Thursday, April 12, 2012

We've MOVED!

Hello friends! Just wanted to let you know the move to the brand, spankin' new blog is officially complete! You can find me at

www.thesuburbanspoon.blogspot.com


New recipes, ideas, helpful hints, and general food nonsense are coming your way! I hope you take the time to check out the new site and follow me along on new food adventures!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Over the holidays, I found and re-created this amazing little treat. It' a wonderful no-bake dessert for when you either don't want to bake something or are just too lazy and feel like mixing, rolling, and eating. :)

These little treats reminded me a lot of the Buckeyes that I made last year. The filling is really reminiscent of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and that's ok in my book. One difference I noted was that on it's own, the filling is a little grittier than I'd thought it'd be. This is from the brown sugar that you mix in. However, DO NOT worry about that. Once the crunchy pretzel and chocolate meet that peanut butter filling, it's amazing and you don't even notice.

Also, because it was Christmas and I was feeling festive, I dressed these up with white chocolate. Obviously, it was completely unnecessary, but if you have it around and want it - have fun! :)



Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Yield 60 – 80 pretzel bites

1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tbsp softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar (maybe more)
3/4 cup brown sugar (maybe more)
Pretzels

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
white chocolate for unnecessary drizzling, optional

Combine peanut butter and softened butter in a large bowl with a fork or whisk, or in a stand mixer. Add the sugars and mix to combine. At this point if the filling will roll easily into balls without sticking to your hands you’re ready to go. If not, add a little more of each sugar until you reach a consistency that is easy to roll (I used about 3/4 cup of each sugar).

Use a teaspoon measure to scoop the filling. Roll each portion into a small ball, then sandwich them between two whole pretzels. When all the balls are rolled and successfully sandwiched, stick the whole tray in the freezer for about half an hour.

Pour the chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and heat at 30-second intervals, stirring occasionally until completely melted. Remove the pretzel sandwiches from the freezer and quickly dip each half-way into the melted chocolate. Return to the tray and repeat with remaining sandwiches. When all are dipped, return the tray to the freezer to set up completely. Drizzle with melted white chocolate. Store the sandwiches in the refrigerator until serving time.

Source: Two Tiny Kitchens

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These cookies should really be called "The Easiest Cookies You'll Ever Make." Yes, they are that easy.

Rich and chocolatey with a slight crispy edge - mmmmMMM! Doesn't get much better than that!



Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

1 Box Devil's Food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 C. vegetable oil
granulated sugar for coating

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, egg, and oil until well blended. Batter/dough will be thick. Using a scoop, form 1 inch balls. Roll cookie balls into sugar to coat.

Place on a baking tray and bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly puffed and tops are crinkled.

Source: Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cake Mix Cookbook

Monday, January 16, 2012

Scotcheroos

I first tried this amazing treat when a friend of mine was visiting his mother in Ionia, Iowa. He said that they were his favorite treat of his mother's and that I just had to try them. Of course, I tried them and was immediately hooked. They are sweet, chewy, and really decadent.

I begged and pleaded for the recipe. It took a little convincing, but I was able to get a lovely, handwritten recipe for my collection. This one is near and dear to my heart because I love recipes are aren't just found on the internet or a shiny new cookbook, but ones that are passed on and have real stories behind them.

I know this recipe has been used for years at bake sales, birthdays, and church picnics. The history behind this recipe is so rich that, although the ingredients are simple, the love shines through. Give these Scotheroos a try, you just might want to pack up and move to Iowa.



Scotheroos
(AKA - Special K Bars)

1 C. White Karo syrup
1 C. white sugar
1 1/3 C. peanut butter
6 C. Special K cereal (some say you can substitute rice krispies, but I was told this was strictly forbidden)
1 C. chocolate chips, melted
1 C. butterscotch chips, melted

Pour the Special K cereal into a large bowl and set aside.

Bring the syrup and sugar to a low bubble/boil and remove from heat. Add peanut butter and stir. Pour over the cereal and quickly mix together until well blended.

Spread in a 13X9 pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray.

Melt together the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Pour over the cereal bars and spread evenly. Allow to cool.

Once cooled completely, you can flip the bars out onto the counter to cut evently or just cut right out of the pan - your choice!! Enjoy!

Source: a lovely kitchen in Ionia, IA

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Apple Pie Munchkins

Do you love pie? Do you wish you could have pie travel with you wherever you are - just in case you need an immediate pie intervention??

Really?! ME TOO!!

Here's the perfect solution....itty bitty apple pie munchkins. They're cute and easy to make and definitely help with cravings for some good ol' apple pie. I love that you can have a quick snack of 1 or 2 (or 12) pies whenever the mood strikes you. Plus, they're so cute that anyone you serve them to is bound to fall head over heels in love.


Apple Pie Munchkins

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
1/2 cup very cold water
2-3 medium apples (tart ones - like a Granny Smith

Squeeze of lemon juice
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Dash of grated nutmeg
Water
1 large egg lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon of water
Sugar, for sprinkling

To make the pie dough, combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl and stir with a fork to blend. Using a pastry cutter (or a food processor), cut the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture is coarse and the largest pieces of butter are no bigger than small peas. Stir in the water and mix gently just until the dough has come together in a a cohesive ball and all of the dry ingredients have been moistened. Form the dough into a disc and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour. (Or go ahead and buy the refrigerated stuff....hey, it works too!)

When you are ready to make your cookies, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Peel the apples and cut off the sides in four large chunks, removing and discarding the cores. With each large piece of apple, dice the apple into a very find dice...a mince, if you will. Place the apples in a bowl and toss with the lemon juice. In another small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and whisk to blend.

To assemble the cookies, transfer half of the chilled pie dough to a lightly floured work surface (keep the remaining half chilled). Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out very thin, about 1/8 to ¼-inch thick. Use a larger round biscuit or cookie cutter (about 2½ to 2¾ inches in diameter) to cut out rounds of the pie dough. Transfer half of the rounds to the prepared baking sheet. Brush the rounds lightly with water (this will help the pies seal). Take a few apple pieces at a time and coat them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Pile on top of a round of pie dough. Layer a second round of dough on top of each apple slice and gently press the edges to help seal. Repeat this process with the remaining dough and apples. Crimp and seal the edges of the mini pies with a fork, dipping in flour if needed to prevent sticking. Lightly brush the tops of the cookies with the egg wash. Use a small paring knife to cut tiny slits in the top of each cookie. Sprinkle with additional sugar, if desired.

Bake for 25-28 minutes or until light golden brown. Eat by the handful :)Source: Smitten Kitchen