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Oct 18, 2012

Guest Post : Three Cookies








That's the name of my guest, Three Cookies, not a recipe for 3 measly cookies.
This guest post came at the most appropriate time, never mind that it took Mr T (yes, that's right, that's Mister T to you) 20 months to come up with it. The fact that he actually remembered and made the effort .... I'm happy.

Some of you already know what a crappy few months it's been for me and on top of everything crappy, the car crash I was involved in last Saturday, depriving me of my favorite form of exercise, tennis. And when I'm faced with boredom and lack of exercise, I cook or bake. But, whiplash and a sprained shoulder doesn't make that much fun either. So, yeah, thank you Mr T, your timing is spot-on!

I'M PISSED!!!! So angry with the blinking idiot who drove into my face with no braking space and caused me to t-bone him ... and in the middle of a thunderstorm even! I'm grateful to be writing this here, griping and ranting about it (no episodes of my life flashing before my eyes) but the inconvenience of having no car to go anywhere or do anything. And our public transport is crap! Blinking Imbecilic Idiot!! (Sorry, I'm pissed, remember?) How I wish I had been driving a hummer. That would have been a, "Whoops, what's that? Oh, it's just a bump in the road, drive on."

Right, sorry, Mr T, thank you for allowing me rant.
I'm gonna calm down now and enjoy this. 
Now, as I was saying (before I went on a t-bone tangent) ...

Mr T (first name: "Three", Last name: "Cookies") has 2 very interesting blogs. (How one keeps track and have enough posts for 2 blogs, I know not. I'm already struggling with one). He's been AWOL for awhile now. What he's been up to is for him to know and us to find out. But he's back now and raring to get going again. 
"Three Cookies" is one very unusual blog with 3-part posts of updates on what's cooking/baking, what's the favorite pic of the day and what's the latest in the food world, good/bad.
"Easily Good Eats" is all about his tried and tested recipes ... all easy and good.
Go on over and you'll know what I'm talking about.


And here's Mr T himself.


“Whoo! My first time doing a guest post!” (quote from Pings Pickings) 

Opportunity knocks at every mans (and womans?) door. So when this guest post opportunity came knocking on my door I knew I had to grab it with both hands. Doing a guest post is an honor and great fun, though there is a constant worry. High standards need to be maintained, that’s not easy, and doing a post for Ping means the recipe, writing style and photography has to be top notch. I probably fell short in all areas but Ping kindly compromised her standards and accepted my efforts. Thank you! 

This recipe took me 20 months to make, but its not a slow cook recipe. Sometimes when you see an interesting recipe it gets stuck in your head and if you don’t make it soon it gets on your ‘to make’ recipes list. Over time the list gets bigger, recipes get ignored, forgotten or made after a long time. I first saw the recipe on Eats Well with Others site about 20 months ago and I knew I had to make it.  I never realized it would take 20 months though.

20 months later when I got around to attempting the recipe there was no jam at home. Instead there was mango chutney. According to the laws of ingredient substitution, chutney should work instead of jam. Chutney is effectively jam with spices, and spices and peanuts do go well together. 

The spiciness, saltiness and sweetness, combined with the crunchiness and biscuity (cookiey!) texture was like fireworks in the mouth. 

The bar was excellent but I have one small reservation. I love peanut butter and jam (or jelly!) combination. If I was in the mood of eating peanut butter and jam I would prefer it on toast rather than in bar form. The toast version is unadulterated, you get mainly the peanut butter and jam flavor. In the bar it gets mixed up with flour, sugar, butter and egg, the peanut butter and jam play more of a supporting role. Just a personal preference, don’t let this discourage you. The peanut butter mango chutney bar is still very delicious and if it was offered to me I would grab it without second thoughts.

The recipe is adopted from epicurious. The main changes I made was replacing chutney with jelly and halving the amount. Halving was necessary because mango chutney has a stronger flavor compared with jelly, it can be overpowering.


PEANUT BUTTER CHUTNEY BAR

INGREDIENTS

1½ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder 
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup smooth peanut butter (I used coconut peanut butter)
¾ cup sugar 
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (I used coconut oil)
1 large egg (I used chicken egg)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/8 cup (about 90 ml) mango chutney (original recipe suggests ¾ cup of jelly)
2/3 cup coarsely chopped salted roasted peanuts


DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°F/175°C. Line 8 x 8 x 2 inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Coat foil with nonstick spray. 
2. Mix flour, baking powder and salt
3. In a separate bowl beat peanut butter, sugar, and butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, beat on low speed until smooth. 
4. Add flour mixture to the egg mixture and beat on low speed just to blend
5. Transfer half of the dough to the baking pan. Place remaining dough in the freezer for 10 minutes. 
6. Spread the dough evenly on the baking pan. Spread chutney over the dough. 
7. Remove the dough from the freezer. Break into grape-size pieces and scatter over chutney layer. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts. 
8. Bake bars until golden brown and delicious, about 30 – 35 minutes. Cool completely before cutting. 













