Grandma's Cookies Win $1 Million

That is the kind of story I like to hear!! Go grandma. Hey, if you think about it I could be a grandmother myself. But that isn't what this story is all about. I just read about a 59 year old Gaithersburg, Maryland grandmother who won the 53rd Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off this year. That is amazing. She is quoted as saying that her Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookies are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. She said her grown sons aged 30 and 33 both told her she had a winning recipe. What clinched it for her was that their dog couldn't get enough of them. If D wasn't allergic to peanuts, I would bake a batch right now. I love peanut butter and so does my hubby. I really want some peanut butter cookies now. I have another great peanut butter cookie recipe that was given to my by my sister's niece Melissa. She tells me she came up with this recipe on her own. She adapted it from many different recipes over the years. She should have entered the Pillsbury Bake-Off with it. Wow~ a million bucks. We could all use that kind of cash. I had no idea that a recipe could be worth $1 million bucks. Anyway, thank you Melissa. Here is her recipe:

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1/4 lb. butter
1 egg
1 cup creamy peanut butter (She only uses JIF)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup dark-brown sugar
1/2 cup flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease some cookie sheets. Cream butter and peanut butter together. Beat in the two sugars, then add the egg, the vanilla and mix well. Mix together the salt, baking soda, and flour and add to the first mixture, combining thoroughly. Arrange by teaspoonfuls on the cookie sheets, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Press each one flat with the back of a floured teaspoon. Bake about 7 minutes or until firm.

Hope you enjoy them!

Melissa

Note: You can also change them up a little taking each teaspoonful and rolling it in sugar then adding a Hershey's kiss right in the middle. I like using the cherry chocolate kisses but any kiss will do. :o]

Pesticides in Produce

I have been trying to go organic a little bit at a time. I know it is very expensive but I think it is worthwhile. I saw an interesting article in a newspaper or magazine a few weeks ago. It said that the things you should consider buying organic are certain types of produce that are commonly called the "Dirty Dozen." The dirty dozen are the following:

Peaches

Apples

Sweet Bell Peppers

Celery

Nectarines

Strawberries

Cherries

Lettuce

Grapes (imported)

Pears

Spinach

Potatoes

I am not always lucky enough to find organic versions of these produce items at my local grocery store when I shop. I do try to find organic potatoes, apples, pears and lettuce. I also often buy organic carrots and celery because they are readily available and sometimes almost the same price as non-organic ones. I am definitely going to try to buy organic berries this summer. I have also been trying to buy hormone and additive free milk and meats. I have not been lucky enough to find any really good organic cheeses in the markets near my home. At least ones that aren't super-expensive or just about to expire. It really annoys me that I can't get a gallon of organic non-fat milk. I have to buy two half gallons which is much more expensive. Every time I look at the gallons, they are only a few days away from their expiration date.

I am sorry to report that Horizon Organic used to have a farm in Annapolis, Maryland but they closed it after only a few years.

On a brighter note, the produce that you can buy non-organic (has the least amount of pesticides) are the following:

Onions

Avocado

Sweet Corn (frozen)

Pineapples

Mango

Sweet Peas (frozen)

Asparagus

Kiwi

Bananas

Cabbage

Broccoli

Eggplant

This does make some sense to me because most of the produce with lower pesticide levels have thicker skins. The ones that really don't make sense are the broccoli and the asparagus. Maybe they are less prone to pests than the others and don't get sprayed as much? I don't know. I am not going completely organic or anything but I am trying to buy healthier foods. Good luck!

The Creative Cook