Sharing the Love

Valentine Day seemed the perfect occasion to share a little unexpected love from the kitchen not only for my family but a couple of friends that needed a little heart warming sweetness. It's a simple recipe that brings a smile to any age cookie lover, especially when in the shape of hearts,tractors and cows.

Deluxe Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter,softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cream of tarter
Granulated sugar

Mix butter,confectioners sugar,egg,vanilla and almond extract. Blend in flour,soda and cream of tarter. Cover and chill 2-3 hours.

 Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough in half. Roll each half 3/16 inch thick on lightly floured  board. Cut into desired shapes. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 7-8 minutes.

Thank a Peanut Farmer Day

As a peanut butter fan, I can't think of a better way to kick off the month of March than by celebrating Peanut Butter Lovers' Day! It's also  a perfect day to  thank   all the peanut farmers in the United States for raising a crop that produces a food  I enjoy so much in a variety of ways.

Did you know  we've even got peanut farmers in Arkansas?   It's a fairly new crop to our state, but in 2012, eighteen thousand  acres were planted in the eastern and southern counties of Arkansas.  Those counties have the perfect dry, sandy soil and climate that peanut plants love.

Double Peanut Butter Cookies is one my favorite peanut butter cookie recipes from the October 1980 issue of Southern Living magazine. It's a  perfect cookie  for any peanut butter lover on any day and goes great with a glass of milk!


Double Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter,divided
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon milk

Directions:

Combine flour, sugar, soda, and salt; cut in shortening and 1/2 cup peanut butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in corn syrup and milk.

Shape dough into long roll,2 inches in diameter; wrap in waxed paper and chill 2-3 hours or until firm.

Unwrap roll, and cut into 1/4 inch slices; place half of slices on ungreased cookie sheets. Spread each with 1/2 teaspoon peanut butter. top with remaining cookie slices and seal edges with fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Yield: 2 dozen

                      Bessie and I will be celebrating Peanut Butter Lovers' Day  with a glass of milk.
                                                                       How about you?

Year Round Valentine Treat

Since I missed celebrating Valentine Day with my family last week due to an unexpected extended stay  in Washington, D.C. because of the snowstorm, I decided to bake a new sweet treat this weekend as  a  belated Valentine for my family.

I chose Peanut Butter Fudge Bars  from my What's Cooking at Wye cookbook for two reasons--I had all the ingredients and three of us in the family love chocolate and peanut butter!  How could I go wrong?


Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

Ingredients:

1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons butter

Combine cake mix, peanut butter, egg and oil. Press 2/3 of the mixture into a greased 13x9 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes.

In a heavy saucepan, heat the milk,
chocolate chips and butter over low heat. Stir until blended. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars. 

Yield: 12-15 servings

                                A  Peanut Butter Fudge Bar with a dip of vanilla ice cream  is a
                                                            perfect year round Valentine!

Butter Up Your Valentine

While looking through my recipe file last weekend, I came across one of my favorite cookie recipes from  my special  friend, Nancy, who shared this recipe with me more than thirty years ago. These heart shaped  cookies are a great choice  for buttering up your favorite Valentine!



Raspberry Hearts

1lb butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
6 cups flour
Raspberry jam (may also use strawberry)


Beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Roll out thin (1/2 inch)  and cut with small heart cutter. Spatula onto an ungreased pan.Bake at 400 degrees only 5-7 minutes.  Cool.

Spread thin layer of raspberry or strawberry jam on one side of cookie. Place second cookie on top.

Optional: Glaze cookies before baking with 2 egg yolks and 2 Tablespoons water


                                                                    

                                                  Happy Valentine Day to my sweet friend!

Milk Celebrates National Chocolate Cookie Day

What's not to love about a chocolate chip regardless if it's in cookies ,brownies  or any sweet treat!
Although today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, I celebrated by baking what must be a cousin to the chocolate chip cookie. This recipe got the dairy farmer stamp of approval!

 
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Brownies

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 6-ounce package chocolate chips

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix peanut butter and butter. Gradually add sugars, beating until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour mixture until thoroughly mixed.  Mix in 1 (6-ounce)  package chocolate morsels before turning into pan. Turn into greased 9 inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly. Cool.
Yield: 16 (21/4-inch) squares

           The best thing about any treat that has chocolate chips---it's perfect with a glass of milk!

Santa's Cookie List

When flipping through my recipe file with thoughts of baking cookies for the holiday, I found a
recipe that my nursing school roommate gave me years ago. Just looking at the recipe card brought a flood of memories of special occasions and fun events that we enjoyed together while in school.  You can never have too many cookie recipes and this is a perfect one for Christmas,Valentine Day,showers or just because! I wonder if this cookie could be on Santa's list?

Raspberry Hearts 

1 pound butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
6 cups flour
Raspberry or strawberry jam


Beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Add flour to sugar and butter mixture. (dough is dry)
Roll out thin (1/2 inch). Cut out with small  heart shaped cookie cutter. Spatula onto an ungreased pan.
Bake at 400 degrees only 5-7 minutes. Cool.
Spread raspberry or strawberry jam on top of cookie and place second cookie on top.

Optional: Glaze cookies before baking with 2 egg yolks and 2  tablespoons water.

 

I'm thinking Santa would probably enjoy these with a glass of milk!

 

 

Celebrate World Smile Day

Did you ever wonder who created the smiley face?  Smiley face was created by Harvey Ball in 1963 and has become an international symbol of good will and good cheer. October 5th is World Smile Day--"do an act of kindness and help one person smile". 

I think a batch of easy Fudge Oatmeal Cookies  could bring a smile to my family!

Fudge Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 1/2 cups oats,quick-cooking or regular,uncooked

Combine sugar,milk,cocoa, and butter in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes,stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Remove from heat. Add vanilla extract and peanut butter and mix well. Add oats and blend thoroughly.(Don't use instant oatmeal). Drop by teaspoonsful onto waxed paper. Do not bake; these are ready to eat. Yield: 4 dozen.




                                                Milk and cookies are sure to bring a smile!

                                                    

 

                                               How will you celebrate World Smile Day?

Dairy Diving

Our local Chick-fil-A provided a special cookie treat for each participant of this morning's National Day of Prayer breakfast.  I didn't notice the seal on the package until I pulled it from my purse late this afternoon for a tasty snack. I'm still smiling about the label and thought I would share one of my family's favorite cookie recipes in case you want to let your cookie  take a dive in a cold glass of milk!

Chocolate Chip-Oatmeal Cookies

1 1/4 cups softened butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups uncooked oatmeal
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Beat butter and sugars until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a seperate bowl, combine flour, baking soda,salt, and spices, and mix well. Combine mixtures, and mix well. Stir in oats. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 9 minutes in a 375 degree F. oven for a chewy cookie and 10 to 11 minutes for a crisp cookie. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet, and then remove to a wire rack. Makes 4 1/2 dozen.

                                                                   Take the Dairy Dive!

Sweet Friendship Memories

Holidays bring all kinds of special memories.  Many moons ago during my college days, my roommate shared this cookie recipe with me.  Although it's a recipe that can be made any time of the year, I love to bake these rich,buttery cookies at Christmas and savor the memories of a sweet friendship and fun times. 

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 pound butter
4 Tablespoons powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat softened butter. Beat in sugar and vanilla. Mix in flour and nuts. Shape into balls. Put on greased and floured cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool, roll in powdered sugar.

Yield: 40 (very small)

Now of course, you need a  cold glass of milk or a cup of hot chocolate to make this memory complete!