C is for Cookie

Here's something I noticed: whenever I post photos of cookies, they get a lot of hits and comments. Curious. I posted this earlier in the week when we made peanut butter cookies:

Someone asked for the recipe so here it is -- I no longer know where I found it so I am considering it "open source!"

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 large egg

Stir in everything but egg and mix with hands. Add egg. Shape dough into small balls (approx one inch). Place on cookie sheets and flatten with a fork (press down, turn fork 90 degrees press down again). Bake for 12-15 min at 350° F. Makes approx 3 doz.

I also have notes for an alternate version that requires no flour; in fact there's not much of anything:

1 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 large egg.

Mix, bake at 325° F for 15 min; makes 24.

From brownie to volcano

Part of the goal for today's party was to re-create the Volcano dessert from the Rainforest Cafe on a smaller scale. To start, I made brownies last night. It's been a while since I had made brownies so I chose to use the "Best Brownie" recipe from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook (13th revised ed., paperback):

6 oz unsweetened chocolate (I actually used semisweet)
3/4 cup butter (my bad, I used margarine)
4 eggs
2 tbsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
2 3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts (I skipped the nuts)

(Notice that there is more sugar than flour. Not for the calorie counters out there!) Mix the eggs, vanilla, salt and sugar for 8-10 minutes until well blended. Meanwhile, melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring frequently. Add chocolate mixture to egg mixture then gradually add flour. When combined, add walnuts. Pour batter into greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes. Do not overbake! Let sit for at least 2 hours before cutting.

The result was a brownie with a firm crust at the edges and a very chewy centre -- perfect for the Volcanoes:

The desserts were a hit -- as were the build-your-own pizzas, tunnel and tent play structures, and (surprisingly) the punching bags. Fun was had by all but we were pretty happy when 5:00 rolled around and parents arrived to collect their kids.

Baking experiment

I was short one banana to make my favourite banana bread recipe, so I improvised, replacing one banana with a cup of pineapple chunks and substituting shredded coconut for walnuts. Overall, I was pleased with the result though I think next time some dried papaya would really finish it.

Tropical Loaf Cake:

(A) Preheat oven to 350°, grease loaf pan
(B) Blend 2 ripe bananas, 1 cup pineapple chunks and 2 eggs in food processor.
(C) Add ¾ c sugar, 5 tbsp butter, blend well.
(D) Add remaining ingredients: 1 ½ c flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cream of tartar, ½ tsp salt, 1/3 cup shredded coconut.
(E) Pour batter into loaf pan and bake approx 50 min.