Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are THE BEST peanut butter chocolate chip cookies I have ever tasted. I love me some peanut butter and I love me some chocolate. Put the two together and you basically have heaven in your mouth! Most PB cookies are dry, crumble, and are a disgrace to the peanut butter desserts. But not these cookies!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup flour

1 TBSP milk

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Direcetions:

1. Beat butter and peanut butter on MED to MED-HI speed for 30 seconds. 

2. Add sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.

3. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined.

4. Beat in the flour.

5. Add just enough milk to make the dough moist and creamy.

6. Add the chocolat chips.

7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

8. Drop cookie balls onto greased cookie sheets.

9. Bake for 7-9 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. 

10. Transfer to wire rack and let cool.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1.5 cups flour

2 cups oat

1/2 pkg. chocolate chips

Direcetions:

1. Add shortening and sugar. Mix well.

2. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.

3. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 5-8 minutes. Do not brown!

I learned a tip about baking cookies that has helped me cook my cookies to perfection most of the time. Have you heard this tip? Check the cookies at the end of bake time. If their tops start to crack and lines start to appear, the cookies are done and it's time to take them out. You can wait an additional minute or so until the tips of the cracks begin to brown, but DO NOT wait much longer.

Desserts

For the past month we've been posting entrees and appetizers. Now it's time for the good stuff. Bring on the desserts! Check back Monday for the first recipe.

Do you make plates of desserts for your neighbors during the holidays? What dessert is your favorite one to give?

Hawaiian Haystacks

My mom made us these to change things up on Christmas Eve a couple of years ago. This is one of my all time favorite comfort foods!

Ingredients:

cooked rice

Chow Mein noodles

gravy

meat

chopped celery

chopped tomatoes

grated cheese

pineapple chunks

olives

Chow Mein noodles

Direcetions:

Make enough rice for everyone eating. Add ingredients on top of each other like an ice cream sundae. 

Black Beans with Rice

This picture sure doesn't do the dish justice, but it is good. Just give it a try! 

Ingredients:

1 cans black beans

1/16 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp chili powder

1/8 tsp cumin

1 tsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp vinegar

1/16 tsp  chopped onion

4oz. sausage

2 cups cooked rice

grated cheese

Direcetions:

1. Drain and rinse beans. Place in LG pot.

2. Cook until warm.

3. Saute onion and sausage. Add to pot.

4. Add spices. 

5. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes.

6. Serve over rice with cheese on top.

Tiny Spicy Chicken

I love me some Chinese food! This recipe is a bit sweet, but it is delicious. What do you serve with your home-made Chinese food?

Ingredients:

2 lbs. chicken, cubed

garlic salt

2 beaten eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup corn starch

SAUCE:

1 tsp chili paste

1.5 cups sugar

3/4 cup ketchup

3 tsp soy sauce

dash of salt

3/4 cup chicken broth

6 TBSP brown sugar

3/4 cup vinegar

Direcetions:

1. Place chicken in LG, sealable bag.

2. Sprinkle chicken with garlic salt and let stand for 1 hour in fridge.

3. Add eggs, flour, and corn starch to bag. Shake until chicken is well coated.

4. Brown chicken in oil.

5. Place in 9x13 glass dish.

6. Pour sauce over chicken in baking dish.

7. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour, turning chicken every 15 minutes.

Sever over rice and top with Chow Mein noodles. 

**Save left over sauce, freeze, and use again!

Pork Picata

Ingredients:

8 pork cutlets

oil

flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup chicken broth

2 TBSP lemon juice

1 TBSP butter

Direcetions:

1. Season both sides of thawed cutlets with salt & pepper.

2. Dredge in flour and shake off excess. Discard flour.

3. Heat oil in LG skillet MED heat.

4. Add pork and suate 2 minutes per side.

5. Remove to plate and keep warm.

6. Add broth and simmer 2 minutes.

7. Stir in lemon juice and butter. Stir until butter melts.

8. Return pork to skillet and simmer for 2 minutes or until pork is heated through.