East of Eden Cooking

2018/10/08

The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie

The Amazing Five Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookie

The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie is a Smitten Kitchen recipe, adapted from Ovenly’s cookbook. This cookie recipe delivers intense peanut butter flavor with the ease of a simple recipe.

“But places were also named from the way the expedition felt at the time: Buena Esperanza good hope; Buena Vista because the view was beautiful; and Chualar because it was pretty. The descriptive names followed: Paseo de los Robles because of the oak trees; Los Laureles for the laurels; Tularcitos because of the reeds in the swamp; and Salinas for the alkali which was white as salt.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Not sure how I missed the recipe for The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie as I’m always more than happy to try a new cookie recipe. Especially one that promises intense peanut butter flavor with the ease of a simple recipe. The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie is a Smitten Kitchen recipe, adapted from Ovenly’s cookbook. Deb Perlman posted this cookie recipe in 2015. In internet time, its ancient history. The five ingredients, Skippy Peanut Butter (or a similar brand), brown sugar, eggs and vanilla are whisked together in a bowl. Salt is the fifth ingredient and sprinkled generously on top of the cookies before baking. This is the magic ingredient, the salt intensifies the peanut flavor. No mixer is required for The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie. Once the ingredients are gathered, it takes less than five minutes to make the batter. Maybe The Amazing Five Ingredient Salted Peanut Butter Cookie should be The Amazing Five Ingredient, Five Minute, Salted Peanut Butter Cookie recipe. READ MORE . . .

2018/09/26

Cayucos Beach

A visual travelogue of Cayucos Beach, California, a destination to decompress and recharge.

“He wandered by the sea from the border north as far as San Luis Obispo, and he learned to pilfer the tide pools for abalones and eels and mussels and perch, to dig the sandbars for clams, and to trap a rabbit in the dunes with a noose of fishline. And he lay in the sun-warmed sand, counting the waves.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Sharing something different this time, photos from Cayucos Beach. Cayucos is a sleepy little beach town between Cambria and Morro Bay on Highway 1, in central California. There’s not much too do, which is why I recommend it. No museums to visit, no amusement park rides, no crowds, just a few antique shops and restaurants. Visiting Brown Butter Cookie Company is my only don’t miss recommendation. Top Dog Coffee will jump start the day. The main street rolls off Highway 1, straight through town, the beach is right there. South of the Cayucos beach by the pier, there is easy public beach access between the homes facing the beach. Parking is allowed by these beach access points. A long walk on Cayucos beach will take you to Morro Strand. From Cayucos it’s a short drive to Harmony or Cambria or even Hearst Castle to the north. To the south, it’s an easy drive to Morro Bay, Montaña de Oro , San Luis Obispo or even the touristy Pismo Beach. READ MORE . . .

2018/09/042018/10/08

Cantaloupe Bread with Ginger and Browned Butter Icing

Before summer ends, savor the season with Cantaloupe Bread with Ginger and Browned Butter Icing. A fine quick bread, easy to make and easy to share.

“And summer passed into hot fragrant autumn.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

If you’re still summering making Cantaloupe Bread with Ginger and Browned Butter Icing will keep you planted firmly in the season. I expected so much from this recipe, the ease of a simple loaf cake paired with the sweet fragrance of ripe summer melon. Bonus was the recipe for Cantaloupe Bread with Ginger and Browned Butter Icing makes two loaves. One for us, one to share. The final product was less melon flavored than I’d hoped for, but still scrumptious enough to make again. READ MORE . . .

2018/08/222018/08/22

Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt

Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt is a harmony of flavors, a tangy yogurt base paired with a minty background and loaded with mini chocolate chips.

“There was always some little delicacy, very special and good—foie gras or a tossed salad, pastry bought at Lang’s Bakery just across Main Street. “

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt is a tangy alternative to calorie busting ice cream. Real ice cream is made with cream, it’s impossible to resist. Cream has a whopping 821 calories per cup, while whole milk yogurt has 170 calories per cup, a compelling reason to try this recipe for Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt. This super easy recipe for frozen yogurt has floated all over the net. For vanilla frozen yogurt there are only four ingredients, full fat yogurt, sugar, vanilla and salt. Mix everything in one bowl, process, freeze, done. No custard to make and chill, no overloading on fat filled calories from dairy. A summer worthy frozen dessert, Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt is slightly tangy from the yogurt, minty from the extract and chocolaty from the mini chips. READ MORE . . .

2018/07/25

Picnic Cake with Buttermilk and Summer Fruit

Bites of sweet summer fruit peak from the buttery Picnic Cake with Buttermilk and Summer Fruit. Picnic Cake with Buttermilk and Summer Fruit is a sweet way to use up leftovers from binge buying too much summer fruit.

“It’s a pleasant little stream that gurgles through the Alisal against the Gabilan Mountains on the east side of Salinas. The water bumbles over round stones and washes polished roots of the trees that hold it in. The smell of azaleas and the sleepy smell of sun working with chlorophyll filled the air. On the bank the Ford car sat, still breathing softly from its overheating. The back seat was filled with azalea branches.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Picnic Cake with Buttermilk and Summer Fruit announces summer to everyone who shares a slice. Bites of sweet summer fruit peak from a buttery, buttermilk laced cake lightened with whipped egg whites. This cake is a sweet way to use up the odds and ends leftover from binge buying too much summer fruit. This is a versatile cake recipe, adapted from a vintage church cookbook. Any type of stone fruit or cane berries can be used, apricots, plums, peaches or nectarines. Cherries and cane berries, whatever you would like to use.

Essentials

Picnic cake, snack cake or sheet cake, it’s all the same type of cake. Fill an oblong pan with cake batter, frost or not, slice and serve with enough to share. The term sheet cake is the current trendy term. I’m partial to Picnic Cake. It evokes summer with a setting, a place to relax and share. Pick the name that brings joy, and make Picnic Cake with Buttermilk and Summer Fruit. READ MORE . . .