Peanut Butter Cookies - Plain, Kisses & Turkeys

I am sitting here, on the last cold Monday morning of 2013, enjoying the fireplace and the Christmas tree.  Even though I love the Christmas lights and decorations, I am ready for them to come down and move forward.   I cannot believe the year is over and am shocked that I have done so little blogging - I even missed by blog-iversary.   I have so many things that I have wanted to write about, I just haven't gotten to it.  I am the typical perfectionist - handicapped by wanting things to be just right.   But I see that if I wait until I have the time to do my blog and re-check it 50 times before posting, it will never get done.  As my two loyal readers have urged me to just do it and not worry about it being perfect.....I will try!  I am not one for New Year's Resolutions, but that will be mine this year!

I guess I will start with a new favorite cookie.  Just before Thanksgiving, I found a recipe for peanut butter cup turkey cookies on Bake at 350.  They are so adorable, I had to make them!  The cookie is great and decorating them to look like turkeys was a lot of fun.  I made them for Little C and her friend.  They put the peanut butter cups and eyes on the turkeys.  The white chocolate chips were a little difficult to stick in to the peanut butter cups, but we managed, without too many mangled turkey faces.

You start with a large peanut butter cookie and attach a small peanut butter cup with melted chocolate for the body.  White chocolate chips with melted chocolate make the eyes.  Then colored peanut butter frosting is used for the beak, feet and feathers.  Now, I hate to admit this because it is quite ridiculous, but in my state of trying to do too much in one day, I got a little confused when I was decorating.  Of course I didn't slow down to look at the recipe picture, and even though it didn't seem right, I put the beak where the feet were supposed to be.  Ugh!  Once I realized it, it was a slightly easy fix.  The girls didn't notice, so it was ok.  What's a little confusion about Turkey anatomy whey there is a cookie loaded with frosting and candy!?!?  They were still super cute!

The recipe makes a lot of cookies and I didn't decorate all of them.  The plain cookies are great too and freeze well.  When Mr. SBQ tasted them, he said they would be a good cookie base for Peanut Blossoms.  Perfect!  Last year I made the recipe off the Hershey Kisses bag and wasn't thrilled with how they turned out.   I made the Peanut Blossoms on Christmas Eve, using this recipe and they were wonderful.  Yay!

For the turkey cookies, I used a larger cookie scoop, and for the kiss cookies, I used the small cookie scoop.  I made the balls of dough, rolled them in sugar, baked for about 10 minutes, pressed the kisses in to each cookie and placed on the cooling rack.  One thing about these cookies, they don't need to bake as long as it seems.  I usually flip one cookie over while they are still in the oven - if it is getting golden on the bottom, I take them out no matter what the tops look like.  I usually let them cool on the pan for about 5 minutes.  These I just left on the pan until we had all the kisses in place.

Here is the basic cookie recipe slightly adapted from Imperial Sugar. (the link will take you to the full recipe for the turkey cookies)

Peanut Butter Cookies
3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
Dash of sea salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup smooth peanut butter


Preheat oven to 350.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together.  Set aside.
In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined.  Add in the peanut butter and mix until smooth.
Stir in the flour mixture.
Scoop the dough onto the prepared sheets (2T/large scoop for large cookies - bake about 13 minutes; Small scoop for peanut blossom cookies- bake about 10 minutes).  For the turkey cookies or just a large cookie, flatten slightly - I use a ramekin dipped in sugar.  For the smaller cookies, there is no need to flatten.
Bake until the cookies are golden and baked through. 

The Perfect Peanut Blossom Cookie

Turkey Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Fall Wreath - Deco Mesh

So I have loved the idea of deco mesh for the last year or so, but couldn't figure out the loopy wreath look.   Since I like to figure things out and do them my own way, that handicaps me sometimes.  Last year I had almost everything for a Christmas wreath, but I started too late and the wire frames were sold out everywhere.  I ended up ordering one for 3x's the price.  I looked at some blogs/tutorials on deco mesh wreaths, but kept getting frustrated and it was almost Christmas, so I just put everything away.

I have the pumpkin/scarecrow wreath from last year on the front door, but we had painted the house this year and I wanted to put something pretty on the side garage door.  This area can be seen from the kitchen and it will be seen by more people.   I didn't really have a plan like I normally do; I was just going to Hobby Lobby to find some things to make a wreath out of.   I saw this deco mesh and really liked it.  I put it in the cart and in the back of my head was thinking - oh no, here we go again; what am I going to do with this!?!  I grabbed another wire wreath frame because, even though I had one at home that is still only sporting on measly red ribbon, these things sell out fast and I didn't want to miss out.   I got a roll of the orange burlap ribbon and a bunch of random Fall floral bits.  Still had no real plan, but I figured I had all the materials and I would come up with something.

