Dessert: Grandma's Peanut Butter Cookies

So I am not sure where I got this from, but it's one of my favorite peanut butter cookie recipes. Whoever's grandma this is, thank you! (I found this written in my collection of recipes, so I must have kept it from my college days)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup peanut butter (you can use extra crunchy if you want)
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 TBSP milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• Granulated sugar (set aside for later, says it's optional- but why would you? That's what makes them Grandma's cookies!)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven at 375
2. Combine peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat with mixer on medium speed until well blended
3. Add egg and beat well until blended
4. Combine dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda). Add to peanut butter mixture on low speed until blended
5. Form into balls and roll in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly in a criss-cross pattern with fork
6. Bake in oven for 7-8 minutes, until brown

Note:

I usually like to double the recipe, since I always seem to bring them to work. They tend to go quickly.

Breakfast Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

So this may not be the healthiest recipe for breakfast, but it sure is a sweet one! I had a craving for something peanut butter and chocolate tonight (I did run barely 14 miles today) so I did a search and came across a recipe (through Google). The site I reference I have never heard of but, Mr. Breakfast has to be a cool name for a recipe site (http://www.mrbreakfast.com/). I like breakfast all the time!

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons margarine -- melted
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup (6-ounces) chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350-degrees. Line muffin tin (12)
2. In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and margarine until well blended.
3. Mix in sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Combine flour with baking powder and baking soda.
4. Add to peanut butter mixture along with milk and chocolate chips. Mix well.
5. Spoon into muffin cups.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in the center.

I hope all peanut butter fanatics enjoy!

Dessert Recipe: Buckeyes!!!

So most of you know about these. You don't have to be from Ohio to love them (ahemm, sorry Michigan fans). These are really easy to make, but take some "hands on" and refrigerator time.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of butter
• 36 oz. of creamy peanut butter (jars usually come in 18 oz)
  
• 3 lbs of powdered sugar
• 24 oz chocolate chips
• chunk of paraffin wax (My mom and I use the brand Gulf Wax, which comes in four sheets that total one pound. You really only need 1/4 of one sheet for each batch, maybe a little less)

Directions:
1. Mix butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar (I usually end up mixing with my hands). The batter should be smooth and stiff.
2. Roll in balls about teaspoon or tablespoon size (you can make them as big or as small as you want) and drop onto cookie sheet covered with wax paper. You can layer these as high as you want as long as you have wax paper in between each layer. Refrigerate until firm 3-5 hours or overnight.
3. Melt chocolate in double boiler with the wax (make sure the wax is fully melted). Using a toothpick dip each of the peanut butter balls into the chocolate until covered 3/4 of the way. Drop onto cookie sheet covered by wax paper. You can layer these the same way with wax paper in between. Refrigerate until set (3-5 hours).

**These are always a crowd pleaser!! If you are short on time you can always use the freezer to set these up.

Dessert Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Hi All! Sorry for being a little behind posting new recipes. The holidays are always so busy. Nadia, Steve, and I had our annual "Every Belly Needs a Cookie" Party last weekend and I know a lot of you want the recipes from the cookies we made.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars:

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp margarine (softened)
  
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 pkg milk chocolate chips(divided)
• Sugar sprinkles (any color)

1. Beat peanut butter, margarine, brown sugar, sugar, and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy
2. Beat in eggs
3. Beat in flour
4. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips
5. Bake in preheated oven (350) for 20-25 minutes or until edges are lightly brown
6. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with remaining chips
7. Let stand for 3-5 minutes and then spread evenly. Sprinkle with colored sugar sprinkles

**You can use any kind of chocolate chips for this...the best part is eating these right after the chocolate has melted!
Happy Holiday Baking all!

Cookie Recipe: Corn Flake Chews

I have been making this recipe since I was in junior high. This is another one of my favorite no bake cookies!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup light karo syrup
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 cups corn flakes
  

Directions:
Mix corn strup and sugar in medium-large saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil up once while stirring (I usually let it come to a rolling boil and then wait for 30 seconds). Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Stir in corn flakes. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.

Comments & Additions:
I usually double this recipe since they tend to go fast! Something I look for when the sugar and karo syrup is boiling is that it looks clear. Enjoy!

Dessert Recipe: Chocolate No Bakes

One of the easiest, but a tricky desserts to make:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Oats
• 2/3 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 cups Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 cup Margarine
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1/3 cup Cocoa
• 2 tsps Vanilla

Directions:
In medium saucepan mix together on medium heat: margarine, milk, sugar and cocoa. Bring to a boil and stir constantly. Once at a rolling boil time for one minute and remove from heat. Add vanilla and peanut butter. Once smooth add oats. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Allow to set-up and cool.

Comments & Additions:
I have been making this recipe since I was a kid (my mom is a big influence and started my love of sweets and baking). Be patient when you are waiting for the mix to boil (do not turn up the heat, etc.) as I have had many many times scalded the mix and it tastes crunchy/burnt or removed from heat too early and you can taste/feel the sugar crystals.
You may want to add raisins when you add the oats (Nadia loves this!) or you can always use crunchy peanut butter. The possibilities are really endless.