When Almost Counts

Horseshoes, hand grenades and…

It has been said that “almost” only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

I’d like to add Pseudo Peanut Butter cookies to the list.

You see, together, Boy and I create the “short stick” when it comes to the DNA code that allows a body to safely ingest foods such as [the Iraq] milk, eggs, cheese nuts and legumes. Not a problem really, except that all three of our kids, drew the short stick.

To dine out we must then tolerate some minor inconveniences like:

1.     Only being able to order 1 item off the Taco Bell menu

2.     Never going to Chick-Fil-A (which houses the best indoor play place in Indy)

3.     Having to verify with every waitress, if butter is premixed with the veggies or if milk was used in that breading on the chicken nuggets and of course if the deserts were processed on equipment shared with the contaminants we are trying to avoid and blah blah blah blah blah.

Consequently,

we don’t go out much and

our kiddos don’t get a lot of junk food.

Like they need the empty calories anyway right?

RIGHT!

Oh wait except, I love to bake and I love to eat what I bake and that means I have to do my cooking after the kids are in bed and then HIDE when I get the chance to eat it (because it’s rude to eat in front of others when they can’t enjoy it with you).

Although I have found great joy in eating an entire batch of cookies all by myself, a greater joy is found when I share. With this idea in mind, I have tried to tweak some of my favorite recipes so that my kids can get in on some of the sweet action too. Some recipes are a work in progress but the pseudo peanut butter cookies are good to go.

Sure, a refined palette will be able to detect the differences but to kids who have never experienced the wonder that is “peanut butter”, these cookies are close enough.

Any closer and they’d all be receiving VIP ‘treatment’ at the nearest ER.

If you want the recipe here it is.

I sincerely hope none of you need it. 

Anaphylactic reactions are a challenge no one should have to live with

and my sympathy goes out to all who do.

Pseudo Peanut Butter Cookies

(for the peanut/egg allergy child you may know)

INGREDIENTS:                                                DIRECTIONS:

½ cup shortening                                                1. Combine shortening, sunbutter and sugars until fluffy (This

½ cup sunbutter (pseudo peanut butter)              mixture will not get as fluffy as traditional cookie dough -

½ cup white sugar                                                    but should get pretty close.)

½ cup brown sugar                                             2. Add vanilla and egg replacer. Mix until combined.

1 tsp vanilla                                                           3. Finally add sifted dry ingredients.

2 ENER G egg replacers (or 2 eggs)                 4. Shape dough into 1” balls and roll in sugar. Place on a

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour                                    greased cookie sheet and press down with a fork.

½ tsp salt                                                               5. Cook at 375 degrees for 6-7 minutes (less for softer cookies).

1 tsp baking soda                                                      Immediately remove from cookie sheet onto a cooling rack