Brianna's Scrumdiliumptious Cookies and a "Quail Crossing" Intervention

Check, check, checkedy-check, and check is my sanity still in the building?  I think I somehow lost track of days and whether or not my sanity was still hanging around sometime back in June. (Could have been much earlier than that, hmmm?)

It all started innocently enough.  I hopped in my car to run down to the farm stand to pick up more fruit for another jam run when I saw them with my own two peepers falling out of my eyes; a daddy quail playing crossing guard in the cross walk across the street from my house. 

Seriously, it wasn’t even my fault I almost ran them over. I mean for Pete's sake who in their right mind plays crossing guard without a proper uniform on?  An intense stare down between Daddy quail and me ensued.  I darted him my harshest “Dude, really” glare.   It had little effect on him though, he was relentless I tell you as he glared back at me with his, "I'll end you right now Hot Pajamas" stare. He waited until the wife and kids were safely across the street and stood there in the middle of the cross walk and did the unthinkable, I’m completely sure he winged me the bird. That was totally uncalled for in my opinion.  I hollered at him, "Dude if you want to play crossing guard for your woman and kids you should have at least have a brightly colored vest on."  I mean come on, you are smart enough to use the crosswalk, yet lack the comprehension that wearing highly visible apparel (especially with your 9-inch stature) would be a good idea.   

I proceeded to tell Hot Dog Dude all about the traumatic incident, but he just looked at me like I was crazy. I reminded him, hey sometimes I really am crazy, but this time I assure you I was not.

I decided to take action into my own hands and contact the neighborhood watch captain to see if we could get some signs installed or something.  When the neighborhood watch captain finally did get back to me apparently there is no money in our budget for quail crossing signs or apparel. Kind of pisses me off, I mean if we don't have the money for such necessities; are the street lights going off next.

So out of the kindness of my own heart I decided to work on outfitting Mr. Quail with proper safety attire. I got the hat designed so far, and I used Ted as a model. 

Not so bad if I do say so myself.  I will work on the vest soon and then comes the tricky part, getting Mr. Quail to come over so I can measure him for a fitting...

Oh my God!  Here I am rambling on and on again and you probably only stopped by here because you saw the kick-ass cookies my niece had me make for her.  Well, with no further ado.

Brianna's Scrumdiliumptious Cookies

Adapted from The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook, Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies, aka “the Nora Ephron” 

Peanut Butter Cookies: 

1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened

1/3 cup (3 1/2 ounces/125 grams) crunchy peanut butter  

3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces/150 grams) granulated sugar 

2/3 cup (5 1/4 ounces/150 grams) packed brown sugar 

2 large eggs 

1 1/2 cups (8 ounces/227 grams) all-purpose flour 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 

2 cups rolled oats, such as Quaker Old Fashioned 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

Chocolate Ganache filling:

6 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped

4 ounces or 1/2 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 

2.  Make ganache.  Heat the heavy cream in a small sauce pan until simmering.  Pour the cream over the chopped chocolate in a heat proof bowl, whisk until combined.  Whisk in butter and set aside.

3.  In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, peanut butter, and sugars and cream on medium speed about 3 minutes.

4.  Add the eggs and mix until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, oats, and vanilla and mix until combined.

5.  Chill dough for 1-2 hours.  

6.  Scoop tablespoon sized balls (no need to flatten) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silpat.

7.  Bake 10-12 minutes.

Cool the cookies on a rack.  Once cool spread the thickened chocolate ganache on one cookie and top with another.  If your ganache hasn't firmed up enough, put it in the fridge for a little bit and it will be nice and workable.

I think I got about 24 sandwiches out of the deal, but I was quality testing as I was making; so don't quote me on that.

My niece named these cookies and I have to say besides her being one super smart cookie they have become one of my new favorites.

Quail Out!  

Gina