Peanut butter crinkles

 

It being the first proper day of school for my younger son, I wanted to make a little treat for him, when he comes home. And my older boy is very fond of my bakes too. 

I fancied making something with the peanut butter. There was a jar of SKIPPY peanut butter choc chip swirl in the latest Degustabox. If you haven't seen it yet, it's the classic peanut butter with chocolate chip pieces. It's smooth and creamy, and if you like a peanut butter and chocolate combination, then you'll enjoy it very much.

I have bookmarked a recipe for peanut butter crinkles in The Big Book of Beautiful Biscuits (The Australian Women's Weekly) a while ago. I have adapted it, making minor swaps and adjustments. 

Peanut Butter Crinkles (makes 16)

Ingredients:

110g butter, softened

100g sugar (I used a 50/50 mix of caster and raw cane vanilla sugar, the original recipe asks for sugar and brown sugar)

80g peanut butter (SKIPPY peanut butter choc chip swirl)

a dash of vanilla essence

zest of 1 lemon + 1tsp lemon juice

240g plain flour

1tsp baking powder

Cream together softened butter with sugar and peanut butter, add lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla essence, flour and baking powder and mix well, using a fork. You might need to use hands for the cookie dough to get less crumbly and more elastic.

Pinch blobs of cookie dough, the size of big walnuts, roll them and then flatten into discs. Place the cookies on the greased cookie tray. Using a fork, make a crosswise pattern on each cookie.

Place the tray in the oven preheated to 180C and bake for about 15 minutes.

Take the tray out and carefully place cookies on the cooling rack. They are quite fragile at this stage, soft and crumbly. 

These are short biscuits, not dissimilar to shortbread.

The chocolate flavour was quite subtle, as the chocolate chips have dissolved during the cooking. I think adding extra chocolate chips for a more pronounced chocolate kick might be a good idea.

Breakfast and On the Go Degustabox (January 2021)

Since the introduction of the third lockdown and resumed remote learning, our mornings are not rushed and we can enjoy a more leisurely breakfast. Breakfast and On the Go was the theme of the last Degustabox.

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Each time the monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3 off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when you place an order/

What did we find in Breakfast & On the Go Degustabox?

Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles Vegan Friendly Sweets Sharing Pouch (£1.29) are chewy, fruity-flavoured sweets. Each sharing bag includes five classic flavours: blackcurrant, lemon, strawberry, lime and orange.

Rowntree's are passionate about making sweets bursting with flavour since Joseph Rowntree launched the original fruit pastilles in 1881. These sweets contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Available in all supermarket chains.

St Pierre Millionaires Waffle and Brioche Waffle (£1) are tasty little treats, great with a midmorning cup of coffee or an afternoon tea. They are sweet, buttery and moreish. Millionaire's Waffle is made with the real Belgian chocolate and creamy caramel. 

Available at selected Tesco, Sainsbury's and WHSmith stores nationwide.

Whitworts Shots Fruity Biscuits (£1.60) are packed full of a fruity mix of sultanas, cranberries and white chocolate coated shortcake biscuits. Each small sachet is less than 100kcal. They come in handy sizes, ready to enjoy anytime, and make a lovely treat in a lunchbox too.

Available at Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons Poundland, Savers and Wilkos.

Sun-Pat Smooth Peanut Butter (£1.50 for 200g) now comes in a brand new design. Sun-Pat is packed with 96% peanuts. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans, it is a natural source of protein. Spread it on toast, bagels or pancakes, and add any toppings you like, from a classic peanut butter and jam combination to bacon sandwiches. It is a versatile ingredient in many cuisines, and will work perfectly in a peanut sweet potato stew or chicken satay.

It is also a fab ingredient for many bakes and cakes. Recently I baked a batch of Peanut butter slices with Reese's Minis.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Grey Poupon Dijon Vegan Mayo (£2.50) is the latest product in a brand new range of mustard flavoured vegan mayos. Made with finest French mustard, it is a great ingredient for sandwiches, burgers, salads, dips and many other meals. It contains no artificial flavours or colours, and is made with sunflower oil, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, pea protein, lemon juice and more.

Nutritional information: 563kcal and 2g of salt per 100g

NAT Bears (£2.90) are a wholegrain Oat cereal baked into fun bear shapes. Each bear has ingredients sourced from natural origins, no artificial colours of flavours, WholeGrain oat as no.1 ingredient. Serve with milk and enjoy! Available in Chocolate and Honey flavours. The bears look cute and will appeal to younger children.

Nutritional information: 139kcal and 4.8g of sugar per serving.

Available at Tesco & Saisbury's, and will be coming to new retailers later in the year.

