Cheese Straws

Here’s your chance to show off your pâte à choux skills. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine water, butter and salt in medium saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. When butter is melted, reduce heat and add flour; cook and stir constantly until the pâte à choux dough begins to pull away from the sides of … Continue reading Cheese Straws

Bill’s Chili Dip

Ania got this recipe from her father-in-law, Bill Johnson. He used a local canned chili brand called Hypower, which might have been kickstarted by Iowa-based grocery chain Hy-Vee. We all loved their chili (it was great, for a low-rent canned chili), and for a while, they also had canned tamales that were as good as any we have had in contemporary Tex-Mex restaurants. Doesn’t say … Continue reading Bill’s Chili Dip

Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

For Carla, no peanut butter can ever be too crunchy. Nor can any peanut butter cookie. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugars in stand mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add peanut butter and mix until well blended. In separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture and blend well. Last, stir in … Continue reading Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

Laura’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Laura makes the best cookies, by far. She has the gift. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix butter and peanut butter until smoothly blended. Gradually add sugars, and beat until fluffy. Stir in vanilla and eggs. Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl, and add to butter mixture in thirds, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on baking sheet, … Continue reading Laura’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

This is our nephew’s annual choice for his birthday cake. It’s adapted from the Ruggles Grill recipe, which is excellent, but we are happy with the adjustments we’ve made (taking chopped peanuts out of the crust – made it too oily) and swapping regular PBCs out for the seasonal ones that have a better peanut butter to chocolate ratio. Use ONLY a 10-inch springform pan. … Continue reading Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake