Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

 Like every mom, I could tell you how busy I am.  I am the treasurer of this and I am the president of that.  I have social engagements on top of laundry, housework, swim team, and homework.  Oh yeah, I have a husband too.  He needs a haircut and his underpants washed. 

See, I am the busiest woman on earth.  That’s why I haven’t emailed you back, taken you up on your lunch date, or been blogging……because I know you have been waiting for a new blog post.

Really though, on top of the busy mom stuff, I’ve just been playing on Pinterest. 

I am addicted.

So I made these cookies, not just because they are good, but more because they would make an attractive Pin.

I know.  I have lost my mind.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients:

·        1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

·        2 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened baking chocolate

·        1 cup sugar

·        ½ cup Butter Flavor Crisco

·        2 eggs

·        ½ tsp salt

·        1 tsp vanilla

·        1 ½ cups flour

·        ½ tsp baking soda

·        ¾ cup finely chopped peanuts

·        36 Reeses miniatures peanut butter cups

·        1 cup melted peanut butter chips for drizzle

Combine chocolate chips & chocolate squares in bowl and microwave at 50%.  Stir after 2 minutes.  Repeat for an additional 30 seconds until chocolates are smooth & melted.

Combine sugar and ½ cup shortening in a large bowl.  Beat at medium speed until blended and crumbly.  Beat in eggs, one at a time, then salt and vanilla.  Reduce to low speed.  Add chocolate slowly.  Mix until well blended.  Add baking soda & flour until you have moldable dough.

Shape dough into 1 ¼ inch balls.  Roll in crushed peanuts. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.  DO NOT OVERBAKE.  Cookies will be soft.  When you remove them from the oven, immediately press a peanut butter cup into the center.  Let cool on pan for 1 minute, and then move to cooling rack.

When cookies are cooled you can add the drizzle.  Melt the peanut butter chips at 50% in the microwave for about 1 minute.  Stir until smooth.  Add the melted chips to a plastic sandwich bag and cut off a small corner.  Squeeze out and drizzle over cookie.

Yummy, chewy, chocolaty, peanut-buttery goodness.  Perfect for a fall bake sale.  Plus, they will look fabulous on Pinterest don’t you think?

To follow my pinning adventures……CLICK HERE!

Bacon-Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

There are very few meals in my family that I can make that ALL FIVE people will eat.

Maybe we are weird.

I think we get it from my mom’s side of the family.

Anyway, last night I made a meal that EVERYONE loved.  Amber, who says she is a vegetarian, ate it up.  Abbey gave up her teriyaki sauce boycott for it.  Allie, decided to forgo Chip Chick for her birthday dinner, and have this instead.  Brian, was so satiated by it, he took an hour long nap after we had dinner.

Oh wait, he always does that. But still........these are AMAZING!!!! (Like most things  that are wrapped in bacon.)

Bacon-Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

(Recipe adapted from www.ourbestbites.com)

 

Ingredients:

·        1 lb boneless/skinless chicken (I used breasts)

·        1 package bacon (not the thick kind)

·        1 large can pineapple chunks

·        Teriyaki sauce/glaze

·        Kebab skewers or toothpicks

1 - The easiest way to put these together is to set up a little Kebab making station.  On one plate cut the bacon into thirds.  On another plate, put the chicken cubed up into bit-sized pieces. Finally, drain the pineapple and put it into a bowl.

2 – Wrap one third slice of bacon around a chunk of chicken and secure the bacon with a skewer.  Next, add a slice of pineapple.  If you are using toothpicks, you are done.  If you have kebab skewers, repeat until the skewer is full of bacon wrapped chicken and pineapple goodness.  Lay each skewer on a rimmed cookie sheet or baking dish.

3 – After all the chicken chunks have been wrapped like little babies in bacon and skewered, brush with teriyaki sauce.  Turn over, and repeat.  Go ahead and get them extra goopy with sauce.

4 – Place the pan in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours.  (I only did two hours because I was too excited to get them on the grill.  Longer, can only make them better I’m sure!)

5 – Grill each skewer on low heat for about 10 minutes on each side.  (Check them after 7 minutes, just to make sure they aren’t burning.)

Baste with extra teriyaki sauce each time you turn them, plus one final baste right before you take them off the grill.  (I actually turned them over for about 2 minutes just to cook on that final baste.)

At about this time your neighbors will be peeking over the fence and smelling the deliciousness of your grilling/basting magic. 

You better double the recipe, because they are going to want some.

I promise…..there won’t be any leftovers.