Thank you again Mr T for this wonderful usage of the mango chutney other than my using it as a condiment or an accompaniment for the scallops











59 comments:

  1. I will want this to start up my morning..hehehhe

    Anyway¸ glad everything is fine even though there were some damages. speedy recovery to u

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    1. It will certainly kick start your morning

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    2. Thanks, Yee Ling. I am feeling much better altho I can't say the same for my poor car :(

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  2. Ah, I just printed a cookie bar recipe and now have this one to add to it! Sounds interesting to use chutney. Visiting my Aunt this weekend and perhaps this will make a very nice buah tangan. Things can only get better, Ping. Hoping to see you soon!

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    1. Thank you, it will make a nice buah tangan:)

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    2. The more the merrier! And I'm sure your aunt will agree too! I'm looking forward to next month!

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  3. Hi Ping, so sorry to hear about your car crash. Thank GOD you're ok. Keep finger cross and look on the bright side, everything will be fine. *Big hugs for you*

    Nice guest post, the peanuts butter bar look so good. I sure can't stop eating this if you place this in front of me. LOL
    Hopping over to Mr T's blog now.

    Have a nice week ahead, warm regards.

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    1. I couldn't stop eating it, so your suspicion is correct. Peanuts are good for you though!

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    2. Ya, I glad I'm in one piece. Could be worse.
      Thanks, Amelia. *Hug back*

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  4. Oh hell! Ping at least your with us and your not totaly destroyed by that accident you had. I get so pissed sometimes on the road with some people. I don't understand how some people passed their driving liscense exam. I had 3 bike accidents in the last years but 1 was because of a goat on the road, one because of a huge rock in the middle of a road and one because of some idiot who was over loaded with a million things on the bike and bus was coming from the otherside and my brakes failed on the sloap... Ping you ll get better, we will entertain you if you feel bored because you can't work out and play tennis. =)

    Mr. T I am impressed by your bars. Right now I am just wondering what I could use instead of peanutbutter. Sorry we don't get that stuff here and I dont think so I ll get the chance to make it at home so soon. thanks for sharing!

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    1. Don't be discouraged, it takes 5-10 minutes to make peanut butter if you have a food processor. And home made peanut butter tastes better, and its better for you - no additives etc.

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    2. Naw ... maybe the brain got rattled about a little inside ... affected or not ... we'll see :)
      Heck, yeah. There are so many cases of bribing the testers here, some where they don't even need to get into the car! I can't believe they can play around with people's safety and lives that way .... greed!
      But your comment really made me laugh so hard (ouch, my ribs hurt), I'm feeling so much better already! At least with the goat you get mutton curry? Ok, bad joke. That's Mr T's territory (hehe).
      Ok, I'm ready to be entertained!

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    3. I didn't know if you hit a goat with a car it turns into sheep. What do you need to hit to turn into gold?

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    4. Goat meat is also called mutton. Maybe you can try hitting a rock to see if turns into gold?

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    5. I didn't know that. Thought mutton was only sheep, now I know. Maybe goat hit with a car is mutton:) Can you please try running your car into a rock and see what happens???:)

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  5. Thank you for the opportunity/honor. And for the kind words.
    So sorry to hear about the car crash. Look at it this way - this is an opportunity to relax and take it easy for a short while. And there is always computer tennis to fall back to:)

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    1. I can be unkind.
      I'm the one who's honored. Thank you.
      Computer tennis?! No way, those things are just not the same. I'm dying to get playing again. There's nothing like being out there in the courts and running and sweating it out and whacking the balls back at your opponent and getting the point. And then suffer from aches and pains the next day :)

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  6. Ping...I hope you will have wheels soon! And that you're back to feeling good as new soon. So fun to see Mr 3-C again...great recipe!

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    1. I will slowly start to be more active soon, and pay you a visit...

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    2. I have been so blessed with friends willing (an trusting) to loan me their cars for the 3-4 weeks I'm without!
      Feeling a lot better, thanks, Lizzy.
      Yeah, Mr 3C's been away too long!

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  7. I am not having that peanut butter, you can't make me do that, I do have jam, LOTS in fact, and I think my golden apricot jam would be very good in this otherwise wonderful looking cookie. It's not that easy to photograph a cookie, because it just sits there and you have to move it around for he best light, but I think Mr T [to me] has captured the essence of this cookie.

