I spent my first year after high school in a fairly well supervised school dorm. Lunch was provided to us at school, and suppers were served in a large lunch room in the second floor of the school building. Breakfast was where we had a little leeway. Each Sunday we had to give in a grocery list of items we wanted for the week's breakfast. The list was typically comprised of bread, fruit, oatmeal and cereal. Snacks, however, weren't provided by the school. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. And as poor students, there was certainly a necessity for free snacks. So we got creative. We improvised. We discovered that the folks in charge of our grocery order didn't differentiate … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
The other day I was talking to one of my coworkers about...what else? Cookies. He was mentioning his preferences in cookie flavors, when he made a shocking statement. "I don't like chocolate. And I don't like peanut butter." I opened my mouth in shock and horror. "My wife," he continued, "always says-" and at the exact same moment as he finished his wife's statement, I was verbalizing the exact same sentiment. "What is wrong with you?!" This may be insulting to some, especially to said coworker who had such nice things to say about my blog, but I truly believe that it's difficult to be happy without chocolate. Throw in some peanut butter? That's pretty much bliss. Assuming you are among … [Read more...]
Chanukah Style Peanut Butter Blossoms
***Before we start – have you signed up for my email newsletters? You’ll get new recipes, cooking tips, menu suggestions, kitchen deals – and more! Click here to signup.*** Who is ready for some chanukah cookies?! I've had this idea for ages. There are many cookies that involve pressing a chocolate or some other candy into the finished cookie, and a while ago I realized that a Chanukah chocolate coin would be the ultimate item to finish off a cookie for Chanukah. I waited for ages until the local stores started their seasonal displays of Chanukah merchandise. I happily purchased a couple of pouches of these delicious coins, and settled into my chair with a stack of cookbooks to … [Read more...]
Peanut Topped Peanut Butter Cookies
If you've read my about me page, (c'mon, you know you're curious!) you know that I sell homemade cookies and other treats. It's a very side business, and I don't push it much, mostly because I simply have no time. I don't, however, like to turn down an order, as the money is going to a special fund for my SLR camera. Imagine how cool it will be to take pictures for the blog on something other than my iPhone? In general, I love to bake, and I am super happy to take an order. The problem is that sometimes a customer orders something that I am simply not in the mood to bake. That's what happened the other day. Someone emailed me asking if I could bake them a couple dozen peanut butter cookies. … [Read more...]
Party Treats Round Up
I've promised a post with some pictures and ideas of things I made for the party a couple of weeks ago for my new baby niece, and I think it's finally time to deliver. First, some background for my non-Jewish readers. The party is a traditional Jewish celebration in honor of the birth of a baby girl. In most cases, including this one, the party took place on Sabbath afternoon, just after prayer services. This party was attended by mostly neighbors, as observant Jews don't drive on Sabbath. My brother lives in a very young neighborhood, with what often feels like two million kids. When planning the goodies I made, I tried to balance pretty (for the women) and kid-friendly. Here's what I came … [Read more...]
Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies
Y'know when you bite into a cookie and think "yeah, I know what this is gonna be like" but then you take that bite, and instead, you're greeted with a delightful surprise? No? Well that's because you haven't tried these cookies yet. From the outside, they look like chocolate cookies. Good chocolate cookies, mind you, but that's pretty much it. Then you taste them and... a surprise is waiting for you! A chocolate cookie is definitely a nice thing. But even a very good chocolate cookie is "just" a chocolate cookie. We've all had those. I originally saw this recipe on Recipe Girl, and just from the look of it, I knew it was going to be one of the best cookies I had ever made. Bite … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter Truffle Stuffed Oreos
These started out as truffles, and evolved into one of the most delicious, easiest desserts in the planet. The truffle filling is a classic combination of two flavors any sane individual adores: chocolate and peanut butter. Stuff that decadent mixture in between two Oreos, roll it in some sprinkles, and voila! No bake, super easy and totally gorgeous. The sprinkles are great too. I made them for a party to celebrate the birth of my new niece, hence the pink you see in the picture. You can do blue for a boy, colorful for a child's party, or any other color/shape sprinkles that match your theme and or color scheme. If you don't have a particular color that works, use plain white- it fits … [Read more...]