Peanut Butter Butterscotch Cookies (4 Star)

Another one of my goals this year is to eat more cookies. Just kidding! But when I do eat cookies, I want them to be really good cookies. These are really good.

I have been on a peanut butter kick, lately. I don't know why, because I've never cared that much about peanut butter before, but now I just love to eat it, straight out of the jar, even. Or with raisins, (now you might get a little worried about me, but it's good!) or a spoonful of peanut butter with a spoonful of jam, or (this is where I can get out of control) with chocolate chips. I have been trying out many different things, lately, because I just can't seem to get enough of the stuff. One thing that I tried is butterscotch chips with peanut butter. Wow! It sort of reminds me of Reese's Pieces, only way, way better. Anyway, this whole long paragraph is just to explain that when I saw this recipe, I knew I was going to love these cookies. I was right!





Click here for the recipe from Picky Palate.

Mud Balls (4 Star)

This is a treat that all of my kids love. I used to make peanut butter balls when I was a kid (the ones with peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar) and loved them. This is what I came up with to fulfill my desire for a more healthy (and chocolaty!) peanut butter ball. I usually just wing it on the amounts but this is probably close to what I put in.

Mud Balls

1/2 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy--you choose)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Combine the above ingredients--alter amounts, if necessary, to adjust for personal taste and consistency--and roll into balls. If you wanted to get fancy, you could roll them in crushed, roasted peanuts, but my boys don't like fancy.



And, by the way, isn't this the cutest cake plate? My creative sister-in-law, Holli, made it by attaching a pretty cup to the bottom of a pretty plate. I love it.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (3 Star)

This is my new favorite thing to make with overripe bananas. Funny thing is, my kids (especially the more picky ones), do not like bananas in baked goods and are not that crazy about peanut butter, either. However, this bread was a huge hit with my pickiest son. He almost refused to try it, but lucky for him, he did try (after several threats and pleadings). Strangely enough, my least picky boy didn't like this that much. Brandon and I love it. Banana, peanut butter, and chocolate is a tasty combination. And as far as quick breads go, this one is on the healthy side of the spectrum.





Click here for the recipe, courtesy of One Hot Stove blog.