I have had the same problem. I tried a package of ghiradelli, and I agree with the others. These are the best by far. I found that microwave works best for melting them. Also, if you are having trouble getting white chocolate smooth enough, a tsp of shortening will smooth it out a lot.

Posted by booberry85 (becky@leadsafe.us) on Sun, Nov 28, 10 at 19:04 I made the Butterhorns and Doucanoe's Holiday Biscotti today with my nieces. Yum! They both got a big thumbs up from the nieces! o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lakeguy35 (My Page) on Sun, Nov 28, 10 at 20:25 Great idea Nancy! This will be a great reference for holiday cookies and treats. I have a couple of good bar recipes and would love to see some recipes for those too if that's cool with everyone. Here is a great Gingersnap recipe that Ann shared a few years back. I'll be back with a few more next week. Image Hosting by Gingersnaps - Extra-Spicy Gingersnaps ===================================== Posted by: KarenInSeattle on Thu, Oct 17, 02 at 19:14 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger, or more to taste 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 tablespoons (1 stick) cool unsalted butter, cut into pieces 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/3 cup molasses (not blackstrap) 1/4 cup egg whites (from about 2 eggs) Combine the flour, baking soda, and spices in a mixing bowl and set aside. Cream the butter until smooth and fluffy in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer). Add the sugars and mix. Add the molasses and mix. Add the egg whites in 2 batches, mixing to combine after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in three batches, mixing to combine after each addition. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread a few tablespoons of granulated sugar on a small plate. Roll the dough into 3/4-inch balls, then roll each ball in the sugar until lightly coated. Transfer to parchment lined cookie sheets, leaving 1-inch of space between the cookies. Bake until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on wire racks and store in an airtight container. Yield: 60 cookies David o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by momof2doxies (My Page) on Mon, Nov 29, 10 at 21:28 The World Peace Cookies always make it into my baskets. I can't remember who shared this recipe with the forum though. World Peace Cookies - Splendid Table Excerpted from Baking: From My House to Yours by Dorie Greenspan (Houghton Mifflin, 2006). Copyright 2006 by Dorie Greenspan. Makes about 36 cookies I once said I thought these cookies, the brainchild of the Parisian pastry chef Pierre Hermé, were as important a culinary breakthrough as Toll House cookies, and I've never thought better of the statement. These butter-rich, sandy-textured slice-and-bake cookies are members of the sablé family. But, unlike classic sablés, they are midnight dark �" there's cocoa in the dough �" and packed with chunks of hand-chopped bittersweet chocolate. Perhaps most memorably, they're salty. Not just a little salty, but remarkably and sensationally salty. It's the salt �" Pierre uses fleur de sel, a moist, off-white sea salt �" that surprises, delights and makes the chocolate flavors in the cookies seem preternaturally profound. When I included these in Paris Sweets, they were called Korova Cookies and they instantly won fans, among them my neighbor Richard Gold, who gave them their new name. Richard is convinced that a daily dose of Pierre's cookies is all that is needed to ensure planetary peace and happiness. * 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour * 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder * 1/2 teaspoon baking soda * 1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (11 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature * 2/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar * 1/4 cup sugar * 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt * 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract * 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips, or a generous 3/4 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips 1. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking soda together. 2. Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add both sugars, the salt and vanilla extract and beat for 2 minutes more. 3. Turn off the mixer. Pour in the dry ingredients, drape a kitchen towel over the stand mixer to protect yourself and your kitchen from flying flour and pulse the mixer at low speed about 5 times, a second or two each time. Take a peek �" if there is still a lot of flour on the surface of the dough, pulse a couple of times more; if not, remove the towel. Continuing at low speed, mix for about 30 seconds more, just until the flour disappears into the dough �" for the best texture, work the dough as little as possible once the flour is added, and don't be concerned if the dough looks a little crumbly. Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix only to incorporate. 4. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, gather it together and divide it in half. Working with one half at a time, shape the dough into logs that are 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 3 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If you've frozen the dough, you needn't defrost it before baking �" just slice the logs into cookies and bake the cookies 1 minute longer.) Getting Ready to Bake: 5. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. 6. Using a sharp thin knife, slice the logs into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick. (The rounds are likely to crack as you're cutting them �" don't be concerned, just squeeze the bits back onto each cookie.) Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them. 7. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12 minutes �" they won't look done, nor will they be firm, but that's just the way they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are only just warm, at which point you can serve them or let them reach room temperature. Linda o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by jojoco (My Page) on Tue, Nov 30, 10 at 12:04 While rugelach might not appear on many traditional Christmas cookie platters, it is always on mine. Photobucket Rugelach 2001, Barefoot Contessa Parties!, All Rights Reserved .Prep Time:10 minInactive Prep Time:1 hr 30 minCook Time:15 minLevel: EasyServes: 4 dozen cookies.Ingredients •8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature •1/2-pound unsalted butter, at room temperature •1/4 cup granulated sugar plus 9 tablespoons •1/4 teaspoon kosher salt •1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract •2 cups all-purpose flour •1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed •1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon •3/4 cup raisins •1 cup walnuts, finely chopped •1/2 cup apricot preserves, pureed in a food processor •1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk, for egg wash Directions Cream the cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix until just combined. Dump the dough out onto a well-floured board and roll it into a ball. Cut the ball in quarters, wrap each piece in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour. To make the filling, combine 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the raisins, and walnuts. On a well-floured board, roll each ball of dough into a 9-inch circle. Spread the dough with 2 tablespoons apricot preserves and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the filling. Press the filling lightly into the dough. Cut the circle into 12 equal wedges��"cutting the whole circle in quarters, then each quarter into thirds. Starting with the wide edge, roll up each wedge. Place the cookies, points tucked under, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush each cookie with the egg wash. Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on the cookies. