Most weeks I try to post at least every other day. During this time of year I seem to always slip back into an every three day posting schedule. It's not that I don't want to post for you lovelies that infrequently, it's just that it's Christmas time and holy holiday comestibles, do I ever do a lot of stuff during this season.
But you won't find any complaints, I love baking and crafting things for those who I love. Okay, sometimes I am a bit fuzzy after putting in 13-16 hour days of creating gifts, but the elves on Elf don't seem to fade, so I am not going to either.
Today's kitchen crafting revolved around a group of very special folks, it's a bit of baking backstory time!
I have a friend who lives in Nevada, up in the high desert. He drives truck. And when I say drives truck I mean he delivers the fluids and fuel to the giant dump trucks that run in the goldmines of the state. My friend spends five days a week on the road for 13-15 hours a day. I would much rather be baking than doing that gig!
He's also all alone, as he moved away from his family to take this grueling, well-paying job. That type of thing resonates with me as my dad often had to go away from us to work on far away jobs so we could survive.
This friend of mine loves peanut butter cookies, and each year I mail him a big ol box of them!
There's just something so homey and domestic about peanut butter cookies. They are not complicated yet require a bit of finesse. They are both chewy and crunchy and have a touch of decorative flourish. They also remind me of my grandma, she made them a lot. I am pretty sure her's were often the Betty Crocker mix, but that's the thing about peanut butter cookies, no matter what recipe they are, they all have that same, wonderful roasted peanut smell.
In no time I whipped up and baked five dozen gloriously smelling peanut butter cookies to send to Nevada.
My progress was sprinkled with a bit of meteorological happiness too, for it was (and still is) putting down the snow outside. I love the snow! That's probably a good thing, because I live in a snow belt, but honestly, from December to March I adore everything being covered in crystally white floof. Here lately we have been getting this whole slushy wet weather pattern, so I am over the moon that it is cold and powder snowy outside!
After a bit of clean up, I moved on to my next bake, Cracker Candy. The favorite of a group of family members of ours down in the warm lands of Arizona.
Now, I only make this stuff during the holidays, as it is probably illegal in thirty-two countries, or at least in diabetes clinics, because the stuff is a fat and sugar bomb deluxe. But holy love handles is it tasty. You get salty, sweet, crunchy, and creamy in every luscious bite!
Usually I chop walnuts and sprinkle on top of my Cracker Candy, but as this seemed to be a peanut butter themed day, I minced up some peanuts to throw on the chocolate surface of the cracker-based delight.
This recipe is everywhere on the internet, but I decided to include it because my technique is a bit different than some of the recipes for Cracker Candy that I have seen. Plus sharing is caring right?
And on that note I better bolt, because there's animals to feed and presents to wrap and basketball games to go see. Because it's mid-December and all is a flurry both inside and out.😊
Cracker Candy
Saltine crackers (about 1 and 1/2 sleeves)
1/2 pound of butter (two sticks)
3/4 cup sugar
1 package chocolate chips (Around 2 1/2 cups.) I used milk chocolate, semi-sweet is glorious as well)
ground nuts (around a cup, any kind will work, they are all great!)Preheat oven to 425 F. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray it with non stick cooking spray.
Line entire sheet with a single layer of saltine crackers.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, then add sugar and bring to a low boil, stirring constantly. Boil for three minutes and drizzle over crackers.
Place sheet in oven and bake for five minutes. Remove sheet and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the crackers. Let sit until chocolate is melted slightly, then spread chocolate in an even layer over the top of the crackers.
Sprinkle with chopped nuts and place in fridge to chill until completely cool.
Once the candy is cooled and hard, crack into chunks and enjoy!
And as most of the time, all of the images in this post were taken on the author's peanut butter and so jelly that it can't have any cookies or candy iPhone.