Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Prep Time:  17 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes per 2 pans
Cool Time: 30 minutes
Filling Time: 5 minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Cook's Illustrated (March 2012)
Recipe Source: America's Test Kitchen TV
Recipe Source: D.I.Y. Cookbook

The recipe and video available for free on TV website right now.

I only made a half recipe, since these cookies are big, so the time will take longer for a full recipe with 24 sandwich cookies, but probably not too much longer.

These are fairly simple to make. The hardest part is processing the chopped nuts, and that isn't really hard. They are nice, but a little dry (filling excepted of course), so not my favorite type of cookie. But they were fun to make. I might make again, but since I have a niece and a nephew with a peanut allergy and they are who I like to make cookies for, I may not.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cool Time: 1+ hours

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Everyday Food (September 2011)

I really liked these. I hadn't been in love with America's Test Kitchen version, but that may have been because of the low sugar jam I used. This recipe was slightly different. It doesn't have any peanut butter in the recipe, but it added peanut butter chips to the topping. It also had chopped peanuts, which I didn't mind at all. I used a strawberry preserve for the jelly and it was all very good.

I froze them after baking, and so far I've had one, and it was still good. 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes

Grade: B-

Make Again: No

Recipe Source: Best of America's Test Kitchen 2009

I am guessing this recipe is in the Baking Book from ATK, but I don't know, because they don't tell you in the 2009 Best of edition. For this reason, and also because there are not as many pictures, I am slightly disappointed in the book. It is OK, I still think buying this book is smarter for me, then buying all of their new books, since they have so much overlap. However, it just is not as nice as the 2007 and 2008 editions.

I'm really surprised at how underwhelmed I was by this recipe. I was sure I would love it. To be fair, the jam I used is not that flavorful (an Organic strawberry jam from Trader Joe's.) It probably would have been better with a sweeter jam. I really found the unbaked dough (which, yes, I did try) to be very tasty, so I assumed the cookie would be too. I almost wonder if I should try again with a better jam, but then I think - I have so many recipes to try, I probably won't. There are other PB cookies I like, so I will probably pass on this one. I do think part of my problem was the chopped peanuts, since I don't love nuts in baked goods.

Thai-Style Beef with Chiles and Shallots

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes

Grade: A+

Make Again: Yes

Recipe: Cook's Illustrated Magagzine July 2005

My picture is of the leftovers, and doesn't look as good as the freshly cooked version. This is an easy recipe and my favorite stir fry recipe. It went very well with the Pan Roasted Broccoli with Asian flavors.