PEANUT BUTTER SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Okay. I have to admit. I am NOT a peanut butter person. I am really not a chocolate person either. But I am a shortbread cookie person and my family loves pb & chocolate. So why not combine the two but in a healthier manner. I searched around and so many had ingredients I just don't keep in my home. So it was time to play. I have seen on numerous occassions sour cream being used on baking. Primarely cakes but no reason it can't go in a cookie. One major issue, I am lactose intolerant and sour cream is just too much for me. Greek yogurt however is not and I always sub fage for sour cream (you should totally try it in potatoes!). Now for the sugar and butter. Well if we are adding yogurt we don't need to add as much butter because your creaminess is coming from yogurt as well. Great. Sugar is always easy. Maple syrup, agave, splenda are all easy subs. For flavor I kept a little brown sugar and added maple. Easier than I thought. 

As I said earlier I am not a pb fan. I have never liked pb cookies. These converted me. They are so good. A tip if you want them to be round like regular cookies let them sit in the fridge then use a cookie scoop. Onto the recipe!

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cup Flour

1 stick (8 tbsp) butter (room temp,  must be soft)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

3 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup peanut butter

100 g of plain Greek yogurt (I use Fage)

Optional: Chocolate chips (amount and kind in up to you)

Bake 20 - 30 mins at 250ºF

Instructions:

*Preheat your oven to 250ºF*

1. Mix butter, sugar and yogurt. Once thoroughly mixed, add in your vanilla. 

2. Add your peanut butter. Mix thoroughly.

3. Add your flour 1/2 cups at a time. This way everything gets mixed right. 

4. If you are letting them rest in the fridge do so for 30 - 60 mins. Otherwise line a baking pan with parchment paper and pour your mix into the pan and spread out. I suggest a 7 x 12 pan.

5. Bake for 20 - 30 mins depending on your desired crunchiness at 250ºF. As soon as they are done, slice into squares or rectangles. 

6. Whole those are cooling, start melting your chocolate chips.

• Use a double boiling method. Fill a pot half way with water, place glass or metal bowl on top making sure it sits just above the water and seals all around the pot. You don't want the steam escaping. Stir every couple minutes to make sure all the chips melt. Once melted it's time to dip your cookies in them.

7. EAT!

MY FAVORITE LEARNING SITES

DUOLINGO https://www.duolingo.com/
Duolingo is a great and easy to navigate tool for lanugage learning. Spanish, French & Italian might be the most popular but that also have Swahili, Chinese, Russian and so much more.  What makes the site so great is the way they integrate audio, written and visual learning methods. I enjoy the little motivation tools they use which makes it seem sort of like a game. There is paid upgraded version but you can still get great lessons with the free version. They also have a mobile app.

KHAN ACADEMY https://www.khanacademy.org/
I came across Khan when I was homeschooling. I was totally lost with my son's math work. Khan came in so handy. Various mini lectures on numerous topics, feels like a private tutoring sessions. The videos are short and striaght to the point which is great on preventing people from getting bored.

COURSERA https://www.coursera.org/
Coursera large selection of college courses on a variety of subjects. Some of these courses have the option to get a certificate of completion once you finish and pass the course. This is very much set up like a structed classroom with reading lists, "homework" and group discussions. Coursera is my favorite but I don't want to pass up mentioning Udemy & Edx.

CODECADEMY https://www.codecademy.com/
This one is new to me but I think it's a great site to learn some of the basics of computer programming. Codecademy has lessons on CSS, Ruby, PHP, Java, HTML, and more. Everything is done within the site itself. No need to download anything which I love.

It's a new year don't hesitate to learn something new!

5 TIPS FOR PACKING BETTER

1. PLAN PLAN PLAN

It might seem silly to make a plan to pack but doing so can help prevent leaving stuff behind. It also helps prevent over packing. I am trying to get into the habit of only taking what is really needed for my trips. This way I don't have to worry having to do a lot of shopping. 

Make sure you check the weather where you are going. This is the best way to make sure you don't pack too many clothes you don't need or even want. No more freezing and no jacket or a jacket but no swim suit! Check the temps then move on to your next step in your planning.

Make a list. Seriously. Online, on paper, it doesn't matter. Make a list. Think about what you want to do on you trip and where you want to go. Plan on seeing a lot of movies or maybe museums. A camera may not be needed. Doing a lot of outdoor activities maybe bring some extra sunscreen. Make a list of everything you need to bring and how many of each object.  

2. A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

Don't be afraid of having a bunch of containers. Bags for shoes are great not oly to prevent scuffing but to keep dirt off your clothes. If you have some clothing containers use those to keep everything organized. Don't forget a pouch for your plugs, makeup, etc. These don't need to be large you can be amazed about how much you can fit into small containers. 

3. FOLD IT RIGHT

Well I guess we really aren't folding. We are rolling. Rolling your items believe it or not can decrease wrinkles but free up so much more space. This is great to also use in packing cubes. Many will allow you to easily roll. I don't have these just yet so I just roll and place directly into my suit case. You can search yourtube for plenty of videos on using the konmari method for travel or organizing. This can be extremely helpful.

4. MINIMIZE

You do not need to take the full sizes of everything! Still have small containers from makeup samples? Containers from your last hotel stay? Use those. They take up less space but still allow you to bring your favorite items. Another trick is to get small versions of your favorite perfumes just for travel. Or go ahead and buy the travel containers from your local store. The dollar tree usually carries plenty and only $1!

5. WEAR IT!

This is great if you need to pack heavier items like a throw or coat. Just wear it. This way you know you have it with you but you aren't taking up space in your luggage. Count the outfit you are wearing as your travel outfit too. Again space freeded up! Wear the sneakers instead of the flipflops. They take up more space than you think in your suitcase.

BONUS TIP

Take advantage on your carry on tote/purse/backpack. Pack your lighter electronics in there or even your laptop if you need to do some work while traveling. Add in some snacks, water, wipes, etc. Don't forget skin care. you can easily put on a mask while flying or taking the train. It's a great way to relax and also keeping up with your skin care. I like to carry my plugs in my bag so I know I don't forget them.