Pinterest Pin...Lofthouse Peanut Butter Cookies

Lofthouse Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

 

I have made many recipes found & pinned to my Pinterest Board, Just Desserts. Some work, some I edit to make them taste better. This recipe was perfect as is, straight from the blog,  Averie Cooks.



 

The Recipe:

 

Cookies:

1 egg

1/2 cup unsalted softened butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 3/4 cup cake flour ( no exceptions)

2 tsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

10 oz bag Reese's Peanut Butter Chips

 

Peanut Butter Frosting

 

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup unsalted softened butter

1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

pinch of salt

1-2 tbls cream as needed ( I used half & half)

chocolate sprinkles ( I did not use)

 

Directions:

 

Cookies:

1.With a mixer cream together first 5 ingredients until light & fluffy about 5 minutes.

 

2. Scrape down bowl & add next 5 ingredients until incorporated; about 1 min; don't over mix.

 

3. Mix in peanut butter chips. Dough will be sticky.

 

4. Using a 2 inch cookie scoop  ( I used a 1 inch; made 28) refrigerate for 3 hours. Do not bake warm dough they will flatten.

 

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with a Silpat.  Place cookie mounds on baking sheet 2 inch apart ( I did 3 per row with a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop ). Bake 8-10 minutes until edges are set. Don't over bake ... nothing worse than a dry cookie!!!

 

6. Let cool completely before icing cookies.

 

 

 

To make icing whip peanut butter & softened butter until blended; slowly add confectioner's sugar. Add 1 tbls cream more if needed. (I used about 2 1/2 Tablespoons half & half).

 

*** I was in a hurry to bake these, after scooping the cookie dough balls, I placed them on a sheet of wax paper in my freezer for about 10 minutes. Worked perfectly! My cookies baked about 11-12 min. Slightly longer than if just chilled.

 

 

 

Excellent cookies. These are very addicting!

 

Make it a great Day...Bake a Batch of cookies!

 

Enjoy!

XOXO

Pamela

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Pinterest Cookie...Brown Butter Salted Caramel Snickerdoodles

Yesterday was my day to bring snack for my daughters tennis team. That morning I was doing my usual Pinterest surfing and this cookie caught my eye, especially after reading it I had most of the ingredients. Pinned that to my dessert Pinterest board because I knew from reading that recipe it was going to be a hit with the girls.

Here is my version of the recipe along with the link to the one I pinned. I only changed one ingredient, it called for plain Greek Yogurt and all I had was sour cream. I also added 2 tablespoons of cornstarch which makes a tender cookie. BTW... I add that to lots of cookie recipes! I pin loads of recipes and yes I make many of them but don't ever go back & re-pin that it actually was good. So I am starting a board called tried & true pins for things I make which are re-pin worthy.

Here you go!

 

Brown Butter Salted Caramel Cookies

Yield: 2 dozen cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8-10 minutes

 

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup unsalted butter, sliced

1 1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon sour cream

About  6-8 caramel squares cut in 4’s

For Rolling the Cookies:

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Sea salt, for sprinkling on top of cookies

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, corn starch, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

2. To brown the butter, heat a skillet on medium heat. Add the sliced butter, whisking frequently. Continue to cook the butter until melted. The butter will start to foam and browned specks will begin to form at the bottom of the pan.  Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the brown butter and sugars. Mix until blended  and smooth.  Beat in the egg, yolk, vanilla, and sour cream and mix until combined. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  The dough is very sticky!

4. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.  

5. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. With a 2 inch ice cream scoop ( best way to make cookies) fill with the batter,  press caramel piece inside & cover completely with the dough. Release into the sugar cinnamon mixture, roll around & place on a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet.

6. Cookies spread when baking; place about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle the cookie tops lightly with sea salt.

7. Bake the cookies 8-10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies begin to turn golden brown. The centers will still be soft. Very important to allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several  minutes or until set. Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack and cool completely.

*Recipe is adapted from http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/brown-butter-salted-caramel-snickerdoodles/

 

*****See that top cookie? That's what happened to my first batch before I got smart,  inserted the caramel into the scoop & covered it with dough from the bottom, not the top. The rest are how they should look!

 

That's an ice cream scooper filled, press the caramel in and pull the surrounding dough to cover the caramel....Genius!

 

Let me just add the cookies were a huge hit they were gone in seconds!

Next post will be the orzo rotisserie chicken salad...best ever! So check back!( thanks to my tennis girlfriend sharing this recipe with me) 

 

                  Make it a Great Day & Bake!!!

Enjoy!

XOXO, Pamela





African Stew... my version

This past weekend we went to a small festival given by a ministry. The booths all had food from the various countries they visit. Dave and I chose a bowl of African Stew which was fabulous... sweet & spicy.
Last night I couldn't stop thinking about that stew, I looked up several recipes none looked quite like the one we had so I picked ingredients from about 5 and this is my version and healthier than what we had.

