Monday, June 16, 2014

Frosted Peanut Butter Cookies

Frosted Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 1/4 cups cake flour ( I use regular flour and they are delicious. )
1- 12 oz bag Reese's Peanut Butter chips (no substitutions)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and place rack in center of oven.
Cream together butter, sugars, salt, baking soda and powder.  Add vanilla and eggs. Mix well.
Add flour and peanut butter chips. Mix just until flour and chips are blended together.
Bake for about 12 minutes, or until set.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/2 cup butter, soft-room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter (not natural)
milk to thin to proper consistency (whole milk is best)

Cream together room-temperature butter and powdered sugar. Add peanut butter and beat until smooth. Add milk a tablespoon at time, just until frosting is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
**(I made a little bit more of this frosting the second time I made these because I felt like this wasn't enough...but I love peanut butter!)

Chocolate Frosting
1 cup butter
5-6 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (or less if you like a lighter cocoa frosting)
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 to 1/3 cup milk

Cream butter and 5 cups powdered sugar. Add cocoa and vanilla. Add milk a tablespoon at a time until frosting is smooth. If needed, add more powdered sugar.
**(This made more than I needed...but I've never had a problem with extra chocolate frosting in the house.)

 After cookies are cooled, frost with peanut butter frosting. Let them sit for a few minutes to let the peanut butter frosting set a little bit. Then frost on top of the peanut butter frosting with the chocolate frosting. When spreading the chocolate frosting on top of the peanut butter frosting, be very gentle and leave a small space between the edge of the peanut butter frosting and the chocolate frosting for a layered frosting look.

Quinoa Chili

Quinoa Chili
Yield: About 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (1 3/4 cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups vegetable broth  (or chicken broth if not making vegetarian)
  • 1 (7 oz) can diced green chiles
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed (I used one dark red, one light red)
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
  • Juice of 1 lime
Directions
  • Heat olive oil in a large enameled cast iron pot over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot add onion and saute until tender, about 4 minutes, adding in garlic during last 30 seconds of sauteing. Add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cooked quinoa, vegetable broth (start with 1 1/2 cups then add more later if desired), green chiles, chili powder, cumin, cocoa, paprika, sugar, coriander, cayenne pepper and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring mixture just to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover pot and allow to simmer 30 minutes.
  • Add in all beans, corn, cilantro and lime and cook until heated through. Serve warm with optional toppings and sides (cheddar, sour cream, diced avocados, saltine crackers or tortilla chips).