Not Your Mommas Vanilla Extract Recipes

NOT YOUR MAMA'S COOKIES!

Steps:

• 1. Allow butter and eggs to come to room temp. I usually take them out about 2 hours before I'm ready to use. Chop chocolate squares into rough chunks, set aside. Mix dry ingredients (flours, baking soda/powder and salt) together and set aside
• 2. In mixer, cream together sugars and butter for about 5 minutes, until they are light and super creamy. (seems like a long time, but this is worth it) Add eggs one at a time and blend after each addition until well mixed. Stir in vanilla. Switch mixer to low and slowly add in the dry ingredients just until mixed in. Fold in the chocolate chunks and peanut butter chips. (Walnuts or almonds or pecans would be awesome in this!! I couldn't add any bc no one in my family likes them, except me)
• 3. At this point, this is where the willpower comes in!! Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of batter and then place another piece of wrap over the top of bowl and refrigerate for 36-72 hours!!!! I know, I know. But this step is well worth it. It gives all of the flavors time to "marinate" and get to know one another. The cookies are rich and so flavorful. It adds caramel notes of flavor because of the butter and brown sugar...... yum, I'm drooling lol
• 4. Finally, the day is here and you can bake them!! Preheat oven to 350* **During cooking process, keep the batter in the fridge to keep cold and always use a COLD baking sheet. Line baking pan with parchment paper. Break pretzel sticks. I broke mine into half and then half again. But it's up to you and it depends on the size of your sticks. You don't want them too small, bc you want to be able to taste them. Using an ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, scoop out dough. If it is too hard, run the scoop/spoon under hot water for a second. Shape dough into ball and place on prepared cookie sheet. Don't crowd the cookies, bc they do spread. Take your broken pretzels and stick them in the ball at random places. I used 4-5 pieces in each cookie. (you add the pretzel pieces now instead of when you make the batter, bc you don't want them to get mushy and still have a crunch) Sprinkle sea salt on the top of each cookie (this just takes the cookie up up and away!!)
• 5. Place cookies into oven. Cook for 15-20 minutes. Check on them at 15 minutes. Mine took all of the 20 minutes to cook. Let cool for a few minutes then transfer to wire rack to finish cooling......if you can wait, lol Finally you can enjoy the best cookie you've ever tasted! Try not to burn your mouth on the hot cookie!!

HOMEMADE VANILLA

Steps:

• Submerge vanilla beans in vodka and store in a cool, dark place for several weeks, shaking occasionally.

NOT YOUR MOMMA'S FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300 f. Grease an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan; line pan with parchment paper; grease paper. Set aside.
• 2. Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
• 3. In a bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar; beat until mixture is combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on medium speed until combined (batter may appear curdled).
• 4. Combine orange peel, juice, corn syrup, and vanilla in small bowl or cup. Add flour mixture and juice mixture alternately to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Add the fruits and nuts and fold into batter then spread into prepared pan.
• 5. Bake in a 300 degree F oven about 1-1/2 hours or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. If necessary, cover cake with foil the last 15 to 30 minutes to prevent overbrowning.
• 6. Thoroughly cool the cake in on wire rack; remove from pan. Wrap cake in 100-percent cotton cheesecloth. Slowly pour 1/4 cup orange juice over the cake. Overwrap in foil. Store in refrigerator 2 to 8 weeks; remoisten cheesecloth about once a week or as needed. If desired, sprinkle with turbinado sugar and garnish with orange-peel curls before slicing.

NOT YOUR MOMMA'S VANILLA EXTRACT

Steps:

• Cut each vanilla bean lengthwise with a sharp knife or scissors, leaving 1 inch uncut at each end of the bean. Place split beans into the bottom of a glass jar or bottle. Pour vodka over the beans to cover completely. Screw or fasten the lid on the jar and shake. Store, shaking the jar occasionally, in a cool, dark place for at least 2 months.