Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies {after-school snack}

I'm back! & Happy to be cooking again :) This year has been quite the year for us---especially the last couple of months.  You can see more about the new addition to our family & other going on's here

These cookies are perfect for all those pb&j lovers out there & a great after-school snack.  Use your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe-I used peanut butter spritz cookies for evenly round, decorative cookies.  Don't have a favorite? Try these.

Bake & cool your cookies as directed.

For the filling:

1/2 pkg. cream cheese, softened

2 cups (more or less) powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 Tb. seedless jam of your choice (I used blackberry)

Beat cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer.  Gradually add powdered sugar until thick and creamy.  Mix in vanilla and jam...you can add more or less jam to taste.  Add additional powdered sugar if needed to make a thick frosting.

Pipe (or smear) frosting onto the backside of one cookie, top with another to form a sandwich.  Repeat with remaining cookies.  Store filled cookies/leftover frosting in the refrigerator. Frosting will thicken as it chills.

Enjoy!

Creamy, Wiggly Jello {after-school snack}

This is a quick & easy fun treat that the kids can help make--my kids love to help...just be careful with the boiling water :)

You Need:

2 Large or 4 small boxes of flavored gelatin

2 1/2 cups boiling water

1 small box vanilla instant pudding mix

2 cups cold milk (I use fat free)

1. Bring water to a boil.  Add gelatin & stir to dissolve. Set aside.

2. Mix together pudding mix & milk.  Whisk until it starts to set a little.

3. Add gelatin to pudding, stir until well combined.  Pour into a glass 9 x 13 pan (or for thicker treats, into a 9 x 9 inch pan).  Chill until firm, about 3-4 hours.

Enjoy!

*****

We sometimes like to mix & match.

To make 2 flavors in smaller batches:

Use 1 large (or 2 small) box of gelatin & half the water, then eyeball half the prepared pudding per flavor.  Pour each flavor into a separate dish (it fits great in a glass pie plate). Chill.

Try mixing flavors too...this time we made peach-pineapple & cherry-lime....I thought the peach-pineapple was great!