Posts Tagged ‘desserts’
March 1 is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day – Peanut Butter Cookies with Milk Chocolate Morsels Recipe
March 1, 2010 | 
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Chef Maven's Homemade peanut butter cookies with milk chocolate morsels - oh yeah baby!
So since March 1st is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, I share my recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies with Milk Chocolate Morsels – super easy recipe to follow with amazing crispy and chewy results.
Reminiscent of your grandma’s cookie’s with an updated twist with the addition of milk chocolate morsels will make you think Reece’s peanut butter cups have gone to cookieville and you have gone to heaven. Great for freezing and for holidays and anytime of the year – one of our family’s serious favorites.
Warning – these cookies disappear and go very quick, especially right out of the oven!
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 3/4 cup peanut butter extra crunchy peanut butter preferred
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 extra large/jumbo egg
- 1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 cups of milk chocolate bits (I used nestles)
Equipment Needed:
- Mix Master, bowls, sieve for flour, One working preheated oven at 350 degrees, people who absolutely love cookies
Directions:
- Measure flour, sift then measure again and return to sifter.
- Add to sifted flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Sieve one more time and set aside bowl.
- Cream butter, then add peanut butter and cream both till smooth and fluffy.
- Add sugars and cream once more till fluffy.
- Add Egg and beat till combined, scraping sides of bowl if you have to.
- Add vanilla extract, beat till combined.
- Slowly add flour, mix till well combined.
- Add milk chocolate bits and stir on low till combined.
- Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour if you would like -
- In preheated oven at 350, place drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto lightly greased cookie sheets one inch apart and bake on middle rack for 8-10 minutes depending upon your stove.
- These cookies should be lightly golden brown. recipe yields roughly 3 doz. Depending upon size of your dollops of cookie dough.
- Once baked, let sit on cookie sheet one minute before transferring to cookie cooling rack.
- Store in sealed container to keep kids and hubby from grabbing too many!
- These cookies freeze really well, so that you can make a batch, and take out a few for guests when you need them. (Or to simply keep them for yourself!)
Valentine’s Day and National Cream Filled Chocolates Day is February 14th
Creme Filled Chocolates Day is February 14th - Along with Valentine's Day quite naturally!
So Valentine’s Day is February 14th, as last night as I thought about writing today’s post, I was inspired by what I heard on the television today – yes Chef Maven does watch TV on occasion…
Maybe you are single, or currently do not have a love in your life to dote with fresh flowers and chocolates upon – 1) THAT’S OK and 2) Try something new this Valentine’s Day holiday…and what praytell do I mean?
Alternative Ideas for Valentine’s Day
1) Give flowers to someone who could really use the cheering up – say in the hospital, an old-aged home, your neighbor who might be going through some tough times – and if you want to do it anonymously – all the better! The flowers do NOT have to be roses, in fact choose those that you like such as tulips (my fave) or daisies which last a good amount of time.
2) Try taking the day or evening for just yourself! – Indulge in buying yourself flowers (of your choice), take a spa day with yourself indulging in bubbles – and when was the last time you took a bath with more bubbles than water? Not since you were a kid – get to it! Light candles, put on some mood music and soak in the tub – and don’t forget to do your nails if you like – you get the idea here folks! Take this night to remember your body is your temple.
3) Gather some friends and make it a movie night at your place with fancy popcorn, like my rosemary popcorn (click to see recipe) or topped with your favorite flavorings, then order pizza in or from your favorite local restaurant having everyone chip in to keep costs down. – Or heck make it a game night with twister or some other fun game like charades, yes charades! – when was the last time you played that?!?
Here are just some suggestions, but hopefully they will give you some ideas to make this Valentine’s Day one to remember! – And a happy memory at that!
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So February 14th is also creme-filled chocolates day, huh?
Well not necessarily always my favorite though it depends upon by which company making them. I have my favorites, but won’t mentioned them here, instead let’s see what else happened on this day in history for Valentine’s Day February 14th…
–Valentine’s Day. One of the busiest days of the year for restaurants.
