Chip Happens

Oh, you didn't know? I'm a lady who lunches now. And today I lunched in Park Slope with Megan, Victoria and the wee baby Willem. I made these peanut butter chocolate chip bars because, please, I have manners. (Also, this recipe is in contention for the Cookie for Kids' Cancer Bake Sale at the Brooklyn Flea on May 7!)

I adapted this recipe from Bake at 350 and I cut about 1/4 cup of sugar, and they were still sweet without being, you know, toooo cavity inducing.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
1/2 cup organic sugar (the refined white stuff freaks me out)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup egg substitute
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup garbanzo flour
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup chocolate chips (I don't like things toooo chippy)

Mix together the butter and peanut butter, then add the sugars. Blend in the eggs and vanilla, then mix in the dry ingredients. Spread into an 8x8 glass pan and bake at 350 for about 35-40 minutes. Cut up. Place in adorable printed bags. Lavish upon friends. Graciously accept praise.

you got yr. cherry bomb

In Ohio, cherry pie filling is a cheap, common pantry staple. In New York, it's like gelatinous gold. I learned this after going to four grocery stores to find the comically expensive and elusive key ingredient for the Cherry Squares I made for the Casse-rock-n-roll party last night. I'm still in crushed-Dorito-and-sherbet withdrawal.

Cherry Squares
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening (i.e. Crisco. That's right)
4 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 can cherry pie filling
Powdered sugar

Gradually add sugar to shortening in large bowl. Cream well -- at least five minutes at medium speed (my hand mixer only has one speed -- too fast -- and my arm got tired, so I capped it at about 2 1/2 minutes).
Add eggs one at a time. Add the flour and lemon juice and mix well.

Spread the batter in a greased pan or cookie sheet with sides. Mark off squares.

Place one heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center of each square. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut. And eat.
Baking tunes: Spoon, natch. Recipe courtesy of the adorbsies scrapbook/cookbook my mom made me for Christmas.