Mimi's Butterfinger Cookies

From the book The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love
(a former Sammy read)

½ cup sugar
1⅓ cups dark brown sugar
1 stick butter or margarine
4 eggs
3 tsp. (running-over) vanilla
2½ cups chunky peanut butter
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
20 oz. (approximately) Butterfinger BB’s or chopped up candy bars


In large mixing bowl, mix first 5 ingredients.
Stir in peanut butter.
Add flour, baking soda, salt, mix well.
Add Butterfinger candy and mix.
Drop teaspoon size blobs on cookie sheet and bake @ 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes. Do NOT over bake.

Makes approx. 6 dozen cookies.


Rhonda’s Notes:

To fully appreciate this recipe you need to read this very funny book. There are also some other YUMMY recipes.

I cut the recipe in ½ and it made 3 dozen cookies.

Cake-Mix Chocolate-Chip Cookies

Cake-Mix Chocolate-Chip Cookies

1 box cake mix, any variety, such as yellow or devil's food
1/4 cup (1 stick) melted butter or margarine
1/4 shortening or oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
1 cup (6 ounces) chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat cake mix with butter or other fat and the eggs and vanilla until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips, and the nuts, if using.
3. Drop batter by the teaspoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet, spacing each 2 inches apart.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until edges begin to brown but centers are still soft. Cool 1 to 2 minutes on sheet before removing to a wire rack. Bake in batches, as necessary, until all batter is used.

Enjoy,
Teri

artichoke dip recipe

Thanks to Karen for hosting last night. Sorry I couldn't stay long enough for all the mightily planning - looks like I missed a lot.
By popular demand here is the recipe for the dip I fixed last night. It is fast and easy and comes from a co-worker of mine Cherise Still.

Artichoke Dip

1 can artichokes, drained. I bought the whole artichoke hearts and chopped them pretty fine in the food processsor.
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
garlic to taste

Mix together and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. I served with blue tortilla chips.

See you all in a couple of months to discuss Benjamin Franklin!

Diane

March Meeting Merriment

We were a small but mighty force at Karen's house last night. Mighty because we attempted to answer deep probing questions about the excellent novel Montana, 1948 by Larry Watson. And, mighty because we planned (Vivian, we planned mightily!) our next course of reads and hosts for upcoming meetings. These are posted on the sidebar, which is to your right. Karen served us excellent food and with an amazing artichoke concoction from Diane, and "refreshing" cucumber dip from Susan, we partook as usual (no further reporting necessary from the social columnist here, but recipes will follow no doubt at some point -- send in your recipes because we are women!). Karen's husband lured some of us into the basement afterwards for a PS II kareoke challenge. He so wanted us to stay for five more hours doing this; we told him to plan a separate party. Anyway, it was an enjoyable and productive night. I feel like Eva Wood from my parent's community newspaper. Onward, upward. Love, Teri P.S. Your turn to blog now. :)

Montana 1948

With Teri's help and help from the Internet - I am posting some questions for everyone to think about before we meet Thursday night, March 13th to discuss the Montana 1948 book.

How is the "harsh life" demonstrated?
Why is there so much description given to Bentrock and its location?
What is the importance of the year 1948?
What is the importance of the Indian reservation?

Questions to think about when comparing the brothers:

How do their descriptions differ?
Why is David more disappointed in his father than in Frank?
Both Frank & Wesley hold the Indians in low regard. What is the difference in their attitudes?
Frank's suicide is a selfish act. Wesley's handling of Frank's crime is a selfish act. What is the distinction?
Who paid the highest price, Frank or Wesley?

Questions about Julian:

What is the initial impression of this man?
What are his connections to the Wild West?
What are his reactions to Wesley's life style and Frank's crimes?
What does Julian feel being a police officer means?
What is Wesley's definition of a law man?

Other questions:

When do you have to speak out against evil?
Does justice mean jeopardizing your family and future?
Does power and influence wash you of your crime?
Is justice larger than family?
Why did David's family survive while the extended family seem to self-destruct?
Why is the past a foreign county where things are done differently?
How is this novel about privilege and power?
How have you been affected by this?

See everyone Thursday!

Karen