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack and let cool. .Printed from on Tue Nov 30 2010 © 2010 Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved This is a fabulous recipe that also freezes well. It is labor intensive, but well worth it. Jo o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by chase (My Page) on Tue, Nov 30, 10 at 12:47 David , I love you big guy...but you knew that! I have been watching this thread for a 5th cookie that would complement the cookie recipes I had settled on for our annual cookie bake yet still being something Sara can manage. Those gingersnaps are it! o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by jude31 (My Page) on Wed, Dec 1, 10 at 9:36 "Sleighbells ring!!! Are you listening?" We have a few sprinkles of snow at my house! Yeah I know, so what? In the sunny south it's not that common and how appropriate that it's the first day of December! Love this thread and I'm going to save it all. I, the non- baker, have selected 18 recipes I'd like to try. We'll see how that goes. I have a question. Many years ago I made a recipe where the dough was cut in squares and had a filling that had cinnamon, nuts and I can't remember what else. The spoonful of filling was placed in the center of the square and the corners gathered up on top. Sound familiar to anyone? I love most anything that has cinnamon and nuts. I hope this rings a bell with someone. jude o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by coconut-nj (My Page) on Wed, Dec 1, 10 at 10:43 Jude a little snow sure can put you in the spirit. We're having rain and high winds. Thanks for starting this thread Nancy. I've been loving it. There sure are a lot of cookies I'd like to make, but there are several I will make for sure this season. As I said on another thread I'm going to try your cream cheese cutouts. I love rugelach and other cream cheese based pastries so these sound like a winner to me. Plantmaven, I love recipes that have been handed down, plus I like cookies that are dark horses, as my contribution will show, so the Amish Sugar Cookies are making the list too. Lori's jam thumbprints are calling me... seriously calling... Cocooonuttt... Coconutttt. Real little yappers those ones. Love rugelach so some version of those, lekvar is my fave. Other than those for sure... hmm.. gingernaps, butterhorns, some type of biscotti..oh, the cuccidati..time will tell. Last year I made the World Peace Cookies and everyone loved them. My offering is an unusual cookie. We first got them about fifteen or twenty years ago from a coworker of Christy and have been making them ever since. They're a soft cookie that's in between a sweet biscuit and cake-like. Hard to describe but very addicting. Not overly sweet. Ricotta Cookies from Elaine 1 C. sugar 1/2# butter 3 eggs 1# ricotta 2 tsp. vanilla 4 C. flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt Cream sugar and butter well. Add the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the ricotta and vanilla. Mix the dry ingredients together and add until just well incorporated. Drop by spoonful on a greased pan/parchment paper. Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool most of the way then glaze. Sometimes we put a few nonpareils on the wet glaze. Glaze 1 box 10X/Confectioners sugar 1 stick butter 1 tsp. vanilla milk Cream sugar and butter. Add vanilla and enough milk to form a glaze. You can vary the recipe by adding a few tablespoons of lemon juice to the dough and/or a teaspoon of lemon zest to the glaze. We generally make them the plain traditional way. I'd also like to include one more shortbread from my Aunt. Aunt Minervas Scotch Shortbread 1 C. butter [soft] 5/8 C. sugar [1/2C + 2T.] 2 1/2 C. flour Mix butter and sugar thoroughly and add flour. Chill dough and roll to 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick. These cut nicely with simple cutters. Our tradition is to use a small 2" star. Bake on ungreased pan at 300 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Edges should have barely begun to color. o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by triciae (My Page) on Wed, Dec 1, 10 at 11:49 It's simply not the holidays without these cookies around our house & now our grown kids' homes as well. The recipe is from my maternal great grandmother, Harriett Mariah. She was born in 1836 & died in 1913. Harriett was married in 1855 & these are Civil War era cookies. Families were large then so this recipe makes a lot of cookies. My cookie cutters are large - mostly those 5-6" copper ones & I still get 4-5 dozen. They are also not overly sweet (sugar was expensive in the mid-1800s!). They're tender & a bit cake-like but hold their shape for cut-outs. Freshly grated nutmeg makes a huge difference as does the sour milk. After glazing with the egg wash, I sprinkle with non-melting sugar crystals from KA but they are also good iced/decorated. We just prefer them without the sweet icing. HARRIETT MARIAH RUNNELS HARTZELL'S CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES Ingredients: 2 Cups Sugar 2 Eggs (slightly beaten) 1 Cup Butter (softened) 1 Cup Whole Milk (soured) 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder 1/2 Teaspoon Salt 1 Teaspoon Nutmeg (freshly grated) 5-6 Cups All-Purpose Flour (enough to make a moderately stiff dough - should still be a bit soft) Glaze: 1 Egg & 2 Tablespoons Water Blended Cream the softened butter with the sugar until light & fluffy. Add the beaten eggs and continue beating until mixture is light yellow. Stir in the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground nutmeg. Alternately, add equal portions of the all-purpose flour and soured milk, stirring well after each addition. When the flour is completely blended into the butter/sugar mixture, you will have a soft dough. Shape dough into a ball, cover, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours until slightly firm before rolling. When chilled, divide the dough into two equal portions and return one portion to the refrigerator. On a lightly floured pastry board, roll one portion of the dough to a thickness of approximately 1/4 inch. Place cut cookies on a non-greased baking sheet and brush lightly with the egg/water glaze. Sprinkle with granulated sugar or colored sugar crystals. BAKE AT 325 DEGREES for 20-25 minutes. Cookies will puff slightly during baking. Do not overbake. They should still be white on the top & just beginning to turn golden on the bottom. They will be firm to the touch but not crisp. Coconut, your cookies sound very good. We'll add them to this year's list. There are so many yummy cookies here it's hard to narrow it down to something reasonable for 2 people! :) /tricia o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by coconut-nj (My Page) on Wed, Dec 1, 10 at 11:56 LOL Tricia, thanks. I know what you mean. We are only two here too. We do send some but what I tend to do for us is make one pan of a cookie then freeze the rest of the dough in quart baggies then bring out a few at a time. I like fresh cookies anyway so this works for us. Luckily most/many cookie doughs freeze or even keep in the fridge for quite a while. Something like my ricotta cookie that doesn't freeze as well I just freeze the cookies right away and glaze later. o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Wed, Dec 1, 10 at 13:39 I hope everyone keeps adding their faveroites. I have more to add myself. This is turning out to be a marvelous list, it wil keep me in 'cookies to try' for a long time and I love that thought. Coconut, the ricotta cookies scream at me to add a little lemon zest. There was a ricotta pancake recipe a few years ago that had lemon zest in them and they were to die for. I saw your note and can't wait to try. Nancy o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lakemayor (My Page) on Wed, Dec 1, 10 at 16:45 It's like a winter wonderland here in Michigan today. About two inches of snow so far. It made me excited to bake cookies!!! So I started. I just took Doucanoe's "Holiday Biscotti" out of the oven and it smells heavenly. Thank you! As I was looking through my cookies recipes, I came across one that I haven't made in years but remember that I loved it so. Here it is! I remember I always doubled the recipe. Czechoslovakian Cookie 1 Cup butter 1 Cup sugar 2 Egg yolks 2 Cups flour 1 Cup chopped walnuts (I'm sure pecans could be used) 3/4 Cup strawberry jam Cream butter and sugar, beat in egg yolks. Gradully stir in flour, then walnuts. Form mixture into a ball and cut in half. Wrap one half of dough in plastic wrap and place in freezer to chill. Pat remaining half of dough into an ungreased square cake pan (9x9) Spread jam over mixture. Remove remaining half of dough from freezer and roll between two pieces of wax paper to 9x9 size. Remove wax paper and invert in pan. Peel off the remaining paper and gently press edges of dough against pan. Bake 325 for 55-60 minutes. Cut into small bars. o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by tropicals9b (My Page) on Wed, Dec 1, 10 at 21:47 I made the Ina Garten Jam Thumbprints last night and was so mad - they were awful! Tasted like lumps of raw flour! I wasted 3 sticks of butter and all