FOOD FRIDAY
Today's theme is Peanut Butter...enjoy !!

Whole Jar Peanut Butter Cookies
I found this recipe a few years ago and have loved it ever since. Use your favorite brand of peanut butter. Don't overcook. Make them even more special by drizzling melted chocolate over the cookies once cooled. Makes 5 dozen.

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 (18 ounce) jar peanut butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chopped peanuts

Directions
1. In a large bowl, cream butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, yolks, and vanilla; mix until fluffy. Stir in peanut butter. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the peanut butter mixture. Finally, stir in the peanuts. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
3. Roll dough into walnut sized balls. Place on the prepared cookie sheet and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Cookies should
look dry on top. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to cool completely on a rack.

Peanut Crusted Beef
4 pounds top loin beef, trimmed and cut lengthwise into 2 long pieces
½ cup dry mustard
¼ cup warm water
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 cups chopped Spanish peanuts
salt and pepper to taste

Sear beef on grill. Mix mustard, water and peanut butter; spread on all sides of beef. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, pressing nuts into surface of beef, if necessary. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a roasting pan in a 450 degree F oven and roast until desired doneness is indicated on meat thermometer. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing to serve.

Banana Wrap
1 8-inch flour tortilla
2 - 3 Tbsp peanut butter
2 - 3 Tbsp jelly
1 sm Banana, peeled

Place tortilla on a paper towel. Microwave 10 to 20 seconds on HIGH until the tortilla is soft and warm. Spread with peanut butter. Top with jelly. Place the banana near the right edge of the tortilla. Fold up the bottom fourth of the tortilla. Bring right edge over the banana and roll-up.

Banana Peanut Butter Brownie Pizza
A 21-1/2 ounce package brownie mix
A 8-oz package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
3 large bananas, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
2 squares semi-sweet chocolate (optional)
2 tsp butter

Preheat oven to 270F. Prepare brownie mix as directed. Spread batter evenly in greased 12 inch pizza pan. Bake, then cool.

Mix cream cheese, sugar, and peanut butter with electric mixer on medium speed until blended well. Spread mixture over brownies. Arrange banana slices over cream cheese mixture, sprinkle peanuts. Cook chocolate and butter in heavy saucepan on very low heat, stirring constantly. When completely melted drizzle over peanuts.