Peanut Butter Earth Day Cookies

Peanut Butter Earth Day Cookies

Peanut Butter Earth Day Cookies

Happy Earth Day! I pinned Sweetopia's Peanut Butter Cut-Out Cookie recipe around Christmas and am just getting around to baking it. I made the dough ahead of time, and covered it in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer in a freezer bag. I took the dough out of the freezer the day before I planned to bake the cookies for it to thaw. Peanut Butter fans will love this cookie. The texture is a little crispy and full of a rich peanut butter taste. I made Earth Day cookies to resemble our planet tinting the dough using AmeriColor Soft Gel Paste in Sky Blue and Leaf Green. See recipe below.

Peanut Butter Earth Day Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies Ingredients

Yield: 2 Dozen Cookies

1 cup Smooth Peanut Butter

1 cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter, softened and each stick cut into 8 cubes

2 Extra Large Eggs

3/4 cup Granulated Sugar

3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar

Peanut Butter Earth Day Cookies

4 cups All Purpose Flour (I use King Arthur)

1/2 teaspoon Coarse Salt

2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

Pretty Peanut Butter Earth Day Cookies

Directions
Cut each stick of butter into 8 pieces.

Combine in a small bowl the granulated and light brown sugar; set aside.

Sift flour and salt in large bowl and combine with whisk or spatula; set aside.

Cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars together in a bowl of an electric mixer with paddle attachment on low to medium speed. Mix until incorporated, about 1 minute.

Lining up dough in two rows and alternating the 2 colors.  

Scrape sides of bowl with spatula and mix again for 5-10 seconds more.

Add eggs one at a time. Scrape down bowl with spatula and mix again for another 5 seconds.

Add vanilla extract, and mix for 30-45 seconds.

Slowly add flour mixture and mix on low speed for 1-2 minutes.

The dough combined

When dough clumps around paddle attachment it is ready.

Form dough into a ball. Divide dough in half.

Tinting Dough
Use 6-8 drops of AmeriColor Soft Gel Paste in Sky Blue and then tint the other half in Leaf Green. Continue adding a few drops of color and knead the dough until combined. Divide the dough into golf size balls and line up in two rows, alternating colors. Gather dough together and shape into a ball.

Cookies right out of the ice cream scoop about to get pressed down

Cover dough with plastic wrap, and cool in fridge for 1-2 hours or overnight or freeze in freezer bags if making several days ahead of baking time. When you need the dough, take it out of the freezer one day in advance and put in your fridge. Take out of the fridge 1 hour before baking, so the dough is not rock hard.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Close-up of the dough

Take round dough, and with an ice cream scoop, press firmly into scoop and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper two inches apart. With the palm of your hand, press on each ball and press down on the dough.

Put cookies in the freezer for 10 minutes before baking. They hold their shape when you do this.

Bake cookies for 8-12 minutes, or until edges are slightly browned. My cookies baked in 11 minutes.

Cookies fresh out of the oven

Let cookies cool in baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

Let cookie sheets cool completely before you bake again. I put the cookie sheet in the freezer for 5 minutes. Repeat until you have baked all the cookies.

Cookies on cooling rack

For further information:
For the Peanut Butter Cookie recipe, please visit Sweetopia:
http://sweetopia.net/2014/11/the-perfect-peanut-butter-cut-out-cookie/

Enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys

Jak Jeckel Gourmet Pepper Sauce

Jak Jeckel Gourmet Pepper Sauce

Great Sauce and Great Branding

Based in Philadelphia, PA Jak Jeckel Gourmet Pepper Sauce is the company flagship product and started out in 2013. This is one of the most flavorful hot sauces I recently tasted, and cooked with. It is very thick and hearty and has a unique aroma that makes you really crave it. This is the first non-vinegar based hot sauce reviewed on Two Frys. The absence of vinegar lets the pepper base shine through wonderfully. I love the blend of Red Bell pepper puree, Habaneros, Chipotle and Jalapeños. There are accents of both salty and sweet, and the essence of fruit from the Lime Juice and orange zest. The aroma shines with the smell of all spice and the Jak Jeckel seasoning blend. Another unique element comes from the use of clove in the sauce. The flavor enhances your food without an overpowering vinegar taste since this sauce does not contain vinegar.

