PEANUT BUTTER CREAM COOKIES

These cookies are addicting and a little more work than a scoop and bake cookie but well worth the time.

Peanut Butter Filling
1 1/2 Cups Smooth Peanut Butter such as Skippy or Jiff
1 Cup Sifted Powdered Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Mix the peanut butter and powdered sugar together.  If the powdered sugar does not completely dissolve into the peanut butter to make a smooth paste put it in the microwave for 15 seconds and stir.  Add the vanilla and stir it in.  Set aside.

Use your favorite shortbread cookie recipe and cut out cookies using a 1 1/2" biscuit cutter.  Before baking make a small indentation in the center of the cookie with your thumb.

Once the cookies are baked dip the bottoms in tempered milk chocolate or milk coating chocolate.  Let dry.

Using a #100 truffle scoop, place a ball of peanut butter filling in the center of each cookie.  Flatten slightly so the filling comes about 1/4" from the edge of the cookie.

Put the cookies on a glazing rack and pour tempered milk chocolate or milk chocolate coating over them to cover the filling and cookie completely. 

Sprinkle some chopped salted peanuts in the center of each cookie.

Best eaten at room temperature and can be stored in the refrigerator.

COLE'S BIRTHDAY CAKE

This cake was for a special little boy turning 10 and it was made to reflect all of his interests, i.e. X-box video game, baseball, football, army guns etc.  When I delivered the cake he was on his way home from a baseball game and was running late so I didn't get to see his reaction. 

It was a fun cake to make.  My favorite element is the baseball and football border I made for the second tier. 
The flavors were chocolate cake, hazelnut crunch and chocolate mousse.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY



Decorated Heart Cookies & a Fudgey Brownie

 I'm a day late posting these cookies for Valentines Day.  I do have a good reason!!  I was spending the day with my husband who is my number one Valentine.  He had the day off so we decided to spend as much of it together as possible.  We went to a very late lunch, did a little shopping, and went to see the movie The Vow.  I think it is important to set aside at least one day a week to re-connect with him and our day this week just happened to be on Valentine's Day.

All Bagged Up & Ready To Go

PASTRY CHEF IN TRAINING

My friend Velvet brought her granddaughter over to meet me. She really wants to become a pastry chef so I thought I would show her how to do a few things. She is a very quick study and what a personality!! I loved her and believe she will be able to do whatever she wants in life including becoming a pastry chef. We will probably see her someday on the food network, and oh by the way her name is Julia. What a natural!!