Peanut Butter--Yum!

I made some peanut butter today using a recipe from the Food Network. I made a slight adjustment or two (instead of using peanut oil, I used olive oil and then added a tiny bit of sesame oil, which I am not sure if it really made a difference, but it tastes delicious either way). I am looking forward to a PB and strawberry jam sandwich on homemade wheat bread for lunch tomorrow!

I truly get SO much satisfaction and joy through cooking. I am so happy to have the extra time to do so...now, if I can just make time next school year.

Ok, so here is the recipe that I adapted from Alton Brown of the Food Network:

Ingredients

• 15 ounces shelled, unsalted peanuts
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• A touch of sesame oil

Directions

Place the peanuts, salt and honey into the food processor. Process for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Place the lid back on and continue to process while slowly drizzling in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Place the peanut butter in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

I never have this much energy on a school night! Maybe it was the Americano I had after school, or just the way things have been going lately. YAY for a great weekend and a happy outlook on the coming week! I am pretty busy at school, but every teacher is as the year comes to a close.

This weekend Tom and I enjoyed good food as well as company. I was able to start an herb window box, do a little organizing, and finish up a knitting project. Unfortunately, this weekend also included a going away dinner for our friend, Michael, who is moving to North Carolina to start law school. I am so happy he is going for his dreams, but we will miss our Thursday TV and dinner night. I loved using him as an excuse to try out some new recipes!

To wrap up this post, I must also mention that in 30 minutes I will be tasting fresh bread from my new-to-me bread maker!! Tom and I picked it up today from John, a nice man who sold it to us for an awesome price via Craigslist! I hope it is good! I used this recipe, from the amazing, Finding Joy in My Kitchen blog. I want to try all of her bread recipes! I am planning on making french toast in the morning as well as use it for my sandwich for lunch...we'll see!

Pita Chips

Here's a simple recipe Tom and I use at least once a week. I love having chips with a sandwhich for lunch during the week, but chips can be pretty expensive and most aren't really that good for you....so, we started buying whole wheat pita from the market and then turning them into pita chips and they are SO TASTY!

To make them, split the pockets in two so that you can get even more chips for your buck. Then, just use a pizza cutter to cut the pita bread into bite-size, chip-like pieces.

Once all the pieces are assembled on a cookie sheet, drizzle them with a little olive oil. Last, sprinkle them with seasonings and bake at 350 for about 5-7 minutes (or until they are a nice golden color).

I like to try out all kinds of flavor combos but my two old faithfuls are as follows:

*Sprinkle with sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and garlic powder

OR

*If you are lucky enough to have a Penseys Spice store nearby, buy the Brady Cheese Sprinkle and give the pieces a light dusting ( a little goes a long way).

Hope you enjoy!