Salty and sweet...

I picked up some dried tart cherries at Trader Joe's this weekend and only need a few of them for a dish later in the week. Since I knew I would have a bunch leftover, I thought I would use up a good portion of them in a cookie.

Cherry Peanut Butter Oat Cookies have a slightly crisp outside, are quite chewy and have a toothsome texture from the rolled oats. When I was going for the first bite, I was surprised by the intense peanut butter aroma. The first taste was a rush of peanut butter followed by chewy tart cherries. The three flavors meld well into a hearty cookie.

The first part of dinner tonight was an interesting savory custard, Individual Corn Custards with Bacon-Potato Crust. These creamy individual cups pack a bit of heat from diced jalapeños. Some of the corn and milk are pureed together to bring thickness to a mixture of milk, eggs, and flour. The rest of the corn is sauteed until lightly brown to give a roasted taste and some chunky texture. The custard is baked in a water bath until just set in the center. A mixture of crispy bacon and baked chips is sprinkled on top and broiled until a golden brown.

Broccoli Chowder accompanied the above custards to finish out the meal. We both agreed that this soup was an exciting addition to our recipe file. This comforting dish was creamy, rich and quite satisfying. Onion, carrots and celery are cooked with potatoes and garlic to create the flavorful base. The broccoli is added in two stages - first the stems are thrown in so they have a longer time to soften, and then the florets to cook until tender. Finished with sharp white cheddar and sour cream, the soup ranks right up there among our favorites we have tried so far.

Recipes
Broccoli Chowder
Cherry Peanut Butter Oat Cookies
Individual Corn Custards with Bacon-Potato Crust