I searched for instructions and found a YouTube video showing how to do an easy deco mesh wreath.  Ah, pipe cleaners are part of the secret!  I was using floral wire, which would work, but isn't as easy.   I had no idea that many of these wreaths use the large deco mesh for the base color.  Oh well, I had 2 rolls of the 5" so that would have to do.   Of course I watched the video and noted the main items, but disregarded the rest - I want to be creative and original! (and drive myself crazy)  I attached the pipe cleaners, which we thankfully had a ton of from a Mother's Day craft Mr. SBQ and Little C did one year.   I cut them in half, twisted/attached at each cross bar and then others in between on the top 2 frame wires.  I started looping and bunching the mesh.  I did three loops and then where they were bunched at the base, attached them to the frame with the pipe cleaner.  It really does help to attach the pipe cleaners to the frame first, so you can concentrate on the mesh.  I had thought that you needed to cut each section, but you don't.  I made it the 85% of the way around and ran out of mesh.  No!  Really?  I bought 2 rolls to avoid this.  I was on a roll (ha!) and had some time before the Little C got home, so I raced to Hobby Lobby and got another roll of deco mesh.  Thankfully they still had the same kind.

I was on my creativity high and didn't want to waste a trip to Hobby Lobby, so I got some supplies for another Christmas wreath.  After my education, I bought the wide deco mesh - 2 rolls, even though 1 should be enough.   My creativity wheels were turning and I realized that now that I know how to do this, I should do a giant wreath for above the fireplace.   I hit the wire wreath form display and bought the biggest one they had!  It's huge, I may need two more rolls of deco mesh!  I have the mesh and ribbon from last year for the accents and can figure out any other embellishments later.  Now, it didn't really occur to me that I was going to use all this for my mega wreath and still have the original over-priced frame in the closet.  I will have to make yet another trip to get more deco mesh for that one!

Now, back to the Fall wreath.  I came home and finished the deco mesh.  Then I wove in the orange burlap ribbon - I had to attach more pipe cleaners as I had used all the others for the mesh loops.  (The video I watched said to use the ones on the cross bars for the main color which was gathered, not looped; and to use the other ones for the accent.)   I was pretty happy with how it looked as I was tucking pipe cleaners in and puffing loops.  Then I looked at all the floral things I had and wasn't really sure what I was going to do with them.   I gathered everything together and attached it in the center, with several full size pipe cleaners.  This turned out really well and worked better than trying to tuck and secure them around the wreath.

I cut and hot glued felt to the back of the wreath hanger so it didn't scratch the paint.
Yay!  My first deco mesh wreath.

Fall Wreath

Fall Wreath Center

2013 Calendar

This is the calendar that I made for my mom.  I figured I should blog about it now, since it is almost time to do the next one.

She always keeps a calendar on the kitchen counter to write appointments and her bike miles on.   I wanted to make her something a little nicer than the advertisement/free/plain calendars she usually uses.  I made the grid for each month, had them printed at Kinkos, and then added the months/days/date.  I used papers that represented things she liked such as birds, bicycles, flowers, colors.   I did not use regular adhesive as I was afraid it would not hold up to the wear.  I used Scor-Tape which is my favorite adhesive because you can tear off the size piece you need.

I was nervous about her reaction and if it would fit the bill.  She loves it!  The back side of each page does not have a calendar on it, so additional notes and information can be written there.  The next one will have a little bit bigger squares for the days.   

I have already started getting the papers for the 2014 calendar and just  need to figure out how I am going to do each month grid.  

This makes a great gift, and aside from the planning and writing in the days, doesn't take too long to put together.  You can also buy pre-printed calendar pages, but to me that is like cake mix, and I like to make my own. :)

2013 Calendar Cover

2013 Calendar - January

2013 Calendar - February

2013 Calendar - March

2013 Calendar - April

2013 Calendar - May

2013 Calendar - June

2013 Calendar - July

2013 Calendar - August

2013 Calendar - September

2013 Calendar - October

2013 Calendar - November

2013 Calendar - December

Chocolate Mint Fudge Bites

Chocolate and mint are one of my favorite combinations.   Mr. SBQ showed me this recipe in March, as it was in an article about green desserts.  These are good, but a little too complicated to make.  My cookie crust layer was not as thick as the recipe picture (I used regular Oreos).  And then the chocolate layer was not enough to cover the mint layer, which was moving all over the place, so it got a little frustrating.  Once I fought with the chocolate layer to get it to cover the mint enough, I understood why the sprinkles were needed - not a very pretty sight!  I also had to do a little marbling in the thin chocolate areas.  If there is a next time I will let the mint layer set up a little before I add the chocolate layer; and maybe increase the amount of chocolate.  Don't get me wrong, they taste great, they just did not go together as easily as I had hoped.

