PB Chocolate Chip Cake Cookies

Once upon a time I was a high school kid getting ready to head to college.  My brother and I were going to live in an apartment together and I didn't know how to cook (hard to believe, I know).  My long time childhood, middle school, high school BFF did cook.  One big problem.  She was going to OU and I was heading to NSU.  Have no despair.  She put together a cook book for me full of my favorite things she knew how to make.  Gosh, I love her.

One of the recipes she added was my all time favorite cookie made from cake batter.  They are so simple and delicious.  I could eat them all.  No, really.  I ate them all once.  That was back when I could see all my abs and weighed about 115 lbs.

I digress.  Without further ado I would like to introduce the best cookies ever...

PB Chocolate Chip Cake Cookies
2 eggs
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter/margarine
1 cup peanut butter
1 package yellow cake mix
1/2 package chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Beat eggs, water, butter, peanut butter, and half of cake mix (dry).
• Stir in remaining cake mix and chocolate chips.
• Bake 10-12 minutes

Told you it was easy!  You might want to go ahead and pick up two boxes of yellow cake mix because you'll have some chocolate chips left over.  You wouldn't want those to go to waste would you?

PB Chocolate Crumb Bars

It's that time again. The time for cookouts.  Inevitably you are going to be asked to come to a cookout, and in order to come to that cookout, you are going to be asked to bring a dessert.  A dessert that will knock everyone's socks off.  You will be looked at as the Goddess of Desserts, and you will thank me for sharing this awesome dessert.

I would have loved to attach a picture so you could salivate over it, but my camera was acting up.  I was so frustrated by it that I consoled myself to the very last bar.  I guess I'll be making this again.

Without further ado, here ya' go...

PB Chocolate Crumb Bars*
1 cup butter, softened
1.5 cups brown sugar
2 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 package semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cups peanut butter

• Beat butter and sugar until well blended.  
• Add butter, oats, flour, and baking soda.  Mix well.
• Press 3 cups into a greased 13x9 baking dish
• In a separate microwaveable bowl, melt chocolate chips.
• After chips are melted, stir in peanut butter.
• Spread chocolate mixture carefully over the pressed oat mixture.
• Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top of the chocolate.
• Bake uncovered @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.

*Recipe from Kraft Food & Family Magazine

Menu Monday

It's another one of those weeks...Christmas parties, volunteering at Celebrate With Family, Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Dinner...doesn't leave a lot of menu planning on my part.

This year, Rene and Lindsay (the BIL & SIL) are hosting Christmas Dinner at their house.  My side of the family won't be in town and her's will.  Makes it a lot easier on all of us.  This is the first time in a while that I won't be cooking a big meal on Christmas Day.  It actually feels pretty good.  All I have to do this week is the Annual Christmas Baking.  Here's what's on the list...

Peanut Butter Clusters

Cake Balls

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

English Toffee

Somoa Bars

Sugar Cookies (made by the kids)

I'm also super excited about our festivities this week.  Little Man has his first school party on Tuesday. 

On Thursday morning some of my friends are bringing their kids over for the first ever Gingerbread House making.  I hope this goes well, because I would love to make it a new tradition for our family and friends.  

It's going to be such a great week! 

What are some of your family traditions for this time of year?

Confession Time

This is really hard for me to admit, but I feel I must.  I just need to get it off my chest, but if you could please promise not to judge me.  I have a problem with my cake stand.  Not so much with the stand itself, but what's in it, or NOT in it. 

A good while back we had some friends over for dinner.  For dessert I whipped up some of these little bites of heaven...

Chewy Gooey Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

{Photo via Tasty Kitchen}

I didn't want to put them on a platter so I pulled out the cake stand.  They looked so scrumptious under the crystally glass cover.  I felt like I were in a bakery picking out a warm delight each time I lifted the lid.  Here's where the problem lies.  I kept lifting and lifting and lifting until every single scrumptious bite was gone.  Of course our guests received cookies, but not many.

After the treats were gone, I was left with an empty cake stand.  I just couldn't bear the thought, so I made these...

Thin & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

{Photo via Tasty Kitchen}

They lasted about 1.5 days, and the cake stand was empty...again!  I tried just washing her (the cake stand), so she could rest on the counter, but that proved to be a huge mistake.  She was upset with me.  I swear I could hear he sobs from the living room.  I knew she felt empty.  Incomplete.  Being the compassionate person that I am, I got up to throw together a pan of brownies sprinkled with a little powdered sugar.  Unfortunately, those didn't last long either...

So yet again I'm left with an empty cake stand.  Now what shall I make?