the other ingredients! But after sitting out overnight, room temp, covered in plastic wrap....today they are phenomenal. I brought them in to work and people went nuts over them. Thanks for posting it! o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by therustyone (My Page) on Thu, Dec 2, 10 at 10:59 "Many years ago I made a recipe where the dough was cut in squares and had a filling that had cinnamon, nuts and I can't remember what else. The spoonful of filling was placed in the center of the square and the corners gathered up on top." That sounds like Hamentaschen (sp?), maybe? I've never made them, but have been wanting to try them. So I'm looking for a recipe for them too. Here is one my mother used to make, many years ago It's from a cookbook she had that was apparently put out by the Burnett Co, a brand of extracts and I don't know what all else they may have made. We used to cut them out in different shapes & sprinkle with colored sugar at Christmas. SAND TARTS 1/2 C shortening 1 C sugar 1 egg 1 Tbsp water 2 C flour 2 Tsp baking powder 1/4 Tsp salt 1/4 C almonds 1 Tsp Burnett's vanilla Blend shortening & sugar. Add egg and water. Beat thoroughly. Add flour, salt, and baking powder, which have been mixed together. Mix well. Chill. Turn out onto a floured molding board and roll very thin. Cut into diamonds and sprinkle with sugar and Burnett's ground cinnamon. Place 2 or 3 blnched almonds on top of each diamond and place cookies on greased baking sheets. Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for 10 minutes. Burnett's Lemon, Raspberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Maple, Almond or Orange Extract may be used instead of Burnett''s Vanilla. Burnett's Food Colors may be sued to color these cookies any desired shade. I have typed this recipe exactly the way it is worded on this old cookbook page I have. I thought it kind on interesting, so may be some of you will, too. Now days, here in Texas, "Sand Tarts" are a completely different kind of cookie, not a cut out at all, but more of a 'rolled into a ball' type, and have finely chopped nuts in them, then rolled in powdered sugar. I have a couple more recipes, will post them later. I'm out of time now. Rusty o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by solsthumper (My Page) on Thu, Dec 2, 10 at 11:37 Here's a list of some of my favorites. You'll have to scroll down a bit to get to the recipes. My favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is not on the same page, so I'll add it below. Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies 2½ cups AP flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 2 cups light brown sugar, packed 2 large eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2 cups semisweet chocolate chunks, or chocolate chips ½ cup chopped walnuts, optional Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. On low speed, add the flour mixture, and mix until barely blended. Add chocolate chunks, and nuts. Drop by tablespoons onto sheet pan and bake in a 350°F oven, for 12-15 minutes. Sol o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by tracey_oh (My Page) on Sat, Dec 4, 10 at 9:30 Let the holiday baking begin! This is such a great thread. I make cookies all the time so Christmas is the one time a year I make candy. Made microwave caramels and peanut clusters last night for a cookie exchange and DS's middle school band reception. Buckeyes will coming in the next week and before Christmas I will make my usual toffee, peanut brittle, Sharon's peppermint bark, and caramel corn. caramels and peanut clusters Aunt Pat's Peanut Clusters 1 lb white almond bark 1 12 oz bag chocolate chips 20 oz salted Spanish peanuts Melt almond bark and chocolate chips together, stir in peanuts and scoop into balls onto wax paper. Here is a link that might be useful: Micro caramels recipe o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by sally2 (My Page) on Sun, Dec 5, 10 at 16:28 Those look great, Tracy! Nancy, I have a question about your cream cheese sugar cookies. Could I substitute Marscapone? I have some in the fridge, but no cream cheese. Sally o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by woodie2 (My Page) on Sun, Dec 5, 10 at 18:02 Coconut I make almost the identical Ricotta cookies, but Wiz, I wouldn't want lemon in mine, I love the vanilla ricotta cake like taste, just melts in your mouth! I have a lot of favorites and some are from this forum over the years and have been posted above already! Here are a couple that haven't been posted yet with thanks to Diane and Jenn and my Mom and Grandma..................... CRAFTYRN'S TIGER BARK =========== 1 Cup milk chocolate chips 2 Cups (12 ounces) vanilla milk chips or almond bark 2 Cups peanut butter chips 1/2 Cup chopped peanuts Line jellyroll pan with foil. In microwave, melt 3 types of chips separately, stirring until smooth. Pour melted peanut butter chips into prepared pan, spreading level. Sprinkle on peanuts. Pour melted vanilla and chocolate chips on top, drizzling each randomly. To marbleize, use knife to pull through chocolate in wide curves. Refrigerate until set. Break into squares . WOODIE'S MOM'S TOFFEE SQUARES 1 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 to 4 milk chocolate bars (7/8 ounces each) 1/2 cup chopped nuts Preheat oven to 350. Mix butter, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla. Stir in flour and salt until dough is well blended. Spread in a rectangle about 13 x 10 inches on greased baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch all around edges. Bake 20 to 25 minutes at 350 or until nicely browned. Crust will still be soft. Remove from oven. Immediately place separated squares of chocolate on top of hot crust. Let stand until soft; then spread evenly over entire surface. Sprinkle with nuts while still warm then cut into small squares while warm. Makes 6 to 7 dozen squares MY GRANDMA'S CHOCOLATE WALNUT PUFFS 1 cup (6 ounce package) semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 egg whites, room temp 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar 3/4 cups chopped walnuts Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Melt chocolate over warm water. Beat egg whites with salt til foamy. Gradually add sugar. Beat til peaks form. Beat in vanilla and vinegar. Fold in chocolate and nuts. Drop from teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 350. Remove from oven and let sit on cookie sheet for 2-3 minutes to set up. Makes 36 cookies JENN'S CRANBERRY LEMON COOKIES A wonderful cookie I discovered at Gail's Recipe Swap. They freeze well, but thaw them before adding icing. I posted this last year and got quite a few comments from people who said everyone loved them. * 1/2 C butter * 1/2 C sugar * 1/3 C brown sugar * 1/2 tsp. lemon zest * 1 egg * 2 tsp. vanilla * 1 C flour * 1 tsp. baking powder * 1/2 tsp. cinnamon * 1-1/2 C chopped pecans (I use walnuts) * 1-1/2 C chopped fresh cranberries Cream butter, sugars, and lemon zest. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Gradually beat into butter mixture. Stir in nuts and cranberries. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden. Let cool slightly before removing to cooling racks. Frost when cool. ICING: Whisk together 1 C confectioner's sugar, 2 Tbsp milk, and 1/4 tsp. lemon zest. o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by jude31 (My Page) on Sun, Dec 5, 10 at 21:16 Rusty, thanks for the suggestion. I googled those cookies and they are interesting but different than I made. After thinking about it, I was wrong about the assembly of the cookies. The dough for the ones I made was cut in a square, but the filling was put on a diagonal and the opposing two corners overlapped and pinched to seal. I wish I could remember what else was in the filling besides sugar, cinnamon and nuts, probably butter etc. I remember seeing recipes for Sand Tarts in recipe books when my children were small (many moons ago), but I don't think I ever made them. Anyhow, thanks a lot. jude o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by bcskye (My Page) on Mon, Dec 6, 10 at 16:33 Does anyone have any t&t cookie recipes made with honey instead of sugar? I've looked and found some online, but you never know if they've really been tried before rating. I was particularly interested in some Hermits and anything that I could make for a Sugar Free Christmas plate of cookies. We are both diabetic and have so many friends and relatives that are as well. I would like really good and pretty cookies to serve and gift. o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by