Peanut Butter Cookies with Honey-Cinnamon Filling

I love the idea of peanut butter cookies, but most are so one-dimensional and overly sweet with just an undertone of peanut flavor.  This recipe, though, is anything but bland.  Roasted peanuts are ground and added directly to the batter to boost the nutty flavor.  The crunchiness of the thin cookies is offset by a creamy honey and peanut butter mixture which can be used as a frosting or filling.

1.25 cups unsalted, roasted peanuts (6.25 ounces)

3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (3.75 ounces)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons unsalted butter (1.5 ounces)

1/2 cup sugar (3.5 ounces)

1/2 cup dark brown sugar (3.5 ounces)

1.25 cups creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons milk

1 extra large egg

5 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup powdered sugar (4 ounces)

Dinner Menu: Crunchy Pork Chops, Roasted Potato Cakes, and Maple Mustard Green Beans

When I'm cooking a large dinner, I like most dishes to be super simple to make, and this menu definitely qualifies.  While the pork is a little work-intensive, the potatoes and green beans take no time at all and can be baked together at the same temperature.

For me, there's a lot to hate about most pork chops: bland pieces of dry meat with a soggy breading that falls right off (I hate soggy bread!).  This recipe defies all of that.  It features a crunchy herb coating and a quick brine which makes the meat retain both moisture and flavor.  The following potato preparation is my absolute favorite, good for dinner alongside meat and for breakfast the next day alongside eggs.  Finally, the inherent sweetness of the green beans is complimented by a splash of maple syrup and offset by the spiciness of mustard.

Fudgy Brownies

Yes, I know.  It's super easy to mix up a batch of boxed brownies.  Some brands are even pretty delicious (Ghirardelli Chocolate Supreme comes to mind).  But after tenth grade chemistry when we had to make brownies from scratch (best lab ever), I realized how amazing homemade brownies are.  Try them and you might think twice about your next brownie box purchase.

Apple Crisp

Fruit crisps are my favorite desserts in the winter: steaming, soft fruit with a super crispy topping.  I'm not as big of a fan of apples as my boyfriend; he loves any and all kinds (especially McIntosh, the mealiest of all apples).  I made this dessert mostly for him, but even I loved it.  What's more comforting when it's cold out?

3/4 cup pecans
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (3.75 ounces)
3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup dark brown sugar (3.5 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar (3.5 ounces)
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 tablespoons unsalted butter (5 ounces)
3 pounds Golden Delicious apples (7 apples)
1 lemon
1 cup apple cider