I've Been Mentioned!

Thanks to Marye at Baking Delights for featuring my (sort of) recipe for Banana-Filled Peanut Butter Cookies! I appreciate the recognition, as I only know whether or not my stuff is any good by how it's recieved... I can't eat any of it! This is something that Andrew loves, though he asks me not to make it for him too often in order for him to stay in shape for Police Training! I'll re-post the recipe here, though it is available both at Marye's site and on GroupRecipes.

The photo is from FoodTV, as is the original recipe (a la Anna Olson, who is the Canadian Pastry Goddess). I've tweaked the amounts and types of ingredients somewhat, to appeal to Andrew's preference for a not-as-sweet snack. I'm sure the original is just as good, however!

Banana-Filled Peanut Butter Cookies

Makes 12 sandwich cookies

Cookie

1/2 cup stick margarine, room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter (or add 2 T chopped peanuts)

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Filling

1 tbsp margarine

1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp light rum

pinch each cinnamon and nutmeg

2 small bananas, sliced

1/2 cup light cream cheese

1/2 cup smooth light peanut butter

For cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Cream together margarine and sugars until pale and fluffy.
3. Beat egg and vanilla, add to creamed mixture. Stir in peanut butter.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.
5. Blend with peanut butter mixture.
6. Drop 24 balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet and press them with a floured fork.
7. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool on sheet.

For filling:

1. In sauté pan, melt margarine.
2. Add sugar and increase heat to medium-high. Stir until melted and bubbling.
3. Add rum, cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Stir in bananas to coat, pour into a bowl and set aside.
5. Cream together cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth.
6. Mash bananas and add to cream cheese mixture until smooth.
7. Chill for 20 minutes.
8. Fill between 2 cooled peanut butter cookies to make sandwiches.