I'm in Love ... With Mr. Peanut

When I was little, I had a crush on two, and only two, animated "men."

Speed Racer and Mr. Peanut.

Speed Racer was just CUTE. Even though his lips didn't really move in concert with his speech, and DESPITE the fact that he wore a lot of super girly white pants, I thought he would make an excellent and really fun boyfriend.

My other boyfriend was more sophisticated. For whatever reason, I overlooked the fact that he was completely naked except for a top hat, spats, gloves and a monocle.

He's just that classy.

I collected oodles of Mr. Peanut memorabilia, as our house was usually full of nuts. Yes, in addition to us, you smart alecks!

I LOVE peanuts. I love most nuts actually, but I love peanuts the most. I love them at ball games, in and out of the shell, in sweet and savory dishes, and of course, on Southwest.

I still remember vividly the first time I had a honey roasted peanut, as a matter of fact, and the moment glows in my mind.

To me, all other nuts are a snack, but peanuts and peanut butter are FOOD. I even made a card to prove it.

Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy You & Me

Ink: Basic Black

Paper: Watercolor Paper, Crumb Cake, DSP

Accessories: Deco Framelits, Lukas Aquarell Studio Watercolors, Aquapainter, Burlap, Lace Trim

I was super excited to be invited to talk about my beloved peanuts as a guest contributor to Fabio Viviani's online magazine. I met Fabio at his event here in Austin, which I wrote about here. If you EVER get a chance to meet this man in real life, you need to grab it - he is hysterically funny, in addition to his culinary talents.

I have several favorite peanut recipes I thought about for this post, but I just made a new one last night that I HAVE to share with you.

I was pining for peanuts one day on Facebook, and my sweet Virginia friend Jimmi just up and sent me a DELICIOUS can of incredible Whitley's Virginia Peanuts and a peanut cookbook! THIS COOKBOOK HAS A RECIPE FOR PEANUT BUTTER AND BACON COOKIES! Those are next on my things to try list.

But since I had some Confituras Strawberry and Vanilla Bean Jam calling my name, I decided to try out the Peanut Butter & Jelly Blondies. And here's what happened right before I ate them.

Oh. My. Word.

If there was ever a spiritual home for my beloved peanut, this creation is it.

I don't have a very big sweet tooth, and this dessert is perfect for me. It's not very sweet, but the peanut butter and jelly combo is SO satisfying, and I added Jimmi's peanuts to the top for a yummy, salty crunch. The choice of jam could not have been better. I bet it would be spectacular with tart cherry jam as well.

This is the easiest dessert I've ever made. You need to drop what you're doing and make it right now. I'm not kidding. Listen to me.

Here are the deets.
(Adapted from 24 Hours of Peanuts, by the National Peanut Board - thanks Jimmi!)

Ingredients

1 stick butter, melted
1/4 C. Creamy Planters Peanut Butter
1 C. (packed) light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 C. all-purpose flour (Gluten free? substitute peanut flour)
1/4 tsp salt

Topping

1/3 C. Creamy Planters Peanut Butter
1/3 C. Jam (I used Confituras strawberry vanilla bean)

Preheat oven to 350 and line an 8x8 glass pan with foil. (Bonus of this recipe - clean pan!) Spray the foil with cooking spray and set aside.

Combine the melted butter with peanut butter and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until thoroughly combined. Add the brown sugar and salt. Add the egg and vanilla, stirring just to combine. Gently add flour and stir just until combined - do not overmix, or you will make tough blondies, and no one wants that. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

On top of this, put 4 or 5 dollops of your peanut butter (I recommend softening it in the microwave) and 4 or 5 dollops of jam. Marble them back and forth with a knife to make a fun pattern.

Bake for 23-17 minutes - just until the center is set and the edges pull away from the sides just a bit. If you are strong like bull, let them cool for 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Otherwise, eat them immediately. Garnish with chopped, salted peanuts.

Whisper my name. You may whisper "Mrs. Peanut" if you like. :)

Loveyameanitbye.

You're The Bee's Knees!

You may have heard about Small Business Saturday in between your pie and your Cyber Monday.

This past Saturday was a day where you were encouraged to shop at the very heart of American business - the sole proprietors, the mom and pop shops - the people who took big risks to try to to make it on their own instead of slaving away in a cubicle.

I'm lucky enough to call one such small business owner a good friend - Korin Sutherland.

I never get tired of the stories of people who started a business literally in their living rooms. Korin did just that when she started Sweet 'n Sassy stamps five years ago and she's been a huge success.

As much time as I spend BUYING and PLAYING with stamps, I honestly don't know how she has the energy to DESIGN and MAKE stamps, but she does, and I'm so thankful that because she does, I have a sweet friend.

Korin and I met through Splitcoast, when she became a member company, and I just love her to death. She is sweet, and she is sassy :), so her marketing skills are obviously on point!

Anyway, today we're having a little birthday party for Korin and Sweet 'n Sassy, so I really hope you'll hop around and see all the cards her friends have designed for her birthday party. Here's mine, for a girl I think really is the bee's knees.

Stamps: Bee Happy Rhubarb 

Paper: Crumb Cake, Polka Dot Party, Chevron treat bag

Accessories: Sizzix Westminster Hexagon Dies (2")

So happy birthday, friend! Thank you for making the world sweeter and sassier! Y'all hop along now!

I WANT to Care About The Drought, But I Don't.

Yeah, so it's raining.

I hate rain.

Rain fills me with despair.

Actually, much to my father's horror, water in any significant quantity fills me with despair.

I feel like some crazed woman in a Bronte novel who will soon be driven out onto the moors and into the soggy heather to lose her mind.

I understand that there are people out their who CLAIM that rain fills them with joy. Or they CLAIM to care that we need rain.

Because I'm about to run into the soggy heather in my petticoat and gnash my teeth and rend my garments, I cannot CLAIM to believe any of these people.

Perhaps when the sun returns I will be more tolerant of the aquarian types, but not now. Do not talk to me about aquifers and your dead grass.

I cannot hear you above the English accents in my head telling me to flee and cast myself into a bog.

The only place where clouds and rain are beautiful are on paper.

Stamps: Pace of Nature Ink: Pool Party, Basic Black 

Paper: First Edition, Silver Glimmer Paper, Pool Party, Crumb Cake 

Accessories: Sweet 'n Sassy Cloud dies, 3/8" circle punch

I miss you, sun.