Yummy Peanut Butter Fudge!!

So I have decided to share my wonderful Peanut Butter Fudge recipe with you all!! I love to top my fudge with chopped nuts, I use peanuts or cashews, and drizzle melted chocolate on top. This recipe is made for peanut butter lovers! I honestly hate peanut butter, yes I know that's terrible, but I love this fudge. I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as my family and friends have in the past!





Peanut Butter Fudge

1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups light brown sugar
1/2 cup whole milk
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
Chopped nuts (cashews;peanuts;pecans;etc)
Semi-sweet chocolate


1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium low heat.
2. When completely melted, stir in brown sugar and milk together over medium heat. Bring to boil and continue to boil for 2 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into electric mixing bowl, carefully, and add the sugar. Beat mixture until completely smooth.

5. Pour mixture into a 8x8 pan. (I use a silicone pan for easier removal)Spread mixture out evenly.
6. Place chocolate in a small microwave safe bowl and melt using 15 second intervals until smooth.
7. Sprinkle chopped nuts over fudge mixture and press down to secure they will stick to the fudge.
8. Drizzle melted chocolate over top with piping bag or a fork.

9. Chill fudge until firm.
10. Remove fudge brick from pan and slice into chunks with a clean sharp knife.



I hope you all enjoy!

Sweet eating and much love-

Samantha Jo

Cookbooks!!!

Okay so I think anyone who bakes or cooks for a living, just like I do, has a bit of an obsession with cookbooks! They would have to! It is where we get new inspiring ideas. We see something even if it is a picture, an ingredient used that is one of our favorites, or just the title in itself. So we try these new interesting things and then our brains start churning and we think... hey I can do that better or let me do it again and try this ingredient in it.

So I continue to try and find cookbooks both savory and sweet to keep my juices flowing. But as of now, here I have listed pictures of some of my favorites that I have used in the past. I believe anyone who loves cooking and/or baking, and you be a professional chef or a normal joe, will enjoy looking at these cookbooks. Who knows maybe you will get inspired to try something new today and be able to call it your own recipe!!





(This is close to my heart. It is after all where I got my start!)


(Okay so I haven't tried this one but I sure am dying too!)


(Got to love MARTHA)

Dentist

Just came from the dentist today. Root canal #1, that's right just the first one. I am due for another in a couple weeks.

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to stick to a strict diet of this stuff to help me make it through....

Hiatus

I know my blog entries have been scarce to say the least, but I promise this five month hiatus is about to come to an end.

I am working on revamping the blog (with A LOT of help), so stay tuned, changes are-a-coming!!!!

Samantha

Top 5 Things I Can't Live Without in the Kitchen

Number one...

KitchenAid Stand Mixer
This is an absolute must in the kitchen. The one I have is actually a lovely Lavender color, but I could not find a picture of it online.




Number two...




Bamboo Spoons
These are the only spoons I use. No plastic or metal in my kitchen.





Number three...

Icing Spatulas
You can get these just about anywhere. The different sizes are important. Obviously for when you size something as big as a four layer cake to something as small as mini cupcakes.






Number four...



Cupcake Courier
This Cupcake Courier (www.cupcakecourier.com/) is a handy little thing. It has three removable and stackable trays that can hold 12 cupcakes/muffins each. So it can either hold 36 cupcakes or you can remove the three trays and it doubles as a cake courier!




Number five.. and perhaps the most important!

Gus!
My trusty assistant.






Happy Monday Everyone!

Southern Desserts Anyone?

My family tends to fix the same desserts everytime we get together, and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure I ever want that to change! Whether it's a holiday or just a cookout, it seems we have established our favorites, and there is no need to branch out. My families' most fav desserts include, but are not limited too...


Chess Pie



Mince Meat Pie ( which I will NOT show a picture of, but it's my Papaw's favorite, so I can't NOT mention it)




Chocolate Covered Ritz Peanut Butter & Crackers (And Yes! It is that simple)






Fudge Pie
(Check out Darby's blog for this easy recipe)

These are just a few, and I know my family will email me immediately with all the ones I did forget..
I want to know what your families' most favorite desserts are!
Post a comment or email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Love from B'ham,

Sum-sum-summa-time!

Hi my lovely readers- who were probably convinced I'd dropped off the face of the Earth! Let's not waste time dicussing exactly HOW long it's been since my last post, but instead move on to better topics.

One-It's SUMMERTIME,and I wanted to post a light and fresh dessert that would be great for any party, shower or just hanging out with your girlfriends. When i think of summer, I think fresh fruit tarts, strawberry shortcakes, angel food cake, ice cream and key lime pies (such as Lime Melt-Aways recipe). This is an awesome recipe (below) that i love to make into tiny strawberry shortcakes with berries and some fresh whipped cream!

Shortcake Biscuits

16 ounces All purpose flour
6 ounces shortening
3/4 ounce baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 ounces sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh orange zest
4 fluid ounces whole milk
4 fluid ounces water
1 egg
8 ounces chocolate chips

Egg wash:
1 egg
2 Tablespoons water

**You dont even have to have a mixer for this one just a big bowl and your hands

* Sift all dry ingredients together then add orange zest and mix shortening in with hands and mix just until it is mealy and crumbly
* Whisk together egg, milk and water. then add to dry ingredients and mix with hands just until combined.
* Scoop out desired size biscuits on a lightly sprayed sheet pan and brush with egg wash and sprinkle tops with sugar and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15- 20 mins just until starts to get brown
* Serve with fresh whipped cream and fresh berries!!!

Enjoy!