor magazine from my insurance agency.

Lemon Bars (Gluten and Dairy Free) - SO YUMMY!

I love hanging out with other healthy foodies. I learn so much. My friends Jenny and Michelle and I hung out for lunch today. Michelle has a hard time with her diet - trying to figure out what her body will and won't "accept". She made these amazing bars! I loved how full of protein they were and how amazingly delicious they were, also.
My Papa would love them - never knowing they were healthy for him.
I will definitely be making these - so incredibly good to take on a picnic or somewhere during the summer because they are tangy and summer-y!

Chocolate Chip and Peanut Blondies (2010.8)

Bon Appetit comes through again! These were defininitely a winner - at least among the office staff. So, you may want to make these!

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp soda
1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/4 packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup salted roasted peanuts
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Melt butter on stove over medium. Remove from heat. Stir in brown sugar, than vanilla.
Let cool for about 2-3 minutes. Stir in eggs. Whisk in dry ingredients. Stir in half of peanuts and half of chips. Pour in greased and foiled 8x8 pan. Top with remaining peanuts and chips. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until done.

Chewy Peanut Butter Bars (2010.5)

If you like peanut butter fudge, you will definitely like these. Quick and Easy Recipes comes through. These make tons of bars and are really easy because they are no bake - they just take chill time.

4 cups salted roasted peanuts
1 bag mini marshmallows
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 bag reece's peanut butter chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk


9x13 pan. foil. pam.
Spread 2 cups of the peanuts on the bottom. Melt the rest in a pan over medium low heat. Pour on top of peanuts. Pour the other 2 cups on top and gently press into the goo.
Let chill over night.
These taste surprisingly like peanut butter fudge. So easy...

Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread

I love other food blogs. These help when you finish all the stuff you had on tap to make, you look at your kitchen partner, and say at 830 on Christmas Eve, "I'm in the mood to make something" after you've been baking all day and you aren't going back out to Publix.

I found this on a new food blog that I'll definitely be looking at more in the future.

These were actually really yummy - very Christmasy. Just adjusted it slightly.

2 C all-purpose flour
1/4 t salt
1 C (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 C sugar
1 t vanilla extract
1 large egg yolk
6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 C finely peppermint chopped candies
3 oz. dark chocolate chips, melted

Cream all up to chocolate. Press in a greased aluminum foil lined pan and prick with a fork several times. Bake at 350 for about 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle semi-sweet chocolate chips on top. Let melt, spread over dough. Pour crushed candies on top of that, spread evenly. Drizzle (with fork) the dark chocolate on top.

Let chill completely before trying to cut into fun shapes or triangles.

Maple Coconut Blondies

I first started making blondies about a year ago. Why didn't anyone tell me to make them sooner? Well, this is another recipe that I wish I had come up with. I mean, I love maple. I remember one of my roommates my freshman year of college, Becky, lived in maple land (NH) and brought us all maple candy for Christmas presents. Then, the first season I worked at W-S for the holidays, I bought a tin of maple syrup. Its pointless to go back to pancake syrup anymore. Now, I use 365 brand at Whole Foods.

On to the coconut...I have always loved it. Coconut cake, cream pie, macaroons - not much coconut I don't like. The above picture is a friend of mine, Lori, when we were in Asia drinking raw coconut juice - just a bit different than the stuff I baked these with today.

I just had to lick the spoon to know these are going to be great. I got the recipe from Baking Bites www - she also has a new cookbook out if you wanna get a great little Christmas present for the baker in your life.

Enjoy! These are going to the office tomorrow. These are so easy - 1 bowl. less than 5 minutes to oven!

1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup maple syrup (really, please do maple fans a favor and don't use Aunt Jemima - save her for your pancakes if you have to)

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 egg

1 cup ap flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup shredded coconut

Mix all together. Fold in coconut. Bake in greased 8x8 pan at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Cut into squares.

Sprinkle with coconut for a festive touch.

Cranberry Shortbread Bars

These are great! I love the Joy of Baking website - can't go wrong with things on there. I had to take a dessert for a potluck after church in Cincinnati. Last year I took an apple cake. I wanted to go with something more portable and still fall-y. These were just the thing. My Dad liked them too and took one for the road.

