baking as a release...

in college i feel as if i let myself get so caught up in everything going on that i forget to take a breather and rejuvenate myself. so, this year i made a conscious decision to take care of myself and not let me get too stressed. now, one may ask how i would go about doing that..in my experience everyone has their own way of de-stressing. it could be just locking yourself away and listening to some soothing music; for others it could be going for a walk, or shopping away the stress. but, for me, it is purely baking. i love being able to whip up a batch of cookies or brownies to perfection. all of my stress releases when i am mixing the different ingredients and when i get to wash all the pans when i'm done. but, the best part of baking is when i get to deliver cookies to other people.

living on a floor of freshman/sophomore college students makes it very easy for me to hand out cookies. baking on the floor, the smells from the kitchen spread across the floor and a good amount of people end up in the kitchen to get a warm cookies straight out of the oven. seeing peoples faces light up when they eat a cookie, or when they tell me that it made their day...really ends up making my day. giving people just an ounce of happiness makes me so happy because i think my mission in life is to spread joy all over.

last night i had the crazy idea to try and make up a new kind of cookies. normally when i bake i make one of two things: my homemade chocolate chip cookies, or my double chocolate brownies. [it is a very rare occasion for me to sway from one of those two things] but, last night i wanted to try something else out! then...my creative juices got flowing.

last night i made peanut butter chocolate chip pretzel cookies. possibly the greatest invention ever. everyone that was in the kitchen kept hearing me say "okay, guys if they arent good just tell me. because seriously they could turn out terribly" and everyone kept responding "no, your cookies are always magic" [how nice! it makes my heart so warm inside!]

so, the cookies came out of the oven...looking quite decadent but i was still quite nervous of the flavor. everyone quickly grabbed one...and turns out, they were great! i was told that this cookie i had just discovered tasted like a Take 5 candy bar except missing the caramel. that is when i decided that the next time i make this cookie when they come out of the oven, i will drizzle caramel over the top to make it that much better.

having people appreciate the cookies that i make really made my day that much better. if ever i am stressed or freaking about something i know that if i take the time to bake a batch of cookies my mood will be better because of the smiles that i will put on others' faces.

i think this is something we all should be aware of. when we are stressed we are going to build up more stress or stress out others around us. take some time, however you like to de-stress, be with those you love, and have a cookie :). life will become that much better when we take the time to enjoy what is around us.

slightly unrelated but this song is on.... "life's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away" take this to heart. live life to the fullest, don't let stress get you down.

here is the recipe:

1 1/2 c of flour

1 tsp of baking soda

1 1/2 c of butter [room temperature]

1 1/4 c of sugar [can add more if desired]

1 c of peanut butter

1/2 tsp of vanilla

2 eggs [room temperature]

1/2 c of chocolate chips

3 c of pretzels [i used the mini pretzels, but rods work as well!]

1. Preheat your oven to 350

2. whisk together the flour and baking soda in a separate bowl

3. use an electric mixer to blend the butter, sugar, and peanut butter. until fluffy.

4. add the vanilla and one egg at a time, mixing completely before adding the second egg.

5. gradually mix in the flour mixture

6. add the chocolate chips at the end.

7. crush the pretzels in a bowl, form the ball of dough and dip one side into the pretzel mixture. then put the dough [pretzel side up] onto the cookie sheet.

8. put the cookies in the oven for about 7 minutes then rotate the pan for another 6-7 minutes.

9. let cool for about 3 minutes, then serve and ENJOY!

Please let me know what you think of this recipe...if it doesn't taste exactly right, please let me know! i am always looking to improve and i need my recipes perfect for when i open the bakery!