Martha Stewart's Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies

Martha doesn't know this but I added chocolate chips to her chunky peanut butter cookies. I figured why have peanut butter cookies when you can have peanut butter chocolate chip cookies! So if you aren't addicted to chocolate as I am, feel free to omit the chocolate chips.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter (two sticks)
  


• 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
  


• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  


• 1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
  


• 1 large egg
  


• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  


• 1 cup all-purpose flour
  


• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  


• 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preparations:

1. Mix butter, peanut butter, sugars, egg and vanilla. Beat well.
   


2. Separately combine flour and baking soda. Mix well.


3. Combine both sets of ingredients and mix well.

Bake at 375 for 12 minutes.

Servings: 2 dozen

Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This recipe can be as spicy as you like it to be. If you've got kids who prefer mild then forego the jalapenos and use mild salsa.

Ingredients:

• 10 medium sized tortillas (corn or flour)


• 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded)


• 1/4 cup onion (chopped)


• 1/4 cup green peppers (chopped)


• 1 jalapeno (diced)


• 1 can condensed Cream of Chicken soup


• 1 can of water


• 1 cup of salsa (I used medium)


• 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese (shredded)


• Sour Cream (optional)
  

Preparations:

1. Pour soup plus can of water into sauce pan. Stir over medium heat.
2. Add green peppers, onion and jalapeno to soup. Stir well.
3. Add cooked chicken to soup mixture.
4. Cook on medium heat for 7 minutes.
5. Layer the bottom of 9 x 13 pan with five medium sized tortillas.
6. Pour soup mixture over tortillas.
7. Layer five more tortillas over soup mixture/tortillas.
8. Pour salsa over layered tortillas. Spread evenly.
9. Top with shredded cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. Top with sour cream.

Servings: 4

Easy Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Here's a super easy recipe for chocolate chunk cookies. If you've got a craving late at night or need a last minute treat for unexpected guests - this recipe is for you!

Ingredients:

• 1 Betty Crocker triple chocolate cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup chocolate chunks

Preparations:

1. Mix cake mix, eggs and vegetable oil. Mix well.
   
2. Add chocolate chunks. Mix well.

Bake at 375 for 12 minutes. Let cool for ten minutes.

Rouxbe - Online Cooking School

Ever heard of online cooking school? I hadn't either until a friend of mine showed me this site. It's very helpful. Some lessons are free and others can be viewed for the small fee of $15 of month.

It gives you tips on how and what to cook and is definitely worth taking a look at it.

http://rouxbe.com

Food 101 on Oprah Today

If you get a chance, tune into Oprah today. She'll have Michael Pollan (author of the best seller below) on to discuss the best foods for your health. Alicia Silverstone will also be on to discuss her book and diet.

Kess's Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

In honor of our beloved Kess who turned 9 yesterday, I came up with a cookie that combines her love (and mine) of chocolate and peanut butter, the combination of which is clearly one of the best inventions ever.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter (softened)
  
• 2/3 cup sugar
  
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1 cup chopped minature peanut butter cups (20 to be exact)
• 1 cup chocolate chunks
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Preparations:

1. Mix sugars, vanilla, eggs and butter.
   
2. Separately - mix flour, baking soda and water.
   
3. Combine both sets of ingredients.
   Chop 20 minature Peanut Butter cups into six even pieces each.
   
4. Add chopped peanut butter cups to mixture.
   
5. Add chocolate chips and chunks.
   
6. Mix well.

Bake at 375 for 12 minutes.

Buy "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" here

When it comes to cooking, I don't think you can ever have too many cookbooks. The top of my refrigerator hosts a multitude of cookbooks that are frequently getting knocked off (and smashing innocent bananas in their wake) because I'm always adding more.

Here's a cookbook from a gal who has the best looking cooking website I have ever seen. I highly recommend picking it up and it's about $2 cheaper on Amazon than it is on Barnes and Noble online.

If buying the cookbook isn't for you than be sure to check out her website at http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking

M & M Cookies

I found this recipe on Recipezaar and modified it just a little. Getting rid of holiday candy around here is kind of priority and this way - I'm not the only one tempted!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
  
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup M&M's chocolate candies

Preparations:

1. Mix butter, sugars, egg and vanilla.


2. Separately, mix flour and baking soda


3. Combine both sets of ingredients. Mix well.


4. Add M&Ms. Mix.

Bake at 375 for 12 minutes.

Tools for the Kitchen (Cooking Must Haves!)

Okay this is hands down the best present I have ever gotten. (Even better than my shuffle that keeps me going at the gym.) It's my Kitchen Aid. For months after we got married, I wouldn't let anyone touch this little treasure. It was a work of art sitting pristinely on my counter until one day a certain child said "Come on, we have to make cookies with this thing!" And it's been love ever since!!

I've made everything from bread to pastries to meatloaf in this thing. It's easy to clean and operate (just taught our 7 yr old how to use it). It's a tool that every kitchen should have.

Save Money without clipping Coupons

MSN has a great article on how to save money on groceries without cutting coupons. While I'm a coupon clipper myself, it is rather time consuming so if you can save a buck or two without getting Newspaper ink on your fingertips - why not?

Check out the article at http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/fiscal-fitness-3-ways-to-save-100-on-groceries-571868/

Super Bowl Chili

With the Super Bowl fast approaching, it's time to get your game face on and prepare some yummy football dishes. How about chili? It's easy, you can cook it in a crock pot (translation more free time to do other things) and it's quite filling.




Check out what fabulous chili recipes Epicurous has to offer.

Click on the picture to read more....

Paula Deen's Monster Cookies

If you have a bunch of candy that you're trying to get rid of, I highly recommend this recipe. Note: This recipe can be made gluten-free.

Ingredients:

3 eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 12-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup Peanut M'ms
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Preparations:

Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, peanut butter and butter. Mix well. Separately, mix baking soda and oatmeal. Combine both sets of ingredients. Add chocolate chips and M'ms.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.