Last year a friend of mine gave me 2 bags of cranberries so I had these in my freezer. Perfect. Just thaw and bake.

Mom and I had fun with these. I made the filling, she creamed the shortbread.

8 oz fresh cranberries (thawed if frozen) - 2/3 of a bag really or 2 1/4 cups

2/3 cup sugar

3 T water

2 cups flour

2 T cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla.

Boil first three together till thick - about 5 minutes. Let cool.

Cream the rest.

Press 2/3 of the dough into a greased 9x9 pan. Pour filling on top leaving a little room around the edges. Crumble up the remaining dough on top. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Cool a bit. Cut into 16 squares. Let cool completely.

YUM! The tart and the creamy not-too-heavy shortbread are a perfect combination!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Snack Cake

Cookie Madness always is baking some good things. Not good for my hips though. These are actually both! I altered this a little and cut down the recipe. Here we go:

3 T applesauce

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup pumpkin

1/6 cup water

7/8 cup flour

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Mix all together. Greased 8x8 pan.

4 oz 1/3 less fat softened cream cheese

1/8 cup sugar

1/8 tsp vanilla

1/2 egg

Mix all this together. Swirl on top. Bake at 350 till done - about 25 minutes.

This is a great little snack cake. Not too sweet and definitely sweetened a little with the cream cheese. Tastes like spice cake. It would be great served cold.

Makes 16 bars.

About 100 calories each square.

Peanut Butter Blondies

My boss's bday is tomorrow. Last year I made him peanut butter cookies because one of his daughters said that he loved them. This year, I found this recipe for peanut butter blondies in a Hershey's cookbook I have.

I appreciate many things about my boss. One of the best things about him (besides his love for the Gators) is his integrity and love for his family. I love my job.

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (I'm so used to natural peanut butter that I found I didn't care for regular pb anymore, but in baking it is crucial because of the amount of oil and salt that is in processed peanut butter)

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

2 T milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1 1/3 cup reeses peanut butter chips

Mix peanut butter, butter, and sugars. Add in other wet ingredients. Mix in dry. Spread out of batter in a greased 8x8 pan. Pour in the chips on top. Then drop the rest of the batter by spoonfulls on top. Bake at 350 for about 28 minutes or until browned on top.

I loved these because they had a layer of yummy gooey peanut butter goodness in the middle. Very good - especially if you like peanut butter.

Happy Birthday Boss Man!

Oatmeal Carmelitas (2009.18)

Ok - this is out of a really old cookbook (1967 - Pillsbury Bake Off) - but oh so good! how can you go wrong with oatmeal, brown sugar, chocolate, and caramel? Huh? Well, I haven't actually tasted it because it has to chill before I cut it - but you can't go wrong with these things...

1 cup flour
1 cup oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
3 T flour

Mix crust - half goes in bottom of 11x7 pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350. Top with chocolate then pecans. Then mix the topping and flour together - spread over the pecans and chocolate. Top with the other half crumbles of the crust.
Bake for another 17-20 minutes. Take out and chill for 1-2 hours, cut into bars. Serve room temperature.
They smell real yummy!

Menu Week: March 8

This week is a lot of leftovers - primarily because I don't have a lot of money to spend and I have leftovers. So...here you go...
Monday - every lunch this week will be training. Shiraz for dinner and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
My leftovers are: veggie soup, chili, chicken salad, turkey soup - I'll switch these out throughout the week.
My recipe of the week for 2009 is out of The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook - for my friends Shana and Toby will get some for his bday.
I get to make some granola that i'm excited about.
Making a Kraft egg dish recipe for our Secretary breakfast on Friday morning - in honor of Bonnie who has a bday this month and usually brings the egg dish.
The two other baking things will be for community group (oatmeal, cherry, white chocolate chip cookies) and Bar night at Bloom - butterscotch blondies - both of these things I found online in my google reader.
Looking forward to leftovers and baking this week!

Almond Cheesecake Bars

My friend Brandi likes cheesecake, so today for our lunch (yummy chili, thanks B) I made these for our dessert. I found them on a food blog, and tweaked slightly. They turned out very yummy and were all gone from the plate by the end of the day.

