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The venerable peanut butter cookie recipe is one that almost every cook has in his or her arsenal. They are generally among the simplest of creations, with just a few ingredients and a bullet proof cooking method that achieves a high degree of success. But the simplicity of the recipe leads to one inescapable end: Eventually, they get a little boring. Fortunately, the very simplicity of the recipe lends it to nearly endless experimentation. For inspiration, you can draw from your own likes and dislikes in the sweets world or even go into savory cuisine for great ideas. One of the most popular variations is the chocolate kiss placed in the center of a half-baked cookie, which is then finished while the chocolate melts. This is known by many different names based on your region or ethnic background. But why stop at kisses? Take that half-baked canvas and write your own flavorful signature on it. Try blobs of jelly, chunks of candy bar or other sweets. One intrepid cookie adventurer even uses bits of cooked bacon on top, in homage to the ever-popular peanut butter and bacon sandwich. That last is an example of savory inspiration crossing the line into peanut butter cookie recipe heaven. What are some other flavors you've heard of using with peanut butter, or with peanuts themselves? Ethnic and "world" cuisines use peanuts a lot, because they are abundant especially in warmer climates and a relatively cheap source of protein. For starters, dust off that tin of curry powder in your spice cabinet and try a shake or two on just a couple of the cookies in a batch. There are many different types of curry powder, from mild to the scorching hot Vindaloo, and all of them make interesting and delicious additions. If you want to be a little more conventional, cinnamon is a great addition, too. Let your mind wander! Make a full batch and add a different flavor to each of them to see what you like. Just make sure to keep track of which is which! Ann Marie Krause has been making cookies for over 30 years, at persent I am retired, for over 23 years I owned a Gourmet Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner.You can visit my site at http://www.annsgoodies.com NOTE: You are welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the about the author info at the end). |
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