Year round school started a few days ago in our district and my young daughter couldn’t be happier to see the yellow school buses back on the streets. In a previous blog I mentioned that my mom always tried to make the fist day of school special for all of us by whipping up homemade treats.
My brothers and I never took home lunch so we had to wait until the end of the school day to enjoy my mom’s edible masterpieces. If your children take home lunch and you want to add a few special touches to their lunch boxes consider the following recipes. The first is for a chunky, yet crunchy chocolate chip cookie. It’s a standard recipe but instead of adding traditional walnuts I like to use macadamia nuts.
The other recipe is for peanut butter treats, which are cut to resemble French fries. With so many schools eliminating junk food and replacing it with more nutritious options this might be the closest thing to fries your child will be able to eat on campus. They are fun tasty treats that will be a welcome sight to a kid who would rather be eating a Happy Meal at the beach than sitting in a school cafeteria.
CRUNCHY CHOCOLATE CHIP MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES
Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
1-1/3 cups unsalted butter, melted
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
Beat sugars, butter, and vanilla on medium speed of mixer until blended. Reduce speed and add flour mixture, mixing until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts; dough will be dry and crumbly.
Pinch dough into tablespoon-sized lumps; place onto cookie sheets.
Bake 18 to 20 minutes.
Makes about 40 cookies.
PEANUT BUTTER FRENCH FRIES
Ingredients:
1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
Red icing
Directions:
In microwave melt peanut butter chips with milk.
Remove and stir until smooth.
Pour into a foil lined and greased 9 inch baking pan.
Cool completely at room temperature.
Lift out of pan and invert on cutting board. Remove foil. Cut into about 3 inch by 1/4 inch strips.
Use red icing for ketchup if desires.
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