    Last, but not least, Ping I feel your pain, no literally... my left knee locked me in the house and on one level, the good thing is, actually two good things, I am on the level with the kitchen and I am seeing a surgeon on the 30th. Good luck to us both.

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    1. Why? Allergic to peanuts? That's a shame. I would think even a regular cookie bar with the chutney would be just as good.
      Oh dear, sorry to hear about your knee. Good luck and hope whatever causing your knee to hurt isn't too serious.

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    2. You could substitute with another nut perhaps, unless you have nut allergy.

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  8. Ping, just knew that you were involved in a car accident! Hope you have a speedy recovery, I think the only way to keep you exciting is to download few seasons of Modern Family to watch at home & have a good laugh of it!

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    1. Hi Jessie. Thank you, I am recovering very quickly ... thank God for that.
      I'm not sure if we have that show here. I'm not much of a tv person but I sure have been watching quite a lot lately since the accident :)
      I'm hoping to be up and jumping around soon!

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  9. Send some over! You have my mailing address? Wink! Wink! LOL!!!

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  10. Having just visited Mr. Three-Cookies's blog, I am already after the first shock, I already believe my eyes (at first I didn't!), but my hands are still shaking... Welcome back, Mr.Three-Cookies! I am very happy to see you back and in such a good shape. The photos, the text and the recipe are all top notch of course! Congratulations for such a glorious come back! The cake sounds original and luscious and very... "Mr. Three-Cookies" ;-)
    Ping, I'm so sorry to learn you have had a car accident. Luckily apparently you haven't had very serious injuries, but a sprained shoulder and lack of the car do sound very annoying. I hope your car will be repaired soon and that your shoulder will soon get better. I cross my fingers.

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    1. Such good shape??? Really:) Thank you.

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    2. Dunno what shape Mr T is ;)
      As I'm typing this, I am much better, thank you, Sissi. Like I told Mr T, I'm itching to get my normal schedule going soon. Can't imagine I miss everyday schedule. I guess it takes a bit of excitement in life to make one appreciate their normal rut :) LOL!!

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    3. I meant "intellectual" and "literary" shape of course (although maybe it's a French expression!) and his sense of humour hasn't changed a bit ;-) but I can imagine Mr. Three-Cookies has a nicer sun tan than he can have where he lives now ;-)
      Ping, I do hope you can go back to normal car use and your tennis classes soon! If we all wish you best very hard, maybe it will happen quicker :-)

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    4. Ah so. Yup, I'm hoping and impatiently waiting for the car to get fixed real soon. No tennis classes, just good competitive friendly games ... good workouts!
      Hmm ... and I thought hibernation means turning pale white :)

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    5. Sorry, Ping... Once more I meant something else: I wanted to say tennis matches not classes (I am currently obsessed with my Japanese classes with a new teacher, hence the error I suppose!).

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    6. Shape - I knew what you meant, I was just kidding.
      And I think saying classes is also probably correct. Ping teaches tennis, and also plays matches professionally, well not so much these days:)

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    7. Haha! I'm good but not THAT good. Definitely not teaching tennis (not qualified) and not playing at pro level, just club level and friendly (sometimes not too friendly) matches :)

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  11. So sorry to hear about your car accident, Ping! Never a good thing to drive in a dangerous thunderstorm and other people not obeying safety rules...the main thing is that you will mend; no broken bones! Cars can always be replaced. (if its any consolation, I was in a very similar incident, 2yrs ago, 89yr. old driver who could barely hear, and see, but I did not mention on my blog, not even ranting abt. it, just glad to be OK...cars can always be replaced; yes, inconvenience; 'life goes on'...you will get another car)

    As for Mr. T...the only Mr. T that comes to mind is the American Mr. T from the 80' sitcom show, the 'A-Team, other than that I would prefer to have a food blogger be known by a NAME, and not just a fictitious character named after a
    cookie; correct that, 3 cookies...LOL

    Other than that, a very nice Guest Post! Love the PBJ bars, great way for me to use up my homemade mango jam...just wondering why Mr. T specified that he used CHICKEN EGG???...isn't chicken eggs always used in cooking and baking?...what other type of eggs would we use?

    One more thing, Ping...stop 'ranting and raving' and COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! You're a beautiful person, 'hiding behind your tears'...your "crappy" months were left 'unshared' with friends who love and care about you...sigh!
    You could use a big hug, (wish I lived closer)

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    1. It was actually Ping who came up with the Mr T name. You can call me by my first name - Three:)
      Thanks for the kind words.Chicken egg was a joke, trying to be funny.

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    2. I'm sorry you had to read my rantings, Elisabeth. Maybe you should have just skipped those parts and go straight to the recipe. I am counting my blessings. I just needed to vent ... on my blog. And I did share my months of crap on my personal fb page of which you are one in my list of friends. I can't help it if you missed the posting. I don't gripe that much, do I? Ok, there'll be sunshiney posts in future. No more gripes. Thanks for caring.

