Evidence of a Domestic Housewife

I don't cook or bake as much as a wife should.  Not that I don't want to, or that I don't think I can (I truly believe I can whip up some amazing meals), it's more of a time issue.  During the week, I work on Etsy bright and early when I wake up, then go to the Post Office to ship orders, then off to work, and back home to work on Etsy for the remainder of the night.  The work load always seems insane, so meals get put on the back burner and typically we go for easy, time-saver choices.  I hope this changes soon though.  I have so many recipes saved, gathered (some organized, some not), waiting to be tested out.  It's a skill waiting to unfold.

As promised, I made my husband cookies yesterday.  I had briefly mentioned on Saturday how I wasn't sure if I was going to make them or not (partially kidding), and D reminded me that I had already promised, as did I declare my intentions last week on the blog, and if it didn't happen, he would come on the blog and call me out as a fraud.  Nice.

Without further delay, the evidence of a baking wife:

Have to admit, they were delicious!  I may just have another this morning.

Lots of exciting things in store for blogging this week.  I've realized there have been a few highlights within the past two months that I haven't shared yet, so those will be posted as well as an exciting design guest post from Susi over at Design Shuffle.  Stay tuned, it's going to be an exciting week!

Rev-ing Up

I promised to make D cookies this weekend, and am going to make a yummy batch of these............

photo via

I found the simplest recipe a while back while flipping through a Martha mag, and the first time I made them I was amazed at how delicious they turned out.  Looking forward to Peanut Butter Blossoms!

p.s.- I'll take photos of my own evidence of being a domestic wife, and post a follow up- including the recipe  :)

Baking Recap

Anyone remember my post a few months back about my excitement on purchasing our very first Kitchenaid Mixer- the Professional one at that??!  Well shame on me for not posting the first official recipe that was made while using it.  Of course it had to involve peanut butter- what else?  So here goes:

Photos = Not that hot considering I was a hobo around the house all day, lighting in the kitchen is lame, and please don't judge my apartment style kitchen (it's horrid and my promise to myself and hubs is that when we are owners of a home, we'll design an awesome white, clean looking kitchen).  These renter's laminate countertops have been killing me for years now!

Getting Set up:

Getting the hang of it:

Waaa laaaa:

So I really wish I would have taken a final photo of the sandwich version, as these had a filling made and two cookies were pressed together with yum filling.  They were AMAZING!  Props to my awesome recipe from Cottage Living Magazine which I sadly misplaced the torn out recipe (boo)- but I found it online:

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Prep: 20 minutes; Bake: 12 minutes.

Yield: Makes 12 sandwich cookies

Ingredients

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.

2. Beat together first 3 ingredients and 1/2 cup granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Stir in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Slowly stir flour mixture into peanut butter mixture until fully incorporated.

3. Scoop dough onto prepared cookie sheets, 1 rounded tablespoonful at a time, about 2 inches apart. (Dough should yield about 24 cookies.) Press cookies flat with the back of a fork dipped into remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Sprinkle cookies with any remaining sugar, if desired, and bake 12 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Remove from oven, and cool 5 minutes on pan; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Spread about 1 tablespoon Creamy Peanut Butter Filling onto flat side of 12 cookies, and top each with another cookie, flat side down, to make a sandwich.

Peanut Butter Filling:
Yield: Makes 1 cup

Ingredients
2 (3-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

5 tablespoons powdered sugar

Preparation
Beat all ingredients until smooth.

Official recipe here

These were awesome and I already want to make them again!  And a little tip:  If you make the sandwiches and put them in the refrigerator, they taste even better the next few days, as the cookies get soft from the filling- SWEET!

Did I mention this is all I've made in my mixer to date?  What is my problem- lame-o, I must get crackin on some more baking.  Anyone have any to-die-for recipes they'd like to share?