Jak Jeckel has a cool looking tattoo art style branding, and one of the best sauces I tasted in 2015. The heat is mid range, spicy yet not overly hot. This sauce will go quickly so order a few at a time. Some of the food I used Jak Jeckel with was on pizza, steamed vegetables, scrambled eggs, and chicken wings baked in the oven smothered in the sauce. Everything I put Jak Jeckel tasted great and my chicken wings were ultra tasty.

Jak Jeckel believes in flavor first instead of overpowering heat. With recent extreme heat focus in the hot sauce industry, it is great to see a company like Jak Jeckel. The thick rich sauce hit your tongue beautifully with each bite. I recommend Jak Jeckel as both a condiment and cooking additive to give your dishes a zing.

Next up from them on the blog will be Winter Cinnamon in a recipe here at Two Frys.

For further information, go to Jak Jeckel Gourmet Hot Sauce: jakjeckel.com

“Like” Jak Jeckel Gourmet Hot Sauce on Facebook: jakjeckel.peppersauce 

NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2016: nychotsauceexpo.com 

-Allen/Two Frys

Smokehaus Salsa By Born to Hula

Smokehaus Salsa – Born to Hula

Homemade Two Frys Burrito Bowls topped with Smokehaus Salsa

Smokehaus Salsa by Born to Hula is one of the best, smoked salsas I ever had. Born to Hula is a local hot sauce company from Highlands, NJ. We have been fans of their sauces for several years now and are really into the Smokin’ Pineapple Mild Hot Sauce they make. Smokehaus Salsa is a fairly newer product from Born to Hula. The Salsa has a nice smoky tomato aroma. The Salsa has a base of fire-roasted tomatoes, and is made with the Born to Hula Smokehaus blend. Some of the other ingredients are Vidalia onion, cilantro, Lime Juice, garlic, cumin, and one of my personal faves, Chipotle Chiles.

Thick, Smoky and Chunky, top your foods with this great Salsa

Smokehaus Salsa is not very hot but packed with fresh flavors and a chunky consistency. Try this Salsa on nachos, taco salad, burrito bowls and taquitos. Smokehaus is also a great addition on the side in homemade burritos. I also topped some Mexican style rice with Smokehaus Salsa and it was great.

Try Smokehaus Salsa on some Multi Grain Corn Chips

Born to Hula’s Smokehaus Salsa is a recommended product for fans of low to mild heat and smoky flavors. The salsa is a family friendly, as it does not have any extreme peppers in the ingredients. I am currently using several Born to Hula Hot Sauces to cook with to create recipes and reviews for Two Frys. 

I am very pleased with the amazing taste, quality and freshness of their Salsa and Hot Sauces. Last year, Born to Hula got a Two Frys Seal of Approval for the “Reaper of Sorrow” Extreme Hot Sauce. Get some Smokehaus today and liven up your nachos and southwestern style dinners.

Ed from Born to Hula with Allen of Two Frys at NYC HS Expo 2015

For further information, please go to Born to Hula: borntohula.com

“Like” Born to Hula on Facebook: facebook.com/BTH52

NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2016: nychotsauceexpo.com

-Allen/Two Frys

Blackberry Belle By Gemini Crow

Blackberry Belle

Gemini Crow Sauce Co.

Gemini Crow is run by Dov Teta and is based in Montague, NJ. This local company has a nice lineup of sauces, extreme salt, and a Limited Exclusive at this years hot sauce expo. The limited sauce is called Death By Primo Hot Marinara Sauce. This sauce should be great to try out at the expo I am looking forward to it. This review is for Gemini Crow Blackberry Belle All Natural Hot Sauce. Blackberry Belle is a unique Blackberry Habanero Hot Sauce. This Blackberry fruit based hot sauce is truly a treat for your taste-buds. 

Two Frys Sweet and HOT wings with Blackberry Belle

The combination of Blackberries and Raisins make a great base for this very hot Habanero sauce. More of the all natural ingredients in Blackberry Belle include Vinegar, Sugar, Blackberry Extract and Sea Salt. This sauce is a great addition to your cooking to add a sweet yet hot heat to your foods. Blackberry Belle is dual use as both a condiment and an additive to your home cooked dishes and BBQ. The Sauce is great on pork chops and also superb on chicken wings which is my personal fave to make with the sauce. 

