Day One

on
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
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You know what I said about how I wasn’t going to be posting baking and posting recipes when I started pastry school, because I’d be too tired from baking at school?  Well, the last week didn’t count because we weren’t in the kitchens.  And today doesn’t count even though we were in the kitchens.  So I have one more recipe post, if you don’t mind.

Today we toured the kitchens of French Pastry School; there were more than I originally, thought (six!).  We learned where all of the supplies are held and where all the equipment is, which I’m sure I’ll forget by tomorrow.  There’s so much to remember!  We went over knife skills, and also how to use the scales and measure in grams.  Measuring in grams is more accurate, and it’s universal.  It’ll be weird not using cups and teaspoons anymore.  I don’t plan on changing the format for recipes here, though.  Maybe I’ll add additional measurements in grams for people who want to weigh their ingredients.

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I think the most exciting part of the day was putting on my full, pressed uniform: chef jacket, hemmed pants, clogs, apron, and hat.  The hat is a little snug on my full head of hair, but I made it work.  I look like an elf.  A little boy-elf.  I’d show you a picture, but you don’t want to see it.  I don’t want to see it. 

I do like looking at these pictures of Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bars, though.  These were very tasty; I think I liked them more and more after every bar I ate.  They’re amazing out of the freezer, too.

The bottom layer is a salty peanut butter shortbread made from flour, butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and salt.  The crust gets partially baked, then topped with a gooey mixture or sweetened condensed milk, egg, brown sugar, butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips.  The filling tastes like peanut butter-chocolate chip cookie dough after the bars have been baked.  The topping is melted chocolate.  I used a little bit of coconut oil to thin the chocolate a touch.

Enjoy!  See you tomorrow! 

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Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bars

Ingredients:
Crust
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided use
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

Filling
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli)
1 tablespoon oil (I used coconut)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line an 8x8-inch square baking dish with foil; coat foil with nonstick cooking spray.

To make the crust, in a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and salt until creamy and well combined.  Beat in flour until just combined (dough will be crumbly).  Pat dough into the bottom of prepared pan.  Bake 15 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.  Cool 5 minutes.

To make the filling, in a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, salt, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, vanilla and baking soda for 2-3 minutes, or until well combined.  Beat in flour until just combined. 

Sprinkle half of the chocolate chips over crust.  Pour filling over the top.  Bake 20 minutes, or until golden brown and set.  Stir together remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips and oil in a small bowl; microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.  Spread chocolate over bars.  Cool completely before slicing.

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36 comments on "Day One"
  1. Don't mind at all! Your first day sounds exciting with all the tours! The cookie dough bars sound delicious as well.

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  2. I am grateful for the gramms, much better and easier. Let us see the "little boy-elf" picture!:D

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  3. We WANT to see a picture. Doesn't it just make you FEEL like a chef in that get-up?

    You'll get used to the grams thing in no time!

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  4. hat picture!! post hat picture!! :) i bet you are one cute little elf!

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  5. YUM! And don't worry, I don't think those chef hats are made to look anyone non-elfey! =)

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  6. I want to see a picture! You can't tease us with the image of a little boy elf and not come through haha :)

    I've been really tempted to get a kitchen scale and start baking with grams myself. Mainly because I want to try making macarons, and won't even bother attempting that with volume measurements!

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  7. YUM!!! I'm baking this this weekend!! Thank you!!!

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  8. Emily, you're killing me with YUM!! This is a great recipe <3 Also, congratulations on pastry school!

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  9. LOVE IT. Good luck with your studies, and by studies I mean eating, and by eating I mean tasting :)

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  10. ha, everyone else probably looks the same ;) these bars sound right up my alley, yum!!

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  11. Oh my gosh, you just stuck all my fave things together in a delicious looking bar. Danger!!

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  12. You had me at sweetened condensed milk.

    I can't believe it's already been a week! You should definitely post your chef elf picture.

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  13. Please do include amounts in grams -- I use my scale whenever I can.

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    1. Okay, I will. I don't even have a gram scale. Yet.

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  14. I bet you look so cute in your little outfit! I always measure in grams and I promise you get used to it SUPER quickly. And it makes your baked goods really easy to replicate because it's more accurate.

    Oh PB cookie dough anything...how I love you.

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  15. Oh come on! We all want to see the pic! The tours sound really cool!

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  16. If we don't mind?!? How could we mind one of your recipes???

    Now about the uniform thing - we're all out here cheering you on at school. Don't you think it would be easier to cheer if we had a picture so we could imagine you measuring and stirring and baking? Oh, and the picture should show you with a dusting of flour - maybe on your nose?

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    1. Ohhh all right! I'll see if I can try and get someone to take another picture of me tomorrow.

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  17. yuuuuuum! peanut butter AND ccc's? in a bar? fantastic :)

    So excited for more FPS posts :)

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  18. I recently got a kitchen scale so I have weighed ingredients for the past few recipes I have made.

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  19. Oh my they look amazing!! Love hearing about your days at the pastry school, keep em coming. Would love to see a photo you you in your uniform too :)

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  20. Good luck with school Em - I know you have wanted this for ages. I know you will be awesome!

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  21. Yum! This looks so delicious! I hope you appreciate every bit of your new school!

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  22. Just wanted you to know, I have been following your blog for a while now, I love it! I think we were finalists together in the Sandwich Thins contest a while back. This recipe looks delish, chocolate, peanut butter, and cookie dough-my 3 faves all in one!! YUM!

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    1. Hi April! Oh yes I know exactly who you are! Have you been doing much contesting lately? I've tried but had no luck. Thank you so much for reading my blog! I'm going to read yours.

      These bars were good. You'd like them.

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  23. amazing recipe! i need to make these soon!

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  24. These look great! And yes...I think we all want to see you in your school "uniform." ;-)

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  25. I made these for my boyfriend for his flight to see his dad. :) I have so many left over.. and now I'm sneaking in one or two a day. Oii, so delicious!!

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