Lovebirds parts 1 and 2 finished, and peanut butter cookie recipe

I've finished piecing the first two parts of Tommy and Camille's wedding quilt.   It's really fun to work on.   The photo helps me to see a place or two where I might want to add a little more appliqué.  

I'm just working from a loose plan, sort of Jan Patek-style.

The main thing was figuring out the trimming sizes for each big block or groups of smaller blocks. 

A glance back at the sewing room as I shut the door behind me (childproof doorknob, lol) -

Charlotte spent the afternoon with us.  We had lunch on the patio, went for a long walk, made peanut butter cookies to share with a neighbor, rested and watched a show.  Back at Kaela's I made dinner for the family, and there we go, another day is done.  My sister-in-law Amy has come into town to help Kaela for a week, hurray!  This may mean more sewing time for me;).  

The following recipe is based on an old Cook's Illustrated recipe, but I don't add extra peanuts, and I increased the amount of flour.   

My Favorite Peanut Butter Cookies 

Makes 3 dozen. 

Ingredients: 

2 3/4 C flour 

1/2 tsp baking soda 

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt 

2 sticks (1 C) butter, softened

1 C brown sugar 

1 C sugar

1 1/4 C JIF extra crunchy peanut butter 

2 eggs 

2 tsp vanilla extract 


1.  Line three cookie sheets with parchment paper. 

2.  Combine dry ingredients in a small mixing bowl; set aside. 

3.  Cream butter and sugars.   Add peanut butter, eggs and vanilla.  Mix to blend well.  

4.  Stir flour mixture into butter mixture. 

5.  Using your hands and a spoon, make little craggy mounds of dough, 12 per cookie sheet;  using a fork dipped in water, make "criss cross" marks in each mound of dough.  

6.  Bake at 350 degrees, 11-12 minutes.  They will be slightly puffed and browned around the edges. The centers will not look completely baked.  Cool on cookie sheets a few minutes until the cookies settle.  Transfer to a cooling rack. 

7.  YUM!