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    3. Ping, I had no idea you shared your so called 'months of crap' on your personal fb page. I didn't get any notifications...and besides that's one place I don't share too many things. Every time on go on facebook I get bombarded by relatives from Italy, to chat. Maybe I should have been as smart as 'Three' and just use my blog name as my personal name. From now on, I should be called 'food'...actually 'thrift' does identify with me, I am a 'thrifty' person!

      This is your blog Ping, and if you need to 'rant' at the same time while you're guest posting...you just DO so! We all need to vent, and as for me...'woe is me' usually the case these days! You don't hardly every gripe; but when you do, 'Watch out World'...LOL
      I will check out the facebook page, and see if I'm on your LIST:)

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  12. I'm sorry to hear about your crash Ping - I'm glad you weren't too seriously injured... ouch, it must have been so scary :(. Some drivers are so terrible... they shouldn't be on the roads. I always try to be so "safe", leaving a good safety distance between myself and the guy in front and then idiots cut in just to save a few seconds, or change lane and then immediately drift back into the original lane without signalling... grr!

    I love the look of this recipe - what a unique idea, I've never heard of such a cake (is it classified as a cake?) before!

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    1. Hello, Charles. Yeah, it was and still is ... I get jittery each time I pass by that junction (which is so close to my home and hard to avoid), expecting a car to shoot out at me again. Phobia. But I will get over that in time. Sounds like you've had your share of crashes :( ... or near ones.
      Hmm ... good question ... over to you, Mr T.

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    2. Oh, it could be similar to my 4C's bar? In that case it can be classified as a cake-bar :)

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    3. Its a bar. Think 'millionaires slice' - similar category.

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  13. Just like knowing (though I didn't know).. I bought a jar of peanut butter today.. :D

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    1. Yum! Will you be making these with the peanut butter? I know I'd probably finish half the jar before anything else :)

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  14. Hi Ping! I'm very very sorry to hear about your car accident. I also think my next car should be a hammer too considering how bad people drive and I happen to hear more accident stories from those who were innocent. I pray for your fast recovery and rest well...

    I'm so happy that Mr. Three Cookies is back and he did the guest post! These bars look delicious and glad he made it even though it took 20 months. I have a lot of dishes that I saved from years ago and still in folder. 20 months, not so bad! ;)

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    1. Hi Nami! Thank you. Haha! Great idea! I'm just wondering if the parking lots here will be big enough tho :)
      In the states it's fine.
      Yeah, me too.... a reeaal long list :)
      I guess 20 months is better than not at all!

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    2. Thanks, now I feel less guilty about 20 months:)

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  15. Ping, sorry to hear about the car accident. You definitely have a right to feel pissed. I would have probably done something worse than just ranting about it. So go ahead ;-)
    The mango chutney in peanut bars...that's a marriage made in heaven.

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    1. Hi Angie! Thank you for understanding my need to vent :)
      Whoa! What would you have done? I did (for a tiny moment) consider strangling the guy.
      Hope you get to make these bars one day.

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    2. I wonder if the guy reads your blog? If so he is probably too scared to drive, which is probably not a bad thing:)

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  16. Ping, what happened to my comment??? This is what I wrote:
    This is wicked and sinful. Wicked because I can see and cannot taste. Sinful because you are making everyone now craving but not able to have a slice. I love how you twisted. Let's twist together one of these days in the kitchen.

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  17. "This recipe took me 20 months to make but it's not a slow cooker recipe" with a line like that, I don't even need a recipe! too funny ;)
    I absolutely love the idea of the mango chutney in these squares...I think I may have to try your experiment this weekend (hopefully it won't take me 20 months) 3/8 of a cup? Oy. I feel like I'm back in math class...;0-). Delightful recipe Mr. 3 cookies! Thank you. I think my hubby will love them :).

    Ping, I'm so sorry to hear about your car accident... This on top of an already difficult time as you describe. What a drag. You know, in the spiritual world, a car accident is often described as a sign from the universe that you need to be moved out of one place (where you might be "stuck") and into another place...I don't know if that makes sense in your life context but I sure hope good things are on their way for you!

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    1. Hehe ... he's a hoot!
      I'm ok now, Kelly. Luckily I'm young (ahem) and physically quite fit so the recovery was quick. Some massage and inflammatory meds helped as well.
      Hmmm ... that universal sign bit makes some sense I guess. I've been wallowing in a blue haze and that probably "unstuck" me somewhat. Looking forward to some "sunshine"!
      Thanks Kelly. Your comment really perked me up :)

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