Baked

I hope you're having a good week! The weekend is just around the corner...

It's been a couple of weeks since I baked, but I had a craving for a banana/peanut butter combo of some sort. My husband isn't huge on peanut butter, as he grew up on Vegemite. PB just wasn't part of his world in Australia. All I know is I've embraced his Vegemite, but he just won't embrace my peanut butter. ;)

Banana Peanut Butter Muffins - makes 12

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick oats)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened peanut butter
3/4 cup milk
2 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)

Preheat oven to 350f/180c. Place a paper liner in each cup, and set aside.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar. In another bowl beat together oil, eggs, peanut butter, milk and banana. Add wet ingredients to the dry mix, and stir to combine. Don't over mix.

Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a skewer, inserted in centre, comes out clean. Allow to cool on a wire rack. Serve with a little honey, and enjoy!

If you like this flavour combo, you really should whip these up. Quick and easy, and so good.

I'm off to NYC tomorrow for a shoot with Jen of Made By Girl. Can't wait! I'll try to post while there.

Back soon!

janis

Baked

That's exactly how I feel today after 4 days at Disneyland! It was heaps of fun, but wow I can't believe how exhausting it was at the same time ;) How's everything going for all of you? Hope your week's off to a good start.

With Reese's peanut butter cups on my mind (I pinch them from my nephew's Halloween candy bags), I baked some chocolatey, peanut buttery cookies.

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies - makes about 30 cookies (15 sandwiches)

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (I used whole wheat flour for this batch)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup chopped dark chocolate
8oz/250g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup plain yogurt
Filling:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter (I used unsweetened)
4 tablespoons whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350f/180c.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and cocoa powder, add chopped chocolate then set aside. In another bowl, beat the sugar and butter until creamy. Mix the yogurt and egg yolk together, then add to the butter mixture along with the vanilla. Beat until combined. Slowly add the flour mixture until a dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for about 30 minutes.

Roll into balls, and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet, and flatten a little. Bake for about 17-20 minutes, or until a golden colour around edges. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

To make filling: In a small bowl, beat together all ingredients until light and fluffy. Spread icing on the bottom half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies. Voila!

Enjoy!

Have a great day. Back soon.
Janis