Chocolate And Peanut Butter Filled Peanut Butter Blondies

I have made these blondies for my folks several times in the past. I even made a batch for them this weekend but then mom called early this morning and indicated that they weren't coming for their usual Sunday dinner. So as usual, lucky for my co-workers, they get a nice little Monday treat!

These blondies are really good. I like how this recipe makes a small batch. You can definitely double the recipe and then bake them in a 9x13 pan for about 7 more minutes than the 'regular' batch size. The original recipe called for creamy peanut butter but I found that I liked the crunchy version better for this recipe.
Chocolate And Peanut Butter Filled Peanut Butter Blondies
Adapted from The Savory Notebook


3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margaine, softened
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
8-oz. pkg REESE'S Milk Chocolate Baking Pieces Filled with Peanut Butter Creme (or substitute 3/4 cup chocolate chips & 1/2 peanut butter chips)

Heat oven to 350*F.


Grease 8- or 9-inch baking pan.


Beat peanut butter, butter, and sugars in a large bowl until well blended. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to peanut butter mixture, beating until well blended. Mix in chocolate chips. Spread batter in prepared pan.


Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

About 16 bars.

Swedish Meatballs

So my carpooler asked me a few weeks back to make swedish meatballs. Ok, but I've never made meatballs before and definitely not SWEDISH...that's what IKEA's for! HA! So I (accepted the challenge and) searched for a recipe and came up with this one. Verdict? Surprisingly really good. For a first-timer, I'd give this recipe 4 forks (epicurious) if I were rating it. The meatballs were very moist and flavorful and the sauce was just right...very swedish with the dill and all too. I think making it with Rye Bread was key (with the caraway seeds as extra seasoning). It was really good. I accompanied them with (buttered) egg noodles and a vegetable (prepared after the pic was taken...really!) This is definitely going into my 'make often' recipe pile.

Swedish Meatballs
Adapted from Eupicurious

For meatballs:
4 slices Rye bread (or substitute canned breadcrumbs)
1 medium onion, grated
1 large egg
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp ground allspice
2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
1/4 pound Jimmy Dean Sausage
1 Tbsp vegetable oil

For sauce:
1 small onion, grated
1 garlic clove, minced
2 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
3 cups beef broth (24 fluid ounces)
3 Tbsp medium-dry Sherry
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill leaves (or 1 1/2 tsp dried dill leaves)

Garnish:chopped fresh dill leaves
Accompaniment:1/2 cup lingonberry preserves or cranberry sauce

Make meatballs:
Into a mini food processor, tear 2 bread slices and grind into fine crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a large bowl. Make more bread crumbs in same manner and transfer to bowl. Grate enough onion to measure 3/4 cup and add to bread crumbs. In a small bowl whisk together egg, and add spices and egg to bread crumb mixture. Add turkey and sausage and with your hands mix mixture until just combined (do not overmix).

Form turkey mixture into balls (about 40) and arrange on a tray. Meatballs may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a 12-inch non-stick skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown meatballs in 2 batches, turning them occasionally, about 4 minutes for each batch. With a slotted spoon transfer meatballs as browned to a shallow baking pan (9x13) and reserve any drippings in skillet. Bake meatballs, tightly covered with foil, in middle of oven until just cooked through, about 25 minutes.

While meatballs are baking, grate enough onion to measure 1/2 cup. In a small bowl whisk together cornstarch and 1/2 cup broth. To reserved drippings in skillet, add Sherry, onion and garlic and simmer mixture, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until most of liquid is evaporated. Add remaining 2 1/2 cups broth and bring to a boil. Stir cornstarch mixture and whisk into broth mixture. Boil mixture, whisking, 1 minute and remove skillet from heat. Whisk in Worcestershire sauce, mustard, sour cream, and dill and keep sauce warm, covered, over low heat (do not let boil).

Gently toss meatballs into sauce and garnish with dill. Serve and put 1 Tbsp preserves or cranberry sauce on top of each serving.

Servings: Serves 8 as a main course (approx 4 meatballs per person)

Mexican Chocolate Crunch Brownies

I've been super busy with work and all for the past few weeks so heading to the kitchen for relaxation has been COMPLETELY out of the question. I've been just going in there to sustain life..cereal, PB&J sandwiches, granola bars (I'll tell you about that in a another post), etc. But now I'm done with my board meeting weekend and I'm semi-back-to-'normal' (whatever that is...!!!). So I made these brownies that I had been eye'ing in my 'to make soon' pile but I had to go out and get the box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch because of course I don't have that as a staple in my pantry. All I'm going to say about these brownies is...I've found a new favorite!! O-M-G these are still the traditional brownie with a hint of cinnamon--full of rich chocolate flavor but that crust...MAN..that bottom crust made the whole brownie work. Thanks a million Val!

Mexican Chocolate Crunch Brownies
Adapted from Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest 43

1 box (12.8 oz) Cinnamon Toast Crunch® cereal (about 8 cups)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 Tbsp corn syrup
1 box (19.5 oz) Fudge Brownie Mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
2 eggs
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp cinnamon-sugar*

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with No-Stick Cooking Spray. Place cereal in food processor bowl with metal blade (crush cereal in 2 batches if necessary). Cover; process until finely crushed (about 4 cups).

In large bowl, stir butter and corn syrup until well blended. Add crushed cereal; mix thoroughly. Press evenly in pan.

In large bowl, make brownie mix as directed on box, using oil, water and eggs and adding cinnamon. Stir in 2/3 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour brownie batter over cereal mixture. Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup chocolate chips evenly over batter.

Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar evenly over brownies. Bake 14 to 18 minutes longer or until brownies are set when lightly touched in center. Cool 10 minutes; loosen edges but do not cut. Cool completely, about 2 hours.

For brownies, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

*3 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon can be substituted for the cinnamon sugar.

White Chocolate Macademia Nut Cookies

These cookies were made during the christmas holiday which was pre-blog and also made prior to the post-xmas-baking-hiatus!! I can't tell you how many rave reviews I got off this recipe from the office during the christmas bake-fest!! They are really REALLY good and beat (hands down) every white chocolate macadamia nut cookie recipe out there. TRUST ME ON THIS!!! The secret (of course) is the Bailey's. I went to BevMo and bought the small single-serving bottle of Bailey's (seeing I don't normally drink the stuff) and it was just a little more 2 Tbsp (still have some in the fridge). I also didn't have any cake flour (I know, I know, a baker with no cake flour....the nerve!) so I did the suggested substitutions and couldn't tell the difference. These are trying T-D-F!
White Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Adpated from Cookie Madness

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp Bailey’s
3 cups cake flour* (or substitue - see below)
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts, lightly toasted before chopping
9oz chopped up white chocolate

Preheat oven to 375*F. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and both sugars. Beat in eggs, vanilla and Baileys. Stir or sift together cake flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in nuts and white chocolate. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto a parchment lined pan (I used my Splat Mat). Bake for 11-13 minutes.

Makes 4 dozen

*Cake Flour Substitute: If you don’t have any cake flour around, you can use this substitution: for every 2 cups flour, the substitute is 1 3/4 all purpose plus 1/4 cup cornstarch. So for this recipe which calls for 3 cups of flour, use 2 1/2 cups plus 2 Tbsp flour and 6 Tbsp cornstarch.

Cream Cheese Muffins

I made these muffins and I honestly thought they were going to be a cinch! But instead of my enjoying my baking experience like I always do, these seemed to be the most complicated muffins ever known to man. I really had an awful day (let's just say the Lexus dealer lied when he said it was only going to take 'less than 2hrs'----and over a grand later...) and thought that making these muffins would calm my nerves. But instead, I misread the (simple) instructions and now am awaiting the verdict when the timer goes off to see if I just baked some hockey pucks! Well 24boxes and Just Baking seemed to make them just fine and they looked AWESOME so I'll post pics later if they indeed turned out...so much for president's day...
Cream Cheese Muffins
Adapted from Just Baking

3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup milk
1/2 vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar

Topping
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375*F. Grease/spray a 12-cup muffin tin and set aside.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.
Stir together milk, oil, eggs and vanilla. Pour into well in the dry ingredients. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Whisk together cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar until creamy and smooth. Fold about half of this mixture into the muffin batter.

Spoon batter into greased muffin pans, about 1/2 to 2/3 full. Spoon the remaining cream cheese mixture onto the muffins, pressing the mix into each muffin with a spoon handle.

Combine ingredients for topping in a bowl. Sprinkle generously over muffins.

Bake 24 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Let cool completely before removing from pan.

Iced Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

So my ex-dog-walker-turned-friend has a lemon tree (meyer) and my other good friend has a lemon tree (regular) and both give me lemons...so what do I make? Of course Lemon Cookies!! I remembered that I had printed out a Lemon Poppyseed cookie recipe awhile back and so after digging thru my 'will make soon' file of recipes, I found it. I tried one (with the glaze) and it was very good. Kinda reminded me of a shortbread cookie with lemon flavoring & poppyseed! I'm waiting for the glaze to set on the cookies so I can try that version also. It made just under 2 dozen cookies (22) which is perfect especially for a first time cookie recipe! I think next time I will try my go-to lemon cookie recipe, add some poppyseeds and see how that variety works. Stay tuned for that!!

Iced Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
Adapted from RecipeZaar

1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp lemon zest
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp poppyseeds

GLAZE
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350*F.

Cream the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in the egg and lemon zest. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the poppy seeds with the mixer on low speed.

Drop dough by heaping teaspoon 2" apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 11-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Cool on sheets for 1 minute; transfer cookies to wire racks and cool completely.

GLAZE: Combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl; mix well. Drizzle glaze over cookies in a random or decorative pattern; let stand until glaze is set, about 20 minutes.

Red Lentil Soup

So last week my mom bought about 2lbs of red lentils from this indian store down the street from my house. She wanted me to make lentil soup and bugged me until I did. Well I obviously had leftover lentils so she asked me to make it "for your father" which interprets "I want you to make it really for me!!!" so being to the good daughter that I am (HA!) I hunted around for a good red lentil soup. I should have known that I would find it in my own 'backyard' group of bloggers. I made it and YUM-O! I still don't get why red lentils turn yellow!!! And I'm still trying to get my lentils not to mush up on me but this soup was still really REALLY good. It was super quick to make and has a suttle heat-kick to it with the red pepper flakes.



Red Lentil Soup
Adapted from Cream Puffs in Venice


2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups finely chopped onions
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
8 cups vegetable stock
1-3/4 cups dried red lentils
2 carrots, finely chopped
1/2 cup coarsely chopped celery leaves
1/2 teaspoon red chile pepper flakes (use less if you don't like spicy food; use more if you do!)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2-1/2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon black pepper



Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the onions and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the cumin and coriander and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the vegetable stock, the lentils, carrots, celery leaves and red chile pepper flakes. Bring to a boil.

Once the soup is boiling, lower the heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the lentils are cooked. Stir occasionally.

Once the lentils are cooked, add the lemon juice. Mix well. Taste and season with salt and pepper according to your own preferences. Serve the soup with lemon wedges.

Note: Serves 4 to 6 people