Monday, April 19, 2010

An ordinary day

for ordinary things...

With the days of Lent now behind us, seemingly ordinary days with back to school routines have re-commenced.


As the weather rapidly turns from sun to snow with everything in between here in the east, we were having a "craving" moment this particular day, which somehow became a time of necessity for standing round the kitchen island, while rolling some dough into balls.


Cookie dough that is.


Peanut butter with chocolate chips and walnut bits cookies to be exact.


All were more than gamed to roll out the cookies once the batter was made.


Bonus for me; everyone remains quite fond of my standard cookie recipe from days passed, so why not this day?

We never preplanned this baking event. Rather, it just seemed like a "cookie making day" to me, totally unscheduled, but aren't those the best types of spontaneous kitchen times anyway?
Would you also like to try the family favorite recipe shown below for your "ordinary days" ahead?

Here it is;


1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. vanilla


NOTE
; I try to cut back on sugars and fats when I can. Some healthy ideas for substitutes I've used successfully are; applesauce for part of the butter, I don't have white sugar in the house at present and I always cut back half on the sugar, use wholewheat for white flour when able or add roughage such as coconut, wheat germ or bran. It's always varied and always yummy though, trust me. None are ever left over and I know the dogs don't get them.

Directions;
  • Set oven for 350 degrees.
  • Whip the butter by itself until fluffy.
  • Add the peanut butter and continue to whip like the dickens.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients, beginning with the wet stuff and sugars, chocolate chips to decorate (grin), a few walnut bits for taste (oh yum), and finally alternating the dry ingredients.
  • Roll cookie dough into one inch balls and place on cookie sheets.
  • The recipe says to butter the cookie sheets, I never do because the grease from the butter and peanut butter never stick to the pan.
  • Mash the balls down with one gentle stroke of a fork.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes

Must have a glass of milk with these, delicious! And, a stash of their very own while continuing to work through their schooling day.

Warning; You'll eat a few dozens (if not all) of these freshly baked cookie goods if you don't watch it and select only a few for each person and dash the rest to the freezer under lock and key for another time.... snicker.