Peanut Butter and Honey Cookies

There is nothing quite like a good cookie, especially when it is well deserved. This week's recipe for peanut butter and honey cookies is dedicated to the Vanderbilt women's track and field for their successful completion of the 2011-2012 indoor track season. Great races were run, PR's were set, records were broken, and cookies were shared in celebration on the bus ride home. Combining seven simple ingredients, these cookies are great for any occasion and take very little time to prepare. All ingredients may be purchased in either Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, a batch of 35 cookies will cost you $7.54 or $0.22 per cookie. This does not include the cost of cooking spray.

Peanut Butter and Honey Cookies 

Yield: 35
Total Cost: $7.54 (does not include cost of cooking spray)

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and honey. Stir in the eggs and peanut butter.

 

Sift together the flour and baking powder and blend into peanut butter mixture.

Shape dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Use a fork (spray with cooking spray) to form a criss cross pattern on tops of cookies. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Reviews
"Jo, it tastes like a childhood memory at Grandma's house."
"Woah, this is really good."
"I like how you can taste the honey because usually peanut butter is really strong."

Fried Rice

Although I am not involved with the Asian American Student Association (AASA) at Vanderbilt, I do enjoy utilizing my blog as a means of recognizing on-campus events. Thus this week's recipe for fried rice is inspired by the AASA's upcoming event, The Asian New Year Festival: The Dragon King*. Fried rice is a staple in Asian cuisine and can take on many variations. This version of fried rice is made from a combination of white rice, vegetables, bacon, egg, chili garlic sauce and soy sauce, all of which may be purchased in Varsity Morgan. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this hearty side dish will cost you $7.56 or $1.51 per serving. This does not include the cost of cooking spray.

*If you are interested in attending the festival, visit http://www.vanderbilt.edu/leadership/asian-new-year-festival-2012-the-dragon-king for additional details. It is scheduled to take place tomorrow evening in the Student Life Center Ballroom.

Fried Rice
Yield: 5
Total Cost: $7.56 (does not include cost of cooking spray)

• 2 cups Minute Instant Enriched Long Grain White Rice, cooked and cold
• cooking spray
• 2 slices bacon (crisply cooked, crumbled)
• baby carrots and green beans, chopped (from vegetable tray)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 eggs, whisked
• 1/4 cup whole kernel corn
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon garlic chili sauce

Cook rice as directed on packaging. Allow to cool overnight in refrigerator. Fry bacon until crisp. Drain on a paper towel and allow to cool. Meanwhile, chop vegetables and boil in a saucepan for about 4 minutes. Whisk eggs and set aside. Drain vegetables and combine with corn in a small bowl. Set aside vegetable mix. Crumble bacon into small pieces and set aside as well. 

Place large frying pan with vegetable oil over medium heat. Add rice and stir with spatula for about 2 minutes. Push rice to one half of the pan, then push pan to the side of the burner so that the empty side is in the middle of the burner. Turn burner up to high and add eggs, stirring with quick and choppy pushes of the spatula until egg is cooked and in small pieces.

 

Add vegetables and bacon to the pan. Move the pan back into the center of the burner, turning the heat down slightly. Mix all the ingredients together until cooked and hot. Add soy sauce and garlic chili sauce. Stir and serve hot.

 

Reviews
"Holy crap, Jordan - that might be the best fried rice I've ever had. Nice work!"
"Jordan, you make good fried rice. I try a spoonful and is good - like kung pow! Nice addition of chili sauce."

Chocolate-Raspberry Tart

As promised, this week's recipe is a Valentine's Day dessert recipe that can be made either in conjugation with Spaghetti Carbonara alla Varsity Morgan or simply as a decadent ending to a Valentine's meal of your choosing. Chocolate and fruit is a traditional combination that exudes romance. The pairing of chocolate and raspberries in this tart is no exception. With ingredients that may be purchased in either Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers, you can create a rich and elegant dessert that is absolutely delicious. Even better, it can be made ahead of time if kept overnight in the refrigerator. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this Valentine's Day treat will cost you $17.70 or $1.47 per serving. This does not include the cost of cooking spray and salt. Happy Valentine's Day!

Chocolate-Raspberry Tart

Yield:12

Total Cost: $17.70 (does not include cost of cooking spray and salt)

• cooking spray
• 24 OREO Sandwich Cookies with the filling scraped out (crushed)
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 9 tablespoons butter, melted
• Emerald Dark Chocolate Cocoa Roast Almonds (1.5 oz bag)
• 12 oz chocolate chips
• salt
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream substitute (1 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons whole milk and 2 1/2 tablespoons melted butter)
• 1 1/2 cups raspberries, rinsed and dried

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove filling from cookies and crush, either in a plastic bag or using a food processor. Combine with sugar and set aside. Add butter and mix until just combined. Spray tart pan with cooking spray and place a parchment circle in the bottom. Press crumbs firmly into bottom of tart pan. Place tart pan on cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until crust is dry and set. Allow to cool.

Meanwhile, roughly chop almonds and set aside. Remove crust from tart pan and place on a large plate. In a large bowl, combine chocolate chips and a pinch of salt. In a saucepan, prepare the heavy cream substitute and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Pour cream over chocolate chips and let stand 1 minute. Stir gently until chocolate melts and is smooth.

Pour chocolate into cooled tart crust. Refrigerate for 15 minutes before scattering raspberries and almonds on top. Continue to refrigerate for an additional 15 minutes or until set. Top with vanilla ice cream, if desired, before serving.

Reviews
"Even the crumbs are good."
"Wasn't going to eat the whole piece but I definitely just did."
"I don't even like chocolate. But this is good."
"It keeps getting better with every bite."
"It got stuck on my hair and then I ate my hair."

Spaghetti Carbonara alla Varsity Morgan

Valentine's Day: the day we love to hate. Planning the perfect Valentine's Day may seem hard but even with just ingredients from Varsity Morgan (and maybe some flowers) you can be sure to impress your sweetheart this Valentine's Day. Nothing says "I love you" like a home cooked meal and spaghetti carbonara will surely not disappoint. Even better, it is easy to prepare yet absolutely delicious. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this pasta dish will cost you $4.35 or $2.17 per serving. This does not include the cost of cooking spray, salt and pepper. Note, this is the first of a two-part post dedicated to Valentine's Day. Be sure to check back next week for the dessert recipe! 

Spaghetti Carbonara alla Varsity Morgan

Yield: 2

Total Cost: $4.35 (does not include cost of cooking spray, salt and pepper)

• 7 oz thin spaghetti
• cooking spray
• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream substitute (4 teaspoons whole milk and 2 teaspoons melted butter)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup sweet peas
• salt and pepper

Cook pasta as directed on packaging. Add salt to water before cooking and reserve some of the water before draining. Meanwhile, fry bacon until crispy. Set aside on paper towels to drain and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Prepare heavy cream substitute by combing milk and melted butter.

 

 

In a large bowl, mix together the egg yolks, heavy cream substitute, and parmesan cheese.

 


Mix the pasta, peas, and bacon into the egg mixture. Add pasta water as needed and season with salt and pepper to taste. 

 

Reviews
" I think this is one of my favorites."
"This is pretty good."
"That spaghetti is so good I don't need a Valentine - I will cook it for myself!"