Baker Street Rye & Wheat Bread (£1.69) is a tasty stone-baked bread with a rich flavour. Made with a sourdough starter and kneaded to a light texture, it's a good source of fibre, low in fat and has no added sugar. Really lovely with roasted tomatoes and cream cheese.

TREK POWER Millionaire shortbread (£1.75) is a plant-based, gluten free protein bar. Each bar is covered with a natural chocolate alternative, has 15g protein and 100% plant-based ingredients. A handy snack to when you're feeling peckish.

Available at Sainsbury's, Tesco and on Amazon.

Mallow Puffs Salted Caramel Mallow Bar (£1.59) is a super-puffy vegan salted caramel mallow bar dunked in Belgian dark chocolate. V-label certified, made with UTZ certified cocoa and natural flavours and colours.

Available in selected Whole Foods Market stores and in independent health food stores. 

Lizi's Focus Super Muesli/Boost Super Muesli (£0.75 for a 50g or £3.50 for a 400g pack) are made from a mix of toasted and untoasted oats. These tasty muesli are packed full of fruit and nuts. High in fibre and vegan friendly, they have added vitamins and minerals.

Available at Waitrose, on Ocado and lizis.co.uk

Gregory's Tree Organic Strawberry Fruit Twists (£0.89) offer a healthier alternative snack. Twists are made from juicy organic fruit, are gluten free and suitable for vegans, and contain just 60kcal per pack.

Available at WHSmith stores, East of England Co-Op, Planet Organic and on Amazon.

BarleyCup Cereal Drink (£2.50) is made with cereal grains (barley and rye) and chicory roots. It's a natural choice for those who love tea and coffee, and are trying to cut down the amount of caffeine in their diet. It is free from caffeine and suitable for vegans. 

Nutritional information: 17g of fibre, 3.9g protein and 339kcal per 100g.

I'm not a big fan of coffee substitutes, and was a bit hesistant to open the jar. It is surprisingly nice. It doesn't taste like a proper coffee, but it is a pleasant drink.

Available at Holland and Barrett, independent food stores and online at Amazon, as well as www.dolphinfitness.com, superfood-market.com and www.realfoods.co.uk

Peanut butter bars with Reese's Minis

 

I've recently come across an amusing quote: "If you like peanut butter pie, you are either Dolly Parton, or someone who loves her"(Kate Lebo, A Commonplace book of pie). It made me think that I don't remember ever eating a slice of peanut butter pie. I do love peanut butter cookies though, and some other bakes. I know some people love it on pancakes, but for me, it's a No.

Growing up in the Soviet Union, I don't think I even tried peanut butter until my early 20s, it was something I only read about in books set in America. Not sure why, as there were peanuts in abundance, and you could certainly buy cookies with peanuts.

We usually have one or two tubs of peanut butter in the kitchen. My husband eats it regularly for breakfast, on toast, with a generous amount of jam on top. My kids are not so keen on peanut butter sandwiches. 

There was a Sun-Pat Smooth Peanut Butter tub in the last Degustabox. Packed with 96% peanuts, it is a natural source of protein. For many people Sun-Pat is the classic peanut butter. It is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Other ingredients include cane sugar, peanut oil, sea salt.

I fancied baking something quick and easy, and peanut butter slices ticked all the boxes.

My recipe reference was Taste of Home Annual Recipes 1999. I used to subscribe to Taste of Home magazine when we lived in the States, and have a few annuals. This one I got on eBay. I love their Mom's best recipes and meals on a budget sections.

I have adapted a recipe for Chewy Peanut Butter Bars (Meals on a budget).

Peanut butter bars with Reese's Minis

220g smooth peanut butter

125g butter

180g caster sugar

125g plain flour

1tsp baking powder

2 medium eggs

1tsp vanilla essence

2 heaped tsp hot chocolate (I used Cadbury's)

12 Reese's Minis

In a miixing bowl beat together peanut butter and sugar. Melt the butter and add to the mix. Sift in the flour and baking powder, add vanilla and hot chocolate (or cocoa), and beat in two eggs.

Spread into a greased brownie tin (I also added a layer of foil to make it easier to take out of the tin, once cooked). Add the Reese's minis to the dough and push them in.

Bake at 180 for about half an hour until browned, and edges begin to slightly shrink away from the sides of the tin.

Do not be tempted to cut the slices while the bake is still warm. The bake is very wobbly and might even appear under-cooked, but it is cooked. Let it set. Slice into rectangles or squares.

I thought the bars were even better the next day, they were very fudgey and properly gooey. My guys truly liked them, so I might be making them again very soon (if only to take better photos).