coconut-nj (My Page) on Tue, Dec 7, 10 at 3:53 Woodie, must be a New Jersey Italian cookie. Smiles. Our friend Elaine lived in Trenton, but I think her family might come from more up by you. I always want mine plain too. They have a really great, distinctive, subtle flavor. I love walnuts and I had Christy pick up some extra today so I can try your Grandmothers Walnut Puffs. Sounds right up my alley. Bcskye, I don't have any in particular. Do you use Splenda in cooking at all? With that you should be able to make many recipes. o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by murphy_zone7 (My Page) on Tue, Dec 7, 10 at 6:22 Thanks to all for the recipes.....what wonderful cookies!! I am not baking this year...gonna travel by air and you know how those TSA people are!! Anyway, I don't know if this really qualifies as a cookie but they are incredibly easy, very very good, and loved by many. Kids love to help make these. I found the recipe on the Kitchenaid forum several years ago, don't remember who posted it but here it is: Oreo Truffles aka Oreo Balls -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1 pound Oreo Cookies -- 3 sleeves 1 8 oz Cream Cheese -- room temp 1 pound melting milk chocolate 1/2 pound melting white chocolate -- (Can vary the colors depending upon the occasion) Using a food processor, grind cookies to a fine powder Using mixer, blend cookie powder and cream cheese until thoroughly mixed (should be no white traces of cream cheese). Roll into small balls and place on wax-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 45 minutes. Line two cookie sheets with wax paper. In double-boiler, melt milk chocolate. Dip balls and coat thoroughly. With slotted tool, lift ball out of chocolate and let excess chocolate drip off. Place on wax-paper lined cookie sheet. In separate double boiler, melt white chocolate. Using a fork, drizzle white chocolate over balls. Let cool. If not eating that day. store in airtight container, in refrigerator. Let come to room temperature before eating. We like them either way....we just like them. Murphy o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Tue, Dec 7, 10 at 8:39 Sally2, I really don't know if you could sub Marscapone for the cream cheese. I would try it though. You might need to adjust the flour for the difference in moisture but I think it would taste fine. If you try it, please report back. Nancy o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by sally2 (My Page) on Tue, Dec 7, 10 at 9:34 Okay. I've had some Marscapone in the fridge planning to use it someday, but it's getting to the point that someday needs to come soon. I'll see what happens. Sally o RE: Cookalong Extra! ****Holiday Cookies**** clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by iris_gal (My Page) on Tue, Dec 7, 10 at 18:16 Love this thread. Here are my two finest cookie/bar recipes. Enjoy. My mother got the recipe for Nanaimo Bars in Vancouver B.C. in the 1950s. When cut the 3 layers resemble the dark, light, dark of the Nanaimo ferry in the distance. It contains a raw egg in the base which has never caused problems. It is simply the best bar I've ever tasted. After chocolate my favorite is marzipan. Every Christmas my SIL and I would spend a day making miniature marzipan fruits: apples painted with red food coloring, oranges rolled in tinted granulated sugar with a clove for stem, bananas painted also, Xmas trees using Scandinavian butter paddles for texture, etc. Finally in the late 80's I found a recipe worthy of the paste. As good as the finest bakery item. *** Nanaimo Bars 1/2 c. margarine, melted 1/4 c. sugar 5 Tb. cocoa 1 tsp. vanilla 1 egg, slightly beaten 1/2 c. chopped walnuts 2 c. graham cracker crumbs (34 single) 1 c. coconut 1/4 c. margarine 2 Tb. vanilla custard powder (pudding & pie filling) 2 c. pd. sugar, sifted 3 Tb. milk 4 squares (4 oz.) semisweet or bittersweet choc. 1 Tb. butter Stir melted margarine, sugar, cocoa, vanilla & egg together thoroughly. Stir in nuts, cracker crumbs & coconut until well mixed. Firmly press into 9x9 pan; chill. Beat margarine & custard powder; beat in pd. sugar alternately with milk. Spread over chilled base; set aside. Melt choc. & butter. Dribble over frosting layer & carefully spread to cover. Before top choc. layer hardens, score into narrow bars with sharp paring knife. Chill overnight. Cut into bars; store in refrigerator, tightly covered. Easily keeps 3 weeks. Notes double recipe in 9x13; prefer bittersweet choc. in top layer. today's margarines are too soft - use butter. ===================================================== *** Almond Triangles (Sunset 12-87) 2 1/2 C. flour 8 oz. butter 1 egg Make as pie pastry except knead a bit. (or it will be too crumbly) Press into 9 x 13 pan. Cover & set aside. 8 oz. almond paste 2 eggs 1 C. sugar 1 C. slivered or thinly sliced blanched almonds Break marzipan up with mixer, or by fork, into vy. small chunks. If it has been on the grocery shelf too long this will take awhile. Add one egg & beat just til smooth. Stir in other egg (prevents adding additional air) & sugar until well mixed & smooth. Spread almond paste mixture over pastry base. Sprinkle with silvered almonds, pressing them in gently. Preheated 350 degree oven for about 35 min. Cool in pan. Cut 3" or larger squares, then triangles. (sacrifice a 1 inch strip to ease removal of first row) Store well wrapped in refrigerator for 1 1/2 weeks. Haven't tried freezing. Notes Thinly sliced almonds dislodge when cutting - use very sharp knife. If unable to find Almond Paste this is wonderful: Homemade Almond Paste 1 1/2 C. blanched almonds 1 1/2 C. sifted pd. sugar 1 egg white 1 tsp. almond extract 1/4 tsp. salt Grind almonds fine. Mix thoroughly into stiff paste with remaining ingredients. Makes 13 oz. about 1 1/3 cups.

Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 11:30 Tracey_Oh has picked ******Peanut Butter****** for our new focus ingredient! Yay!!! Fun ingredient, that can be used so many ways. In addition to cooking and baking recipes that call for peanut butter, I have a question for all: What makes the perfect peanut butter sandwich for you? Mine is, fresh white bread, peanut butter on one slice of bread and on the other slice, you have to first butter the bread then spread with black raspberry jam. Place the peanut butter side face down over the jam, and cut into quarters. Heaven!!!! This thread will run through May 2 2010. Nancy Here is a link that might be useful: Cookalong #25 ------- Cream Cheese Follow-Up Postings: o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by sherrmann (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 12:11 Gosh, the only recipe I have that uses peanut butter is for Peanut Butter Cookies! I put it under jam and on toast and bananas and apples all the time, but don't use it in "recipes." I can't wait to see what we get here! The sandwich: Soft whole wheat bread, crunchy natural PB, cold grape jam, open face. MMMMMMmmmmmm Or Grilled: Same as above but instead of jam, banana slices and drizzled honey, topped with a second slice of bread, buttered and grilled. Oh, gosh...... Sherry o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by katefisher (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 12:41 I really one 'use' peanut butter to fill up my stomach:) And it is great for that purpose. Oh what is it about peanut butter? SO good. A sandwich would have to be made on large, fresh, fat slices of whole wheat bread with bananas and honey. Jam not needed. Great, now I'm hungry:) I'll be thinking about pb all day long. Kate o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by momj47 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 12:49 I love chicken satay with peanut sauce, though I've never made it. Some things are just better (and less messy) eaten out. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by triciae (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 12:57 I make a peanut sauce for chicken satay. No real "recipe" but here's what I use... Peanut Dipping Sauce (amounts are approximate): 1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 teaspoon minced garlic (1 clove) 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes 1 teaspoon red curry paste 1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped 1 green Onion, thinly sliced for garnish on top of the sauce Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. I warm the sauce in the microwave...it may thicken a bit. If it's too thick, add more chicken broth. /tricia o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by nancylouise (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 12:58 This will be my first attempt at the cookalong. Hope it is a good one! This peanut sauce is the one we use religiously for our chicken satay. But people have dipped their marinated beef and lamb into it also. We found it in one of our BBQ sauce books years ago. Peanut Sauce 1/4 cup peanut oil 1 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup minced fresh ginger 3 TBSP minced garlic 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1 cup chunky or smooth peanut butter(we use Skippy) 3 TBSP sugar 3/4 to 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk 1/3 cup soy sauce 3 TBSP fresh lime juice 1/4 cup chopped cilantro In large skillet put in oil over medium heat. Add onion,ginger,garlic, and red pepper flakes. Saute until onions are tender(around 10 minutes). Stir in peanut butter, sugar, 3/4 cup of coconut milk, soy sauce, and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes more, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat, stir in cilantro and serve warm or at room temp. If the sauce is too thick you can add more coconut milk to thin it out. Makes a bit more then 2 cups of sauce. Enjoy! NancyLouise o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by malna (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 13:23 I only buy one or two jars of peanut butter a year - but it's always for this recipe (thanks, Sands! These are always a hit.) Sands Picnic Peanut Noodles 1c chix broth 3 Tbsp Fresh grated ginger root 3 oz soy sauce [almost a 1/4 c] 1/2 c peanut butter 5 TBSP [1/4 c] honey **btw if you measure - by now I just eye - use some non-stick spray in your measuring cup for both the PB and the honey, makes it much easier :) 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 4 cloves or 2 tsp minced garlic 1 lb noodles [some like Udon I like barilla spaghetti rigatti it has furrows lengthwise on the noodle really grabs the sauce] 1/2 cup chopped green onion 1/2 c chopped honey roasted peanuts heat the broth add the other goodies except the last three, heat add stir till well blended. Cook the noodles toss with the sauce, add half the honey peanuts and half the green onion [I usually use the white part and save the green rings for garnish]. Chill several hours or overnight Next day or later toss the noodles to separate then top with the last of the green onion and the remaining honey peanuts as garnish. I've been adjusting this recipe for yrs - it's sooo hard to figure out what a sweet/savory sauce [when hot] will develop into when it cools so if you taste the sauce when it's hot and it tastes a little tangalicious don't worry it cools and develops nicely :) o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by althetrainer (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 14:08 Oooo that's one of my favorite "ingredients" Can't wait to see more recipes. Yummy! Al o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lindac (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 14:36 I have heard that if you find yourself with a yen for hummus and are out of tahini you can sub peantu butter....but I've not reied it. And my daughter used to make the toddlers, peanutbutter noodles...she used raman noodles, with only half the flavor packet and a very generous amount of peanut butter....2 heaping tablespoons for one packet. Kids slurped it down and it was not as junk foodish as chef boyardee out of a can! Some where I have a recipe for peanut butter pie....and of course Williamsburg peanut soup Linda C o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by dirtgirl07 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 17:25 Love peanut butter!! I eat the stuff right out of the jar and fondly remember the old peanut butter and honey sandwiches served at school. Here is my all time favorite candy to make once a year at the holidays. Sorry about the vague measurements, it's one of those passed down without them. Peanut butter roll candy start with these amounts: 1 box confectioners sugar 1 stick of butter softened peanut butter Mix the butter and confectioners sugar to the point where it is only slightly tacky* and has enough body to pat out in a rectangle that's about 1/4 inch thick. Pat it out on a piece of wax paper (something that will help it roll). Patting it out by hand is better than a rolling pin. Spread peanut butter (I use creamy) across the entire surface at about 1/4 thickness too. Starting with the long side, roll up as tightly as possible with the help of the wax paper. Then wrap the roll in the wax paper and put in the refrigerator. When it has chilled enough for the butter in the conf. sugar to stiffen, unwrap and slice however much you want. Rewrap and store in the refrigerator. The peanut butter in this keeps it from being too sweet but it's still very rich and just the right combination of flavors! *the butter and confectioners sugar mix needs to be just enough of a combination that it's not 'shaggy' but not too buttery either. You just have to keep patting it with your fingers from time to time to see when it reaches that workable texture. Beth o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by pat_t (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 17:44 PEANUT BUTTER TEXAS SHEET CAKE 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup water 3/4 cup butter or margarine 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (may use creamy if you prefer) 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. vanilla extract GLAZE: 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup evaporated milk 1 Tblsp. butter or margarine 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter (may use creamy if you prefer) 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a saucepan, bring water and butter to a boil; stir in peanut butter and oil until blended. Add to dry ingredients; mix well. Combine eggs, buttermilk and vanilla; add to peanut butter mixture. Mix well. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° F. 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, combine sugar, milk and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in the peanut butter, marshmallows and vanilla until marshmallows are melted. Spoon over warm cake and carefully spread over the top. Cool completely. Recipe from Paula Anderson at Mimi’s Cyber-Kitchen. **My notes: I made this in a 9 x 13 pan and baked it for 35 minutes. Oh my! This is DIVINE! o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by georgysmom (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 19:02 Oh darn. I was going to offer chicken satay. Right now, that's all I can think of other than peanut butter cookies and my favorite peanut butter sandwich is peanut butter and banana on cheap white bread. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by glenda_al (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 19:07 No recipe, but peanut butter on brown bread topped with crispy bacon is soooooooo yummy! o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by annie1992 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 19:27 Mmmm, love peanut butter. I eat it every day at work for breakfast, on a high fiber/whole grain English Muffin or on homemade toast. Sometimes just on a spoon, which my Grandma always called a "peanut butter sucker". Like Shermann, I like peanut butter and jelly grilled. It has to be honey wheat bread, Koeze's Cream Nut peanut butter and whatever homemade jam or preserves I'm fixated on at the moment, usually grape, strawberry or cherry to go with peanut butter. Peanut butter and chocolate is a great combination, and I make this Buckeye Cake for dessert, but it's rich, you only need a sliver. It's straight from the Nestle website: Photobucket Buckeye Cake CAKE 2 large eggs 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3 packets (1 oz. each) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® CHOCO BAKE® Pre-Melted Unsweetened Chocolate Flavor 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt PEANUT BUTTER LAYER 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup powdered sugar GANACHE 1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 1/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Morsels Directions: PREHEAT oven to 350º F. Grease 9-inch-round cake pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; grease. FOR CAKE: COMBINE eggs and sugar in large bowl. Stir in flour, melted butter, Choco Bake, vanilla extract and salt until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. BAKE for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes. Run knife around edge of cake; cool for an additional 10 minutes. Invert cake onto serving platter. Remove pan and parchment; cool completely. FOR PEANUT BUTTER LAYER: BEAT peanut butter, butter and vanilla extract in medium mixer bowl until combined. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Spread mixture on cake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. FOR GANACHE: HEAT cream in small saucepan to boiling; remove from heat. Add semi-sweet morsels; let stand 5 minutes. Stir; refrigerate for 30 minutes or until mixture is spreadable. Spread chocolate on top and sides of cake. MELT peanut butter & milk chocolate morsels in resealable plastic bag on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 30 seconds. Knead bag to mix. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals until melted. Cut a small hole from corner of bag; squeeze to drizzle over cake. Store in refrigerator. Let stand for 30 minutes before serving. Another version of peanut butter and chocolate are these brownies, also a hit with my family. This is a Betty Crocker recipe: Photobucket Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies Brownie Base 1 box (1 lb 6.5 oz) Betty Crocker® Original Supreme brownie mix Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box Filling 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 2 cups powdered sugar 2 teaspoons milk Topping 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup butter Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray or shortening. (For easier cutting, line pan with foil, then grease foil on bottom only of pan. I do this all the time when I make brownies and bars) In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, pouch of chocolate syrup, water, oil and eggs until well blended. Spread in pan. Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour. In medium bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over brownie base. In small microwavable bowl, microwave topping ingredients uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds; stir until smooth. Cool 10 minutes; spread over filling. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. For brownies, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator. (I take it out or the fridge about 15 minutes before serving. This allows the chocolate on top to soften a little) Now, I'll admit that I didn't use a boxed brownie mix, I used Sherry's brownie recipe, just because I like it. Ann T's Decadent Brownies would make a great brownie layer too! Annie o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lakeguy35 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 21:57 Another fan of PB here. I love the dipping sauces and noodle salad recipes....all I have to offer is a couple of yummy desserts. I have to make that pie Annie. Scotcharoo's 6 cups rice krispie cereal 1 cup karo syrup 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup sugar 1/2 12 oz. bag semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 12 oz. bag butterscotch chips Bring syrup and sugar to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and add peanut butter. Stir in cereal. Pour mixture into a buttered 9 x 13 in pan. Melt chocolate and butterscoth chips and spread over the bars and let them cool. Image Hosting by Another fave from Dishesdone. Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cake Image Hosting by Posted by dishesdone (My Page) on Fri, Mar 10, 06 at 21:26 This was also in this month's Chocolatier magazine and looked sinful! Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cake with Frozen Milk Frozen Milk: 3 1/2 cups whole milk 1/2 cup granulated sugar 3 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Chocolate cake: 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons alkalized cocoa powder (preferably Valrhona), sifted 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 2 large eggs 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup canola oil 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water Ganache: 1 pound milk chocolate (preferably Valrhona Jivara or Guittard) 1 1/2 cups heavy cream Dacquoise layer: 1/3 cup sliced almonds 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 2 large egg whites, at room temperature 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 1/2 cup salted peanuts, chopped Peanut butter crunch: 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup Skippy creamy peanut butter 3 ounces milk chocolate (preferably Valrhona Jivara or Guittard) 1 cup Rice Krispies Make the Frozen Milk: Combine all ingredients except vanilla extract. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Transfer mixture to medium bowl and set bowl in large bowl filled one-third of way with ice water. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until chilled, about 20 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Process in ice cream machine according to manufacturers instructions. (Frozen Milk is best when served the same day.) Make chocolate cake: Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9" x 13" pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. In a separate bowl, mix together all wet ingredients except water; pour into dry ingredients. Stir until well combined. Add boiling water and stir to combine. Pour into prepared pan and bake until cake springs back when touched in middle, about 30-40 minutes. Cool cake in pan set on wire rack for 20 minutes. Invert cake onto rack and cool completely. Make ganache: Melt chocolate in microwave or double boiler. In small saucepan, bring cream to a gentle boil and gradually whisk into melted chocolate. Set aside. Make dacquoise: Position rack in the center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Using 13" x 9" baking pan as a guide, trace a rectangle onto a piece of parchment paper. Turn paper over and place on a large baking sheet. Combine sliced almonds and confectioners' sugar in food processor and process until finely ground. Set aside. In bowl of electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip egg whites on medium speed to soft peaks, gradually adding granulated sugar while whipping. Once stiff and shiny, fold in almond flour mixture. Spread into 9" x 13" rectangle on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle top with chopped peanuts and bake until browned, 12-15 minutes. Set aside to cool on wire rack. Make peanut butter crunch: In medium bowl, combine butter, peanut butter and chocolate. Place bowl over saucepan filled one-third of way with simmering water. Heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in Rice Krispies. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over dacquoise. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. Using a serrated knife, cut chocolate cake in half horizontally for form 2 layers. Spread one-third of ganache on top of bottom half. Remove dacquoise from freezer and peel off parchment paper. Place dacquoise, peanut butter crunch-side up, on top of ganache covered cake; gently press to remove any air pockets. Spread half of remaining ganache over peanut butter crunch. Place second half of cake on top. Refrigerate until ganache is set, about 1 hour. Using serrated knife, carefully trim off rough edges of cake. Rewarm remaining ganache over a pot of simmering water, and spread over top of cake. Serve a square of cake with a scoop of frozen milk. Recipe by Nancy Olson, Peacock Alley, Waldorf-Astoria, NYC from Chocolatier Magazine March 2006 Note: I served store bought ice cream so I can't vouch for the frozen milk. David o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by virginia7074 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 22:06 I'm glad I already brushed & flossed my teeth, or I'd be out in the kitchen with my mitts in the peanut butter jar. I think I know what kind of birthday cake I want this year! I love s'mores made with a schmear of peanut butter on the graham cracker. Also, my Mom used to make a variation of Waldorf salad with - and it sounds gross, but it's really good - apples, bananas and celery with a sweetened peanut butter/mayo dressing. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by aliceinmd (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 22:07 Peanut butter is a great choice for a Cookalong. I can eat it by the spoonful, or in a grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but this is one of our favorite unusual recipes from, gosh, I just realized -- 40 years ago! PEANUT BUTTER CURRY CHICKEN WINGS 1/4 cup margarine 18 chicken wings with tips removed, skinned if desired 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter 2/3 cup milk 6 Tablespoons cornmeal 6 Tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon curry powder Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9x13" pan or rimmed baking sheet with foil. Put margarine in foil-lined baking sheet and melt in the oven. Blend peanut butter and milk in blender; pour into shallow dish. Combine remaining ingredients in another shallow dish. Dip chicken wings in peanut butter mixture then in flour mixture. Lay in pan and bake 30 minutes. From Family Circle magazine, April 1970, in an article by Peg Bracken This is messy to make, but worth the effort. Even curry-haters like it, and I hope you do, too. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by joann_fla (My Page) on Mon, Apr 19, 10 at 22:32 Here is a very good PB recipe. Peanut Butter Fudge 2 sticks margarine or butter 4 cups sugar 1 1/2 ounces light corn syrup and enough evaporated milk to make 1 cup 1 18-ounce jar peanut butter 1 7-ounce jar marshmallow crème 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional) Instructions Melt margarine in medium saucepan. Add sugar, syrup, and milk. Bring to a boil and cook five minutes. Remove from stove. Add peanut butter, marshmallow crème, vanilla, and pecans, if desired. Pour into greased 9-by-13-inch pan. Cool and cut in squares. Tips From Our Test Kitchen: Put peanut butter and marshmallow crème into a separate bowl before starting, making it easier to add all at one time after sugar is cooked. Try lining the prepared pan(s) with overlapping wax paper greased on both sides. The fudge will come out easier. Just peel off the paper and cut. This recipe makes enough fudge to split between two pans since not everyone likes nuts. Refrigerate fudge. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by plllog (My Page) on Tue, Apr 20, 10 at 0:56 What makes the perfect peanut butter sandwich for you? Um...not being peanut butter? I wouldn't say anything, but I just had a not-peanut-butter sandwich today. Organic almond butter with (sparsely) Tiptree Little Scarlet jam, open face on Trader Joe's whole wheat Tuscan pane. Very yummy. Can't swallow PBJ. Best peanut butter ever is the Polynesian peanut butter at Trader Vic's. I don't know if this recipe is for the peanut butter, or if it's a sauce for another dish. It's published online in a newsletter for the Emeryville restaurant. TRADER VIC’S PEANUT SAUCE 14 OZ. PEANUT BUTTER 14 OZ. COCONUT CREAM 3 OZ. LEMON JUICE 4 OZ. SOY SAUCE 1 OZ. WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE 2 DASHES TABASCO SAUCE 1 TSP. SALT Combined all ingredients except peanut butter; wisk in kitchen mixer then slowly add peanut butter. The sauce should hold its form and not be broken. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by doucanoe (My Page) on Tue, Apr 20, 10 at 8:37 It'll be interesting to see what everyone posts here. Not a huge fan of PB, I can take it or leave it. I tend to steer clear of baked goods with peanut butter, but I do occasionally lik some on a toasted English Muffin. At our cafeteria at work they serve a Thai Peanut Chicken dish that I like, but have never found a recipe for. Maybe one of those satay sauces would work? Linda o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by yasou (My Page) on Tue, Apr 20, 10 at 9:33 Here's a recipe for Peanut Butter Frosting from Ina Garten. It's soooooo good on chocolate cupcakes!! Peanut Butter Icing: 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1 cup creamy peanut butter 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/3 cup heavy cream Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth. Oly o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by denise8101214 (My Page) on Tue, Apr 20, 10 at 10:36 All the other Cookalongs Here is a link that might be useful: All the other Cookalongs o Cookalong #26--------Peanut Butter!!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by denise8101214 (My Page) on Tue, Apr 20, 10 at 10:47 We use a LOT of Peanut butter. Mostly: Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwiches Also: Sands Picnic Noodles (I like to add poached chicken and steamed broccoli and double the sauce) Peanut Butter Cookies And I use to make these weekly for the kids when they were little, it came from our preschool snack recipe repertoire, great for a whole class snack. Peanut Butter Balls 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 Tbsp honey 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk Optional additions: sesame seeds, wheat germ, raisins, sunflower seeds, chopped dates or other chopped fruit, chocolate chips. Stir together peanut butter and honey until well mixed. Add dry milk powder and any other ingredients. Mix thoroughly, shape into balls. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator. Makes about 25 balls. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by claire_de_luna (My Page) on Wed, Apr 21, 10 at 12:50 OK, the best peanut butter cookie IMHO is the no flour kind. The cookie is pure peanut butter bliss, and super easy. Also, one of the BEST peanut butter desserts for easy and good is Reeses Squares. The best part is there's no baking! Home-made great and makes enough for a crowd. Here are both recipes: No Flour Peanut Butter Cookies * 1 cup peanut butter * 1 cup sugar * 1 large egg * 1 teaspoon vanilla Mix all ingredients together and drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 300° for 15-18 minutes or at 350° for 8-12 minutes. Let cool. Variation: Add chocolate chips, raisins or even nuts. Use your imagination. Reeses Squares * 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs * 1 lb confectioners' sugar (3 to 3 1/2 cups) * 1-1/2 cups peanut butter * 1 cup butter, melted * 1 (12 ounce) bag milk chocolate chips Combine graham crumbs, sugar and peanut butter and mix well. Blend in melted butter until well combined. Press mixture evenly into a 9 x 13 inch pan. Melt chocolate chips in microwave or in double boiler. Spread over peanut butter mixture. Chill until just set and cut into bars. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by jessyf (My Page) on Thu, Apr 22, 10 at 13:11 My favorite tomato soup - Trinity Square Cafe Moroccan Tomato Soup (yup, soup). Its all over the net, so I'm not the only one who likes it. Fun thing to do is serve it to guests and have them guess the secret ingredient, LOL Trinity Square Cafe Moroccan Tomato Soup Ingredients 2 tb Olive oil 1 Onion, chopped 5 Cloves garlic, minced 1 cn Tomatoes (28 oz) 1 c Peanut butter 1 ts Cumin 1 tb Hot pepper sauce 2 tb Cayenne 1 tb Chili powder 2 tb White vinegar 1 ts Salt 1 ts Pepper 1 tb Sugar 1/4 c Tomato paste 2 c Water In a large sauce pan, heat oil and fry onion and garlic until golden brown. Place the tomatoes and their liquid in a bowl, and crush the tomatoes with a potato masher or a spoon, breaking them into small pieces. Add the tomatoes and their liquid to the onions, reduce heat to very low, add peanut butter, and stir until well combined. Add cumin, hot sauce, cayenne, chili, vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, tomato paste and water, and stir until well combined. Cook over low heat at a bare simmering for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. (This soup burns very easily, so keep the heat low and dont allow it to come to a full boil.) o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by barnmom (My Page) on Thu, Apr 22, 10 at 13:33 We are fond of "ants on log." Celery filled with crunchy peanut butter and studded with raisins or dried cranberries. I love apple slices and peanut butter. I rarely cook with it but did use it to wing an Asian inspired dressing for a cabbage slaw-type salad. Rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, honey, peanut butter, and sesame oil in amounts until it tasted right. Some cayenne might have been nice, too. And some chopped cilantro but I didn't think of those things at the time. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by ritsincooks (My Page) on Fri, Apr 23, 10 at 22:16 Doucanoe, here's a Thai one that you might like. I'm afraid I can't remember where I got it from so can't give credit where credit is due. Thai Chicken With Peanut Pesto 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 1/4 cup peanut butter 3 cloves garlic 1 piece (1/2-inch) ginger root, chopped 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 teaspoons sesame oil 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 cup chopped peanuts 2 green onions, thinly sliced In bowl of food processor or blender, place peanut butter, garlic, ginger root, honey, vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce and cayenne pepper. Process until finely ground. Place chicken thighs in baking pan and pour peanut pesto over. Bake in 375 degree F. oven about 35 minutes or until fork can be inserted in chicken with ease. Remove to serving platter and sprinkle with peanuts and green onions. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by chase (My Page) on Sat, Apr 24, 10 at 8:53 This is not T&T but I'm dying to find the opportunity to try it so I will for this cookalong. It's one of Anna Olsen's recipe and she has never let me down yet. I can't decide if it's breakfast or dessert! Peanut Butter and Jam Bread Pudding (Anna Olsen) Ingredients * 4 tablespoons unsalted butter * 2/3 cup peanut butter * 1-3/4 cup milk at room temperature * 2 egg yolks at room temperature * 2 whole eggs at room temperature * 1/3 cup sugar * 2 teaspoons vanilla extract * 6 cups cubed egg bread * 2/3 cup raspberry jam or other fruit jam * Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter and brush pan with half of it. Add peanut butter to remaining melted butter and heat over low heat until fluid. Remove from heat and whisk in milk, then whisk in egg yolks, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Toss mixture with diced bread and let sit 10 minutes. Spoon mixture into prepared pan and dollop jam over bread, pressing in slightly to incorporate just a touch. Sprinkle with Turbinado ( or plain white) sugar. Place pan in a larger dish and fill it with an inch of hot tap water. Bake for about 50 minutes, until golden on top and set. Let pudding sit for at least 30 minutes before serving. 2. Pudding can be served warm or chilled. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by shambo (My Page) on Sat, Apr 24, 10 at 12:12 Ritsins, your crunchy peanut coating sounds similar to the packaged mix sold by A Taste of Thai. I've used it before and enjoyed it, but my daughter tried it recently and said the recipe had changed and wasn't as good. Your homemade recipe sounds better. Here is a link that might be useful: Spicy Peanut Bake o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by dixiedog_2007 (My Page) on Sat, Apr 24, 10 at 20:09 Give me crisp celery and a jar of peanut butter and I am set!:) I have made this recipe of Ina's before and while I thought they were OK, my husband and friends loved them. Linda mentioned Peanut Soup. I am from VA and peanuts are big here. I always have VA peanuts in my freezer. This is the recipe that I and my friends use the most. Cream of Peanut Soup Print 3x5 Recipe Card�" from King's Arms Tavern Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia Serves 10-12 Ingredients: ¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 celery ribs, finely chopped 3 tablespoons flour 8 cups Chicken Stock* (or low-salt canned chicken stock) 2 cups smooth peanut butter 1 ¾ cups light cream or half-and-half Finely chopped salted peanuts, for garnish Instructions: In a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring often, until softened, three-five minutes. Stir in flour and cook two minutes longer. Pour in the chicken stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until slightly reduced and thickened, about 15 minutes. Pour into a sieve set over a large bowl and strain, pushing hard on the solids to extract as much flavor as possible. Return the liquid to the sauce pan or pot. Whisk the peanut butter and the cream into the liquid. Warm over low heat, whisking often, for about five minutes. Do not boil. Serve warm, garnished with the chopped peanuts. *For Chicken Stock recipe, see "The Colonial Williamsburg Tavern Cookbook," available at Here is a link that might be useful: Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by denise8101214 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 26, 10 at 10:20 dixiedog! I have had, but not made, the Peanut Soup from Williamsburg. I loved it. Thank you for posting the recipe. o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lsr2002 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 26, 10 at 10:27 Jessy, do you use the full amount of 1T Hot pepper sauce (I would guess Sriracha) and 2T cayenne? That sounds like a lot of heat to me for the amount of the other ingredients. I'd like to try the recipe after you answer! Do you consider this an entree soup? What do you serve with it? TIA, Lee o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lpinkmountain (My Page) on Mon, May 3, 10 at 12:36 I do so love these cookalongs! I wasn't able to participate this time, due to being sick as a dog during most of it. I had the flu and now a bunch of fluid has taken up residence in my lungs and refuses to leave. Anyway, here's my two peanut butter contributions, neither of which I was able to make this time, but both of which I have tried and are good, and relatively healthy. Peanut sauce for pasta (from the Smuckers Peanut Butter jar lid) 1 cup natural peanut butter (not the hydrogenated kind with added sugar) 1/2 cup warm water 1/2 cup ketchup 1 TBLSP soy sauce (I use low salt) 1 tsp. garlic powder (or 2 cloves garlic, minced) 1 1/2 tsp. rice wine vinegar (or cider vinegar, but rice is great!) Can add some ginger, hot pepper and lime juice if you want it with more kick. Combine to for a smooth sauce. Pour over pasta and sauteed vegetables. Saute an onion and a green or red pepper at the very least for this pasta. You could add broccoli and many other veggies if you are a veggie lover like me. Can also add pork, chicken or tofu. Serve over pasta--lo mein noodles, or any other shape of pasta you like, or rice pasta or buckwheat pasta. Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts and cilantro or parsley if you like it. Frozen Banana Treats (these are GREAT to make with kids, and are at least a little bit on the healthy side with milk and peanut butter providing protein) 1 large banana 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter 1 1/2 cups milk 1 TBLSP sugar 5 oz. chocolate chips Blend banana, peanut butter, milk and sugar in blender. Put chocolate chips in the bottom of 6 oz. wax cups, pour banana mixture into cups and freeze. Add popsicle sticks after about 1 hour so they will stand upright. Yummy! o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Mon, May 3, 10 at 13:15 Oh boy, I'm glad I saw Pink's post to this thread today. I'm on vacation and forgot about that the Cookalong would be ending. Time for a new subject!!!! I just pulled a name.... >>>>>>>>> Dirtgirl07 Would you pick an ingredient and post it to this thread? Then I can set up the next Cookalong. No meat or fish please, we want everyone to be able to participate. Nancy o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by annie1992 (My Page) on Mon, May 3, 10 at 14:53 So you're actually gone? Good for you!!! Annie o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by dirtgirl07 (My Page) on Mon, May 3, 10 at 16:32 Hey Nancy, when I read your email I was afraid of this!! Has anyone done pineapple? Would that be a good spring into summer one? Beth o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Mon, May 3, 10 at 19:38 Yes Annie, I'm actually gone! I'm in Orlando. Beth I think pineapple sounds like a wonderful choice. Here is a link that might be useful: Cookalong #27 ----- Pineapple!!!!! o RE: Cookalong #26---------Peanut Butter!!! clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by walnutcreek (My Page) on Mon, May 3, 10 at 19:38 I got this out of the Fort Worth Star Telegram newspapers years ago. We love it, and it is so easy. FORT WORTH PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE 2 sticks butter (real butter) 2 cups chocolate chips 16-oz jar crunchy or extra crunchy peanut butter (I use JIF) 1 lb. box powdered sugar Put butter and chocolate chips in a large glass bowl and place in microwave. Microwave on high for 1 minute; then stir mixture well. If chips are not totally melted return to microwave and run on high for another 30 seconds. Remove and stir well. Put the jar of peanut butter in the chocolate mix and stir well. Add box of powdered sugar and mix thoroughly. It gets tougher to stir once you have added powdered sugar so need some muscle. When thoroughly mixed, spray a 9 x 13 pan with Pam (or equivalent) or you can butter the pan well. Put fudge in the pan and spread out evenly. Place in refrigerator overnight. When ready to cut fudge into squares, remove from refrigerator for 30 minutes or so before cutting. This is so easy and so very good. Hope you all enjoy.

I topped it with heavy cream that I swirled around in an ice cold martini shaker. I think homemade whip cream would be good as well.