 

The Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey
1 Tbls olive oil
1 chopped sweet potato; bite size pieces
1 onion chopped
1 rib celery chopped
1 yellow pepper diced
1 clove of garlic minced
2 cups chicken stock
1 can chopped tomatoes
1can garbanzo beans
1 Tbls jerk seasoning Walkerswood  brand
1 Tbls. minced ginger
1 Tsp coriander
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 chopped fresh fig ( optional but yummy!)
1 can lite coconut milk
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro


Directions:

In a large pot sauté onion, celery, pepper, sweet potato about 5 min or until slightly soft. Add garlic; cook 1 min.  Add ground turkey and brown.
Stir in garbanzo beans, canned tomatoes, 2 cups chicken broth, jerk seasoning, ginger, coriander, raisins, fig, simmer about 15 minutes.  Add coconut milk and simmer another 15-20 minutes; add cilantro, stir & serve.
Crazy easy, loads of flavor.

 

 

Enjoy!!

xoxo...

Pamela!

Fabric Art

Watermelon, Feta, Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

I think with the humidity today the outside temperature felt like 100 degrees and where was I ???...on the tennis court.  I am certain it was 150 degrees, we played hard for 1.5 hours at noon!  Crazy but fun and good exercise!! When I returned I knew I wanted something light & nutritious.  So I came up with this salad of mixed baby greens, chopped watermelon, fresh cilantro & feta cheese. I used the lime vinaigrette left over from our fish tacos. Here is my salad recipe:

 

Salad Mix:

 



~Baby spring mix

~Cubed watermelon

~Sheep's milk feta cheese

~Thinly sliced red onion (not much just a few slivers for flavor)

~chopped fresh cilantro or basil

 

My lunch serving was about 2 cups greens & 3/4 cup watermelon, 2 Tbls. crumbled feta,  & 1 tbls. cilantro

Mix the above in a bowl  & toss with:

 

Vinaigrette:



~Juice of 1 lime
~1 Tbls. white wine vinegar
~3 Tbls. olive oil
~ 1 tsp. sugar
~ 1 tsp. honey
~ 1/8 tsp. coriander
~ 1/8 tsp. cumin
~ salt & pepper to taste

Whisk the above together. This makes way more than needed for a serving.

Make as much salad as you are hungry for! Drizzle with vinaigrette ( use very little dressing, the watermelon adds juice & flavor as well)

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

XOXO,

Pamela

Crazy Men Designs

For all my DIY friends, my hubby Dave sent me an email with odd, amusing designs for manly homes. Personally not my style ( nor would it be allowed to enter the Staun estate) but seriously some are extremely creative. That being said, I am sharing on Sunday.

  

 

 Love all the drawer space...Hate the color, maybe a robins egg blue:) Tile needs to go!

 Nothing to say...I'm speechless.

  A room for the serious bowler,

 really what else can you do in here?

4

                     Fire place above took some thought. I give this a 10 in the creative department.

I bet Captain Hook sleeps alone!

On second thought he has someone waiting by his mailbox:)))

  

Great idea if you have an intruder.

9

Ok I admit this does looks fun! 

10

Just Lazy 

11

Paul Bunyan? 

12

 Double duty?

13

All around wrong... but its not going to wobble. 

1

4

 Artistic

15

Do you ever feel clean or just greasy? 

16

17

 I do like the idea of the JD bottle for hand soap in a bar bathroom.

Maybe a small wine or champagne bottle???

 

 

Are these his nightlights?

18

Great use of beer barrels, do those move up & down? 

 

0

19

20

21

Never happening. Although may give burglars a reason to go to another home.

0

 Best use of space, most functional!

__,_._,___

Hope you enjoyed my hubby Dave's dream house!

Make it a great Sunday! 

 

 

 

XOXO,

Pamela

 

The Longest Yard Sale

I have been wanting to spend a few hours at the "world's longest yard sale" and each year it comes & I miss it. Not this time, I talked hubby Dave into giving me a few hours of good quality time together.                         
 

I knew he was excited to go!

 

After about 30 minutes we saw a few yard sales but didn't look worthy of a stop until this one...a big field with oh let's say 30 tents! I can honestly bigger isn't better. Most of what we found at the most exciting stop of all (our first) was tons of glassware, McDonald toys, kiddie, clothes etc. Nothing good for us.

 

 

The next stop included a school lot, and about 10 homes on 127. I was certain this was the place...

 

 

 Especially after finding these interesting tokens and old photos. (Yikes)

 This definitely was the stop. I found a great console table and I walked away to think on it; Duh! Experienced yardies know you never, ever walk away to make a decision, because guess what the next guy didn't think and he bought my table!

 Not sure how clear the photo is but the dog did brighten my spirits.

 See we are still smiling, wait...

 is Dave's finger pointing to my head like a gun? :)

 Yup it is!

Resting on the river banks.

 The clouds were starting roll in and I still wanted to shop but did Hubby?

 Hands on his hips, look he's thinking about shopping again:)

 Moving in the right direction

Ok he made a deal, I had to first go look at some property on the river. Like I would live this far from civilization!

 And he was hungry!

 Great pulled pork sandwich...nice guy he gave me one little bite.

 In the end he offered to buy me a new convertible! If I was 3 maybe!

 We had a great day, saw lots of fun (interesting) things, bought nothing but a pork sandwich, and learned a good lesson if you find what you are looking for buy it...or the guy behind you will.

 

 

XOXO

Pamela

:)))