Sweet, Hot and Tasty great on Chicken Wings, Blackberry Belle

Blackberry Belle adds a real kick to your chicken wings so just baste wings well with Blackberry Belle before baking them, and then have a dipping bowl on the side for even more of a kick. The sauce holds up well on both chicken and pork in the oven. 

Dov of Gemini Crow and Allen Two Frys at Expo 2015 NYC

Last year, I was able to interview Dov Teta as a vendor for last years 2015 Expo. This interview is on the blog here at Two Frys. I have had the pleasure of speaking to Dov at the 2 past NYC Hot Sauce Expos and am looking forward to seeing him again this year. Gemini Crow sauces come recommended by me Allen at Two Frys. Make sure to get some Blackberry Belle as it's definitely the "Belle of the Ball". 

2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo Exclusive, Death By Primo

Web Gemini Crow Sauce Co.: geminicrow.com

Facebook: Gemini Crow Facebook

Gemini Crow Interview: Two Frys

NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2016: nychotsauceexpo.com 

- Allen/Two Frys

Tapestry By Tom’s Roid-Rippin’ Hot Sauce

Tapestry - Tom’s Roid-Rippin’ Hot Sauce

In a recent search for ultra flavorful hot sauces concentrated on flavors not heat, I went to my friend Tom’s Stratford, CT based company, Tom’s Roid-Rippin’ Hot Sauce to inquire about his medium heat, Tapestry Hot Sauce. I was quite pleased with the flavors and mild to medium heat the sauce Tom sent me provided. Tom’s line of Roid-Rippin’, kick your butt sauces are pretty darn hot. I have tried almost the entire line at the NYC Hot Sauce Expos over the past 3 years. All the hot ones are really great and recommended. I hear Tom has an extreme Reaper Pepper Sauce now I have yet to try.

Turkey Burgers with Provolone and Tapestry

Tapestry has a unique flavor with a real complex yet smoothly blended array of peppers and secret spices. Tom really went all out with peppers with the Tapestry recipe including: Thai Chiles, Habanero, Habanero Extract, Cayenne pepper, Serrano peppers, Jalapeño peppers, Anaheim peppers, Sweet Red peppers and Hot Cherry peppers. Wow, that is eight peppers and interestingly enough the Habanero Extract does not affect the taste in a bad way at all. Tapestry has a great fresh pepper taste perhaps from the Sweet Red peppers, and the aroma of peppers in this sauce is very satisfying.

Great Texture and Taste, Forget Chili Sauce use Tapestry Hot Sauce

Some of the other noteworthy ingredients are tomato paste, onions, honey, molasses, Lime Juice, garlic and more. The amount of vinegar is not enough to overpower the pepper blend or taste. Tapestry is a very hearty hot sauce with some nice textures and not runny, but with a medium thickness that is just right. The bottle label has great art of a red eye Unicorn. Tapestry is recommended, full of flavor and has a mild/medium heat. This is a great sauce for your friends and family that cannot handle extreme sauces, Let one rip.

Tom Himself "Letting One Rip" at Last Years Expo 2015

For further information, please visit and “Like”: 
Tom’s Roid-Rippin’ Hot Sauce on Facebook

NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2016: nychotsauceexpo.com

-Allen/Two Frys

Angry Irishman Hot Sauce

Angry Irishman Hot Sauce

Angry Irishman from Woodville, OH offers an award winning tomato base, smoky flavor hot sauce. The proprietor of Angry Irishman is Kevin Mackey who has been making the sauce since 1996. Kevin started in Florida and then moved back to Ohio and continued his passion of making his hot sauce. Angry Irishman is a really, “hot” hot sauce. The heat level is from the Habanero peppers in the sauce. Angry Irishman also includes Jalapeño peppers. The hot blend of the tomatoes and peppers enhanced with spices, dehydrated onions, garlic powder, vinegar and water is a great combination.