Click her for the original recipe link.

Chocolate Mint Fudge Bites

Doughnuts! Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, and French Breakfast

My latest obsession has to do with something I almost never touch..........Doughnuts!

I believe it started with the baked pumpkin doughnuts I saw on Pinterest.  They intrigued me, so I saved the recipe.  This lead to me discovering King Arthur Flour's website and purchasing doughnut pans.  I was at a craft store one day, looking at what I thought was the clearance shelf, and came across a mini doughnut pan.  It didn't have a price, so I found a sales clerk and asked.  She informed me that no, that wasn't the clearance shelf, that is where the items with no home go.  However, I had my 40% off coupon so it might as well be a clearance item.  At that point I was picturing cute little doughnuts to amaze and delight Little C with, so I had to buy it!  (This sounds a lot like the mini muffin pan from last year; will I ever learn!?!?)

I decided to start with the recipe on the back of the mini doughnut pan.  Let me just say that mini doughnut pan is a pain!  Such tiny wells and the batter is thick, so it's not like it runs in to place.  However, I was determined.   They were ok; Little C and Mr. SBQ liked them - I think they were just being nice.  The recipe made something like 48 mini doughnuts and this pan holds 12!  I made 2 or 3 pans and threw out the rest of the batter.  There was nothing special about the flavor.  The first batch was dry because I baked them 6 minutes; the 2 was better baked for 4 minutes.  I tossed them in cinnamon and sugar while they were still warm - this way the sugar sticks.  The first pan was cool when I tried to coat them with the sugar mixture and it didn't really stick.  Warning about the mini pan - it is deceiving how many doughnuts you eat.  I am not putting in a link to this recipe because I didn't like it - it's on the Wilton pan.

Trial number 2.  I figured I would try the pumpkin doughnuts, and if I liked them, I would buy the regular doughnut pans.  I made 1 pan of mini doughnuts and the rest I made as muffins.  Oh wow!  Totally different experience with this recipe!  Flavor and texture are awesome!  The mini pan is still tedious, but I was learning how to deal with it.  I used 2 teaspoons to spoon a very small amount of batter on each side and then smooth them together.   The muffins are great if you don't want to mess with a doughnut pan.  These freeze well too!  I tossed these in a cinnamon and sugar mixture also.  I just put a cup of sugar and some cinnamon in a plastic food storage bag and toss a doughnut or two at a time to coat.   One note on these; the amount of canned pumpkin is almost a full can.

Now I HAD to have the doughnut pan!  And, why get one, when most recipes make 12 doughnuts?  I ordered mine from King Arthur Flour (they have coupons); they are Norpro and are about the same price on Amazon.  

The pans arrived (very nicely packaged) and I was super excited to try them.  My sister-in-law and her kids were here, so I decided I would surprise them with doughnuts for breakfast.  I wanted to try a chocolate doughnut recipe, but somehow had run out of brown sugar and that is the only sugar the recipe called for.  So, I decided to make my French Breakfast Puff recipe as doughnuts instead of muffins.    Since this was an experiment, I made 6 doughnuts and the rest as muffins.  They turned out great.  These are the ones that are dipped in melted butter and then tossed in cinnamon and sugar - even better as doughnuts!  There were 5 kiddos at breakfast that day, so there were not any leftovers!

The obsession continues.........I replenished the brown sugar and had the chocolate doughnuts on the brain.  So, this morning at 5:30 I was whipping up my 4th batch of doughnuts in about as many weeks.    

These should be called dessert doughnuts and I am slightly ashamed that I fed one to my child for breakfast even though it was balanced out with milk, Greek yogurt and a banana.  They are incredible!  Cocoa powder, espresso powder, chocolate chips...........see why I couldn't stop thinking about them!?!   I didn't even make the frosting that it calls for - I just coated them in granulated sugar.    I was able to get 12 standard and 12 mini doughnuts out of one batch.  I used my small cookie scoop - 4 scoops for each regular doughnut, and 1 for each mini doughnut.  The regular size doughnut pan is a lot easier to get the batter in to.  A frosting bag or a plastic bag with a corner cut off can also be used to get the batter in to the pans.  

As always, for oil I used Extra Light Olive Oil.   And a little secret, these are all dairy free......for the recipes that called for milk, I substituted rice milk and you can't even tell.  I am on a dairy free adventure, so I am excited that I can bake using rice milk.  The real test will be cake and I will try that very soon.  I don't think I changed much else for each of the recipes.  If you are new here, links to the recipes/sites are in the highlighted/underlined items.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Cake Doughnuts

French Breakfast Puffs - Doughnuts and Muffins

Pumpkin Mini Doughnuts