Salted Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies

Doesn't the name of this cookie just sound irresistible?  My 3 favorite things in one cookie; peanut butter, chocolate and salt, it's too good to be true!  I made these and took them over to a family dinner.  My dad and sister in-law loved the salt on it but my sister said the salt was to strong because she's not a huge salt lover.  If you're not huge into salt, then don't put it on the cookies, they will still turn out delicious!  These cookies were so easy to make and took little time.  They are also a big crowd pleaser! 

What you need:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup of butter-room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup pack brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

small bowl of sugar for rolling

sea salt

Nutella

-In a large bowl, beat together the peanut butter and butter until smooth.  Add in sugars until well combined.  Add the egg and vanilla and mix.

-In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and corn starch. 

-Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined.

-Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

-Roll the dough in 1 TBS sized balls and roll them through the bowl of sugar coating entirely.  Place on the baking sheet.  Take a fork and press down about halfway on the cookie.  Sprinkle sea salt onto the unbaked cookie (optional). 

-Bake for 8-10 minutes until the bottom-not the sides turn golden brown.  Let cool for a few minutes and transfer to a cooling rack.

-When the cookies have cooled, spread the amount of Nutella you want on one side of the cookie and sandwich it with another.

Sit back and enjoy these wonderful cookies!  

Recipe inspired by http://sweetpeasandsaffron.com

Grandma's Creamy Pork Chops & Potatoes

I didn't know my Grandma as well as my older siblings did, but I do remember she was an amazing cook.  My dad's mother was always in the kitchen whipping up yummy things.  There's even home videos I've seen where she's in the kitchen smiling and chatting away with others.  She always looked so happy cooking and I think of her often when I'm cooking and baking.  One of her recipes has been with our family for as long as I can remember.  These's pork chops and potatoes are so creamy and only take a few ingredients.  This recipe is defiantly worth a try!

What you need:

4-6 pork chops

5-6 potatoes cut in halves (russet, red or Yukon)

1 can cream of mushroom

-Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

-Brown the pork chops on the stove (they don't need to be cooked all the way through, they will cook more in the oven).  I sprinkled some spices on mine; cumin, paprika, salt and pepper.  

-Place the pork chops and potatoes in a 9x13 glass pan.

-Put the cream of mushroom in a bowl.  Fill the empty soup can half full with water and add to the soup.  Mix well and pour over pork chops and potatoes.

-Cover with foil and cook for an hour and a half.

Enjoy friends! 

Muddy Buddy Cookies

There are two things in the food world I could never pass up, chocolate and peanut butter.  When these two come together it's the greatest thing ever.  When I was up at Utah State, my best friend and I had a weakness for muddy buddies, (or puppy chow, whatever you prefer).  Sadly we made this easy dessert a lot.. too much.. but it's sooo good!  The other week I stumbled upon the cookie form of muddy buddies.  Needless to say, these cookies are amazing and I can't wait to share with you all this recipe!

what you need:

Cookies:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter at room temp.

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tbs vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup flour

Frosting:

1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup (half a stick) butter

 powder sugar

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-In a large bowl, cream together butter and peanut butter.  Add both sugars and mix well.

-Add egg, baking soda, vanilla, and salt.  Mix.

-Slowly add in flour and mix until well combined.

-Roll dough into about 1 inch balls and place on a large baking sheet.  Press dough down about half way, (don't flatten all the way).

-Bake for 8-10 minutes until sides start to turn golden.

-Transfer to a cooling rack to cool.

-For the frosting, combine all ingredients except powder sugar into a microwavable bowl and microwave for a minute.  Stir and microwave more if needed.  Frost each cookie and sprinkle with powder sugar.  Let cool completely before devouring.  

Enjoy!

Recipe inspired by cookiesandcups.com

Easy Pasta Salad

The easiest salad to throw together for any summer get together!  You can add anything you want to this salad or take out things I suggested.  My wonderful sister, Kim, found the best dressing to use.  Wish Bone's House Italian is more thick and creamy and less oily than regular Italian dressing.

what you need:

1 package of garden rotini pasta

1 can of sliced olives-dranied

1 green pepper chopped

cherry/grape tomatoes sliced in halves

parmesan cheese

1 small block of cheese chopped

anything else you'd like to add

Wish Bone's House Italian Dressing

-Cook pasta according to box.  Drain and rinse with cold water.
-Add all ingredients in a large bowl adding the dressing until the taste is to your liking.
-Refrigerate until cold.
-Serve and enjoy!

Chewy Lemon Cookies

These Chewy Lemon Cookies might be my new favorite cookie!  I know I say that every time I make a new cookie, but I can't help it, I love cookies so much!  I have an obsession with chocolate, especially in cookies so I didn't know how I'd like lemon cookies, but they are divine!  They have such a fresh, clean flavor that it would be hard to find something bad about them!  These are defiantly a must try!

what you need:

Cookies:

1 cup butter- softened 

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tbs lemon zest

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 1/2-3 cups flour

Glaze:

1 1/2 cup powder sugar

1 tbs lemon juice

1/2 tbs lemon zest

1 tbs milk

1/4 tsp vanilla

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.

-Add the egg and mix well.

-Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla to mixture and mix well.

-Add salt, baking soda, and slowly add in the flour.  If the dough is still pretty wet after 2 1/2 cups of flour, add another 1/2 cup.

-Put dough in the refrigerator for an hour.

-Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on a greased or non-stick cookie sheet.

-Cook for 8-10 minutes or until the edges turn golden.  Let cool on a cooling rack.

-For the glaze, mix together all the ingredients with a whisk until smooth.  Spread the glaze onto the cookies when they are still warm.

Yields about 4 dozen.

Don't feel bad about yourself when you scarf down 5 of these in one sitting!

Recipe inspired by www.chef-in-training.com

Copy-Cat California Kitchen's BBQ Chicken Pizza

Finals are over and I don't have school for a whole week and a half!  I was being sarcastic about that last comment.  Only a week and a half of summer?!  It doesn't seem very fair, but I'll take what I can get.  With all my stress and focus on my math these last couple of weeks, I've been seriously neglecting my cooking and my blog.  Time to catch up!

Who doesn't love California Pizza Kitchen?!  Especially their BBQ Chicken Pizza.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  I took a stab at making my copy cat version of this delicious pizza and I was quite pleased with the outcome.  You all should try it, you won't be disappointed!

What You Need:

pre-made thin crust 

(you can make your own, but I don't have time for that!)

olive oil

1 boneless chicken breast

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 cup of a sweet BBQ sauce

1/2 cup of a hickory BBQ sauce

1 -1 1/2 cup of shredded cheese (I use Mexican style)

1/4 cup of red onion-chopped or sliced

1/4 cup of fresh cilantro-chopped

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

-Season the chicken and cook on the stove until done.  Chop into pieces.

-Drizzle olive oil over the crust and spread evenly around.

-Mix together both BBQ sauces and spread on the crust.

-Sprinkle cheese over the BBQ sauce.

-Add the chicken and top with onions and cilantro.

-Bake 10-12 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown.

Let cool for a couple of minutes, slice and enjoy!