You can use any smooth peanut butter, and skip Cadbury's hot chocolate or substitute it with cocoa powder. It's just I bought a tub of hot chocolate to enter the competition, and now am looking for ways of using it (I find it too sweet as a hot drink). 

Summer Degustabox

The summer seems to be whizzing past. It feels like only yesterday we were busy home-schooling and dreaming of holidays. Well, holidays are here, and we have been quite lucky with the weather.

Summer is the theme of the latest Degustabox.
Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.
Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.
Each time the monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3 off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order.

What did we find in Summer (July) Degustabox?

Bebeto Party Mix Tub (£2) is a selection of mixed gummies. They are fizzy coated and chewy, and would appeal to the fans of Tangfastics.
I've only managed one gummy, as it's super tangy, but my guys enjoy the combination of super sour and sweet.
Available at Morrisons, selected Spar stores & Bestways.

Premier Protein Chocolate Brownie flavoured protein bar (£1.49) is a snack with a promise of a feel-good energy, to help you achieve your health and wellbeing goals.
Premier Protein bars are packed with 20g of protein and only 1.3g of sugar. Great post-workout, as an on-the-go snack.
Available in three flavours: Chocolate Brownie, White Chocolate Vanilla and Chocolate Peanut Butter.
Available at Ocado and WHSmith Travel.

Natvia Natural Sweetener (£5) is made from 100% naturally sourced GMO-free ingredients.
Created from a unique blend of stevia, Natvia tastes sweet with no aftertaste.
Crafted for baking and cooking, it is also a great companion to coffee and tea.
Visit www.natvia.com for great recipe ideas.
Available at Tesco, Ocado, Tree of Life and Health Food Store.

Minor Figures Nitro Cold Brew (£1.95) is a dairy-free brew with no added sugar. Minor Figures source the best in-season tea and coffee. Their slow brew process captures the purity and depth of every ingredient.
When opned, nitrogen is released to create silky microfoam.
They are ready to drink but best served chilled.
You should receive 1 item in your box.
Available at Wholefoods, Planet Organic, Sourced Market, As Nature Intended, Ocado, WHSmith Travel, Holland & Barratt and nationwide independents.

We received a Minor Figures Nitro Cold Brew Mocha, an iced coffee made with oat milk, cocoa and sweetener. Oat milk has quite a distinct aftertaste, not unpleasant, just different. 

Wunda Milk Alternative (£1.99) is another dairy-free product in the latest Degustabox. This dairy-free milk alternative is high in protein and calcium, low in sugar and fat, fortified with vitamins A, D, B2 and B12. You can use it in exactly the same way you use milk.
It's log-life, vegan plant-based drink. Ingredients include pea protein, inulin, sunflower oil, etc
It's not available in the shops yet, as the product is launching in 2021.

Nesquik All Natural Milkshake Powder (£1.89) is made with just 5 natural ingredients including natural raw cane sugar. Nesquik All Natural contains no artificial flavourings or sweeteners, but still has the chocolatey taste children love. 
The paper packaging is fully recyclable and plastic-free.
Available at Tesco and Sainsbury's.

ManiLife Peanut Butter (60p) is made from the finest high-oleic peanuts sourced from a single estate farm in Argentina, roasted by experts and blended in small batches to create an explosion of taste.
Available nationwide in Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado and at ManiLife.com.
You should receive two different mini tubs.

A selection of Skinny Sauce sachets was a free gift. You should receive a surprise bag with 4 different items. Add a flavour to any meal without extra calories or sugar. These are zero sugar, low calorie syrups and virtually zero calorie sauces. There are over 70 flavours to choose from.
As you can see above, we got 3 savoury and 1 sweet flavour sachets.

I used Skinny Syrup White chocolate to make a batch of Yogurt oat cookies with saffron icing.

I was most excited about Golden Creek maple syrup (£2.49). It's a blend of pure, dark Canadian maple syrup and liquid sugar. I love maple syrup poured over porridge and pancakes.
Available at Ocado and Home Bargains.

Pravha Lighter Tasting Pilsner (£2) - discover Pravha, from the legendary brewers of Staropramen. Pravha has the bold, iconic flavour of a high quality Czech Pilsner, and is unexpectedly crisp, light tasting and refreshing.
Available in all major supermarket chains.
If you're not a fan of Pilsner, may I suggest adding it to the pancake batter for the best savoury pancakes.