Angry Irishman with a Two Frys Avacado and Tomato Scramble

This is what I call a great pub sauce to add to restaurant and bar foods like wings, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, fried zucchini, and the like. Angry Irishman is a great sauce for home use as well. This is a true hot sauce, and puts the “hot” in sauce. Try using some in your homemade chili and in your ground beef when making taco meat. The hot heat is not for the heat intolerant. I found Angry Irishman to have a nice smoky flavor followed by a tolerable hot burn.

Angry Irishman with Brunch, Great Label and Branding

Angry Irishman does the Toledo Farmers Markets on Saturdays and this year will be at both the Louisiana Hot Sauce Expo and the NYC Hot Sauce Expo. Angry Irishman is healthy and completely natural. The sauce does not contain any artificial colors or preservatives. 

Angry Irishman is a nice and hearty hot sauce

Again, I will mention this sauce is hot and the label says, “Use with caution”. I loved this sauce on eggs, quesadillas, nachos, and even used it to spike spaghetti. I recommend the bold flavor of Angry Irishman for fans of the hot heat. The hot sauce is not too extreme, just hot and tasty.

Angry Irishman Logo Crest

Web: angryirishman.net

Facebook: Angry Irishman Hot Sauce Facebook

NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2016: nychotsauceexpo.com

-Allen/Two Frys

Elijah’s Xtreme Ghost Pepper Sauce

Elijah’s Xtreme Ghost Pepper Sauce

It is always a pleasure to write about a product that I love so much. Elijah’s Xtreme Ghost Pepper Sauce is one I truly love. Based in Gastonia, NC Elijah’s Xtreme is a father and son business with over 10 years in the making, and have perfected their sauce and is highly recommended by me. Elijah’s Xtreme Ghost Pepper Sauce is a welcome vendor to the 2016 NYC Hot Sauce Expo.

Elijah's Xtreme with Shrimp, Clams and Rice

Elijah’s Xtreme has a pleasant aroma from ingredients Naga Jolokia (Ghost peppers) and the Habanero peppers. In this wonderfully “HOT” sauce is the accompanying tomatoes, vinegar (just a bit), roasted garlic, garlic powder, carrots, Lime Juice, onion powder and passion fruit juice. The sauce advertised as “Xtreme” has the heat and burn Chili-heads will love. The extreme heat of the Naga Jolokias and Habaneros combined leaves you with a lingering and tingling burn that is very hot, yet not overpowering.

Elijah's Xtreme Ghost Roasted Cauliflower

When combined with foods in cooking or as a condiment Elijah’s Xtreme is just right. It is not for the heat intolerant yet I can recommend it as a getaway extreme super hot sauce for beginners seeking more heat in their sauce. This would be a great introduction to the world of extreme super hot hot sauces. Elijah’s Xtreme Ghost Pepper Sauce is already an award winning (five or more) awards at some very big and prestigious competitions. Last year on Facebook, I won a case of Elijah’s Xtreme and was able to share some with friends and family. The feedback was A+ from all the people I shared my sauce with. In California, I hand delivered a bottle to my good friend who used it on his BBQ grill with meats and his smoker too. 

Elijah's Xtreme Ghost Roasted Cauliflower coming out of the oven

I gave a bottle to my nephew who is a big ghost pepper fan and the sauce made its way to PA with him to share with his friends in college. Again, I got A+ feedback. I sent a bottle to my cousins in Oklahoma and they used it to elevate the heat level in their BBQ and cooking. To give it an even bigger test, I gave a bottle to my Moroccan friend and his wife and they both loved the heat and thickness as I do.

Elijah's Xtreme with a Two Frys Frittata

This thicker sauce is really tasty as well as hot. The tomato and carrot base along with the high pepper ratio is a great accompaniment to add droplets on your foods. Elijah’s Xtreme does not have a vinegar flavor like some Southern hot sauces just an amazing pepper and vegetable flavor.

 For further information, please visit Elijah’s Xtreme Ghost Pepper Sauce: elijahsxtreme.com

“Like” Elijah’s Xtreme Ghost Pepper Sauce on Facebook: Elijahs Xtreme Facebook

Order on Amazon: Xtreme on Amazon 

NYC Hot Sauce Expo 2016: nychotsauceexpo.com 

-Allen/Two Frys