Homemade Back-to-School Treats: Chocolate Chip Cookies and Peanut Butter French Fries

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

06 Aug 2008 12:15 PM

Year round school started a few days ago in our district and my young daughter couldn't be happier to see the yellow school buses back on the streets. In a previous blog I mentioned that my mom always tried to make the fist day of school special for all of us by whipping up homemade treats.

My brothers and I never took home lunch so we had to wait until the end of the school day to enjoy my mom's edible masterpieces. If your children take home lunch and you want to add a few special touches to their lunch boxes consider the following recipes. The first is for a chunky, yet crunchy chocolate chip cookie. It's a standard recipe but instead of adding traditional walnuts I like to use macadamia nuts.

The other recipe is for peanut butter treats, which are cut to resemble French fries. With so many schools eliminating junk food and replacing it with more nutritious options this might be the closest thing to fries your child will be able to eat on campus. They are fun tasty treats that will be a welcome sight to a kid who would rather be eating a Happy Meal at the beach than sitting in a school cafeteria.

CRUNCHY CHOCOLATE CHIP MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2/3 cup sugar

1-1/3 cups unsalted butter, melted

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.

Beat sugars, butter, and vanilla on medium speed of mixer until blended. Reduce speed and add flour mixture, mixing until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts; dough will be dry and crumbly.

Pinch dough into tablespoon-sized lumps; place onto cookie sheets.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes.

Makes about 40 cookies.

PEANUT BUTTER FRENCH FRIES

Ingredients:

1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips

1 cup sweetened condensed milk

Red icing

Directions:

In microwave melt peanut butter chips with milk.

Remove and stir until smooth.

Pour into a foil lined and greased 9 inch baking pan. Cool completely at room temperature.

Lift out of pan and invert on cutting board. Remove foil. Cut into about 3 inch by 1/4 inch strips.

Use red icing for ketchup if desires.

Related Articles:

Kids in the Kitchen--Turkey Wraps and Hamburger Cookies

Kids in the Kitchen: Sweet and Simple Strawberry Treats

Summer Fun with Kids--Making Tanning Teddy Bear Cupcakes

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Courtney Mroch (9169) 07 Aug 2008 10:23 AM

Peanut butter french fries? CUTE! (And they sound yummy.) Thanks for sharing such a cool recipe.

Michele Cheplic (37236) 10 Aug 2008 04:46 AM

You're welcome Courtney and they are SO easy to make too! Thanks for the comment!