And finally, Plant Pops (£1.50) or Popped Lotus Seeds. This a new snack made with sustainably harvested lotus seeds, popped and roasted before being tumbled with ground peanuts for a subtle peanutty taste. 
They are sweet and salty, and give you a satisfying crunch. It's a lovely snack.
A suggestion which we haven't tried yet is to drizzle them with melted chocolate.
Available on Amazon, www.plantpopssnacks.com, TheVeganKind Supermarket, Harvey Nichols, Londis and Budgens.

Breakfast & On the Go Degustabox (January 2020)

It felt like January will never end, but here we are, ready to say Good bye to the grey winter month. The evenings may still be rather dark, but have you noticed the mornings are getting light earlier?!
For many people January was the month of abstaining - perhaps you've also joined in the Dry January and Veganuary.
January Degustabox is a reflection of these two food trends - it is alcohol-free and has several vegan products.
This monthly food and drink subscription box is an excellent way to discover new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which might have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.
Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.
Each time the monthly box arrives, it's a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks. If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a whopping £7 off discount from your 1st box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use a code 8EVI8 when you place an order.

What did we receive in Breakfast & On the Go box?

Sun-Pat peanut butter (£1.79) is the nation's best tasting peanut butter. Packed with 96% peanuts, Sun-Pat is a great source of protein to fuel you through the day.
It is a palm oil-free product, and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Subscribers will receive 1 of 2 items, while reviewers get both varieties.

Enjoy it in a classic peanut butter and jam sandwich, on toast or crackers, or use as an ingredient in baking (how about a batch of peanut butter choc chip cookies?).
I used a jar of smooth peanut butter to bake peanut butter and chocolate brownies.

Eat Natural Simply vegan peanuts, coconut and chocolate (£1) is a gluten free bar, which combines chunky peanuts, coconut shreds and creamy seeds.
Unsulphured apricots add a note of sweetness and chewiness, while roasted chickpeas deliver an extra protein boost. An undercoating of dark chocolate turns this healthy snack into a more indulgent one.
Available at Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, Boots and WHSmiths amongst others.

Bounce Energy Ball Peanut (£1.79) is "the alpha-male of the Bounce Ball range". Weighing 45g, this gluten-free ball contains an impressive 13g protein, with healthy fats and antioxidants.
Nutritional information: 184kcal and 13g of sugar per ball.
I'm not a big fan of protein balls, but my husband said it was good.
Available at Waitrose, Ocado, Holland and Barrett, Planet Organic, BP and Shell.

Yorkie More & KitKat Chunky More (£1.29) are the latest addition to the range.
Kit Kat Chunky includes a layer of raspberry & hazelnut, while a chunky Yorkie bar has a layer of Oats, apple and cinnamon.
Both have 30% less sugar than similar chocolate bars, contain real fruit and are a source of protein, with Yorkie also being a source of fibre.

While I am all in favour of less sugar in chocolate products and do love fruit, I cannot say we were very enthusiastic about the added fruit.

Whitworths Shots Berry & white Chocolate (£1.60) is a tasty mix of dried cranberries sweetened with fruit derived syrup, raisins and creamy white Belgian chocolate buttons.
Each pack contains 98kcal and 15.7g of sugar. It's a handy little snack to keep in a bag for when you're feeling peckish.

Kallo Organic Honey rice and corn cakes (£1.89) is a new addition to the Kallo range. Long gone are the days of the boring rice cakes.
Honey rice and corn cakes contain 37kcal per cake, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, are low in fat, gluten free and vegetarian friendly. Taste-wise, they are mildly sweet and pleasant.
Lovely for breakfast or when you're feeling peckish.

Wholesums Fresh Veg Popped Chips (£1.75) are a first to the market innovative snack. Made from whole potatoes, whole peas and whole carrots, they leave none of the good stuff out.
Wholesums are only 86kcal per serving, as well as being Vegan and gluten free.
You will receive 1 of 4 flavours in your box,
22g bags are available from Sainsbury's local.

Chescots SuperGut Porridge Pots (£1.99) are on-the-go porridge pots. Chescots brand was founded by the doctor and nutritionist Dr Jamie Mills. SuperGut pots contain half of your daily fibre and prebiotic fibres to support your gut, with over 3x the average fibre content of the other porridge pots.
It comes in two delicious flavours - Raspberry or Blackcurrant & Coconut.
They are vegan, dairy free and gluten free.
You will receive 1 of 2 pots in your box.
Available on Ocado, chescots.co.uk and Amazon.

PrepCo Mediterranean Couscous/Indian Rice/Thai Green Curry/Mexican Rice (£2) are a solution to a quick an easy lunch break dilemma. Convenient to take with you as an office lunch, it just needs some boiling hot water and a few minutes to make a quick and easy meal.
Made with tasty natural ingredients, they contain enough veg to tick off one of your 5 a day.
You will receive 1 of 4 flavours in your box.
Available at Sainsbury's and on Ocado.