1 cup ap flour

1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)

6 T unsalted butter, softened

2 pinches salt

8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg, room temperature

4 T amaretto, or almond extract

1/2 tsp vanilla

4 T whole natural almonds, chopped

Blend first four ingredient, coursely. Take out 3/4 cup to save for topping. Press into greased and foiled 8x8 pan. Mix cream cheese mixture till all smooth. Chop almonds and combine with the rest of the topping - sprinkle on top. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Let cool completely. Cut into about 24 bars or so - however big you want them.

"Blondies" Do Have More Fun

I am a brunette, and the girl I am making for is a brunette - but these blondies are amazing. I've never made them - but after tonight - they will become a staple. I don't particularly love brownies - I mean they are good, but I can pass. I can rarely pass up a homemade chocolate chip cookie. These are a mix.
This is a Better Homes and Garden recipe. Not too time consuming and are incredible. It almost takes like you are eating a piece of caramel and chocolate - which I love both! :)

2 cups brown sugar (packed)
10 2/3 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup ss chocolate chips

350, greased.
heat (on about 3) brown sugar and butter till smooth. Make sure it doesn't burn. It doesn't take very long, but it is mind-consuming. Let it cool. Add vanilla and eggs (one at a time). Add the dry ingredients. Pour into a 13x9 prepared pan. Cover with 1 cup chocolate chips. Bake for 40-45 minutes until done. Cut and enjoy! :0
WOW!

Oh, Canada!

Canada does offer us some wonderful things. First, we have Prince Edward Island. Still one of my dream places to travel too (all because of Anne of Green Gables). Second, are these bars. I saw someone mention them in food blog world and I saw them when a friend and I went to lunch today. So, had to pick it up and find out what they were. I couldn't figure out what the inside part was, thinking amybe a pb mousse of some sort - but oh, it wasn't. My only problem with these is finding what to make them for - so many people do not like coconut. But, I am bound and determined to make them. I had 1/2 of the small bar I had. It was very yummy. And quite worth 2 points! :)

Pumpkin-Cranberry Bread & Pumpkin Butter Bars

I don't even remember where or when I got this recipe, but it is really yummy and great for fall. I made some for Michelle, the office, and then divided some for other tastes here and there.

3 cups flour
1 tbsp plus 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups sugar
1 can pumpkin
4 large eggs
1 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 cup dried cranberries

Mix all dry, then mix into the wet. Bake in loaf pan for 55-65 minutes at 350 until knife comes out clean. Enjoy! (oh, spray only the bottom of the loaf pans and don't overmix!)

The other bar on the plate is some William-Sonoma Pumpkin Butter bars. This is made with W-S' exclusive pumpkin pecan butter that they only sell between Sept-Dec. So, stock up! I do.
After Laura and I had a time trying to read my encrypted recipe card, we did figure it out. They are so good.

1 box yellow cake mix, divided
1 1/2 stick unsalted butter, divided
3 eggs, divided
1 jar pumpkin butter, found at W-S stores nationwide
2 tbsp milk
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Take out 1 cup of the cake mix. Melt 1 stick butter, the remaining cake mix and 1 egg. mix together and pour in the bottom of 9x13 sprayed pan. Press down. Then take pumpkin butter, 2 eggs, milk - mix that up and pour on top of the cake batter. Then take 1 cup mix and rest of ingredients and mix up (chopped up butter) and then sprinkle that on top. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Yummy! These are also good with 1/2 jar of W-S Cranberry relish they are selling right now too!

Most Requested Dessert

My most requested recipe. Only problem...its not homemade. It is so easy - takes no effort. Semi-homemade as Sandra Lee would call it. But, everyone loves them - they are so good.
Enjoy! I said dessert, I'll put the most requested soup up by the end of the month.

Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Bars
Makes 20

1 regular size roll of chocolate chip cookie dough
1 8 oz pkg of cream cheese (softened)
½ cup sugar
1 egg

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In an 8x8 pan, spread ½ of the cookie dough on bottom of pan. Mix cream cheese, sugar, and egg and mix together until smooth. Pour over cookie dough. Crumble the remaining cookie dough over the top of the mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until cream cheese mixture is set.