–National Cream Filled Chocolates Day
–Bulgaria: Trifon Zarezan (Vinegrowers or Viticulturists’ Day). This is a very ancient holiday rite; Bulgarians prune the vines and sprinkle them with wine for a good harvest.
1779 Captain James Cook died. British explorer who charted and named many Pacific Islands, including the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii).
1803 Moses Coats patented an apple parer.
1833 Gottlieb Sigismund Kirchhof died. He discovered glucose, developed a method for refining vegetable oil, and experimented with brewing and fermentation.
1838 Margaret E. Knight was born. An American inventor, she invented an improved paper bag machine to make bags with flat bottoms.
1886 California oranges were first shipped East by rail.
1903 The U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor was established.
2003 Dolly the sheep died. Dolly was the first animal cloned from an adult animal. (Born July 5, 1996) (anyone for some mutton? Just kidding!)
Above facts courtesy of foodreference.com
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Well, I will be getting together with some friends, doing the home movie thing, bringing fresh flowers to someone in need, and well – my valentine’s cards are all ready in the mail!
Chow Ciao for Now ~Chef Maven
Posted in desserts, National Food Day | 
Tags: alternative valentines day ideas, desserts, february 14, National Food Day, this day in history | 
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National Tortini Day is February 13, this day in history
National Tortini Day is February 13th. A tortini is a small tort so aptly named from Italy. I found a variety of recipes and yes, I know I have not been sharing any of mine as of late, but since I do not often go off to make Plum Pudding (for Feb. 12th nor Tortinis any time soon, I had to go off and search the web for you to share this information…
Upon my researching, I found both savory and sweet tortini recipes – and with this recipe, there is no using the oven.
Now since we are so close to Valentine’s Day, I found a lovely recipe for Chocolate Tortinis…let’s get started!
Ingredients:
- 3 egg whites
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 tsp vanilla essence/extract
- 3/4 cup ground almonds
- 1 1/2 tsp almond essence/extract
Directions:
- Take the eggs out of the refrigerator and separate the whites while they are still cold, then allow them to stand in a bowl at room temperature for about an hour to come to room temperature.
- Place the sugar and water in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add cocoa powder.
- Bring to the boil and let boil uncovered until the syrup spins a fine thread when dropped from a spoon.
- Beat the egg whites with added 1/4 teaspoon of salt until stiff peaks form.
- Then pour the hot syrup in a thin stream over them beating constantly until the mixture forms very thick peaks when the beaters are raised.
- Cover the mixture and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Combine the almond essence and the ground almonds, mixing well.
- Whip the heavy whipping cream and flavor with the vanilla and fold into the egg white mixture blending evenly.
- Spoon into paper lined miniature muffin tins and sprinkle the top of each Biscuit Tortini with a little grated chocolate and a cherry.
- Freeze until firm and then enjoy.
Also this day in history for February 13th:
1851 George Brown Goode was born. He was the editor of ‘The Fisheries and Fisheries Industries of the United States’ while Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries.
1933 The House of Commons defeated a bill that would have prohibited the sale of alcohol in the U.K.
1967 The Beatles single ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ is released.
1971 ‘One Bad Apple’ by the Osmonds reached Number 1 on the charts.
2000 The last original ‘Peanuts’ comic strip is published.
Posted in desserts, from scratch, homemade, National Food Day, Slow Food | Tags: Chocolate tortinis, desserts, from scratch, homemade, National Food Day, Slow Food | No Comments »
National Peppermint Patty Day is February 11
Posted in desserts, homemade, National Food Day | Tags: desserts, February 11, homemade, mint, National Food Day, peppermint patty, recipes | No Comments »
National Cream Cheese Brownie Day is February 10th
Posted in desserts, homemade, National Food Day, Recipe | Tags: cream cheese brownies, desserts, february 10, homemade, National Food Day, quick desserts, quick easy, Recipe, recipes from scratch | No Comments »