I used a pot of Mediterranean couscous as an ingredient for stuffed peppers, which I roasted in the oven.

Zest Vegan Basil Pesto (£2.20) is another vegan product to bring to your attention. It's made of the leaf of the basil and without cheese, or any other animal products.
Free from anything artificial, suitable for vegans and vegetarians, this product is available on Ocado, Amazon, Morrisons and independent stores.
Ingredients include basil, rapeseed oil, ground cashew nuts, white wine vinegar, garlic puree, concentrated apple juice, salt, black pepper, toasted sesame oil and chilli powder.

Crafted Blueberry & Blackberry fruit juice drink (£1.50) is a fragrant refreshing blend of fruit and water. Best served cold, or over ice.
All Crafted juice drinks are made from natural ingredients, with no added sugar, sweeteners or preservatives. They are certified by the Vegan Society and count as one of your five a day.
A pleasant drink, not overly sweet and very flavourful.

And finally, product of the month:
Nescafe Gold Almond Latte (£2.98) is a delicious dairy alternative almond latte, made with a blend of high quality coffee and almond. Each sachet is easy to use and prepare, just add some hot water and stir well.
It has a smooth creamy taste.
Available at Tesco and Ocado, and soon will be available in ASDA, Morrisons, JS and Co-Op.

Disclosure: we receive a monthly food box for the purposes of reviewing.

Peanut butter and chocolate brownies

Peanut butter and chocolate is a classic combination, and there are plenty of recipes online which look tempting. Years ago, in 2011 to be precise, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall wrote an article with Brownie recipes for The Guardian.
I cooked the peanut butter and chocolate brownies only once, they were pretty good, and it was time to revisit the recipe. I don't have the magazine cutting any longer, but the Internet is a wondrous thing, you can find anything you want.
I have adapted Hugh's recipe by cutting down the amount of sugar and also almost halving the cream cheese. I used one pack of Original Philadelphia, and it was plenty. Mixed with peanut butter, it gave a lovely fudgy taste and consistency of a cheesecake. Not sure more cream cheese would necessarily be a bonus, but do check out Hugh's recipe (link above).

Peanut butter and chocolate brownies
Ingredients:
for the chocolate brownie layer:
2 x 100g chocolate bars (I used one milk and one dark bar), broken into pieces
100g butter, diced
90g caster sugar
2 medium eggs
1tsp vanilla extract
120g self-raising flour
1tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
1/2tsp ground cinnamon

for the peanut butter cheesecake layer:
1 tub of Philadelphia Original
1 jar of 200g smooth peanut butter
80g caster sugar
2 medium eggs
1tsp vanilla
2tbsp plain flour
1tbsp cornflour

Melt broken chocolate and diced butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water until smooth and glossy. Set aside to cool.

Beat the eggs with the sugar and vanilla. Sift in the flour and baking powder, add a pinch of salt and cinnamon. Add the chocolate butter mix to the batter, and combine well.

In a separate medium sized bowl prepare a peanut butter layer by beating together cream cheese with peanut butter and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, flour and cornflour and mix well until well blended. You can skip the cornflour, and add an extra tbsp of flour instead.

You will now have two dough types.

Pour the chocolate brownie dough into a greased brownie tin (I lined it with a foil, so that it's easier to take out of the tin once the brownie is cooked), leaving about 1/4 separate.
Then spoon in the thicker peanut butter layer over the brownie layer.
Dot the peanut butter layer with chocolate brownie mix.

Using a wooden toothpick, make swirls through the chocolate batter, making a pattern.

Place the brownie tin in the oven preheated to 180C, bake for about 30+ minutes, until the edges are firm and puffy. If you like gooey brownie, take out now, if you prefer it slightly more set, keep it in the oven for another 5 minutes, though you do want the fudgy texture.
Cool on the rack before slicing into pieces.

The brownie got mixed reviews from my family. While my husband and elder son loved it and asked for seconds, my younger son wasn't very enthusiastic and said he prefers my salted caramel brownies.

In this recipe I used a jar of Sun-Pat smooth peanut butter, as found in the latest Degustabox food box delivery. It's packed with 96% peanuts and is palm oil-free. It's a good source of protein too.

If you don't have this particular brand of peanut butter, use any other peanut butter, preferably without palm oil. You can also use a crunchy peanut butter, though it would change the texture of the brownie.

Anca from CookStyle made a variation of these brownies, using a coconut yogurt rather than cream cheese. Have a peek at her Peanut butter cheesecake brownies, don't they look delicious?!