Happy Cinco!

I am in LOVE with Cinco de Mayo! Why? I'm not sure, but I really do get excited every year! I love the excuse of being able to get discounted Mexican food all day long, spend time with friends, and have a good time! In fact, tonight I am going to a fiesta and was in charge of bringing a couple items. I made Black Beans and Rice and Tres Leches. I've posted the Tres Leches recipe before right here. Here's the recipe for the Black Beans and Rice

Lime Black Beans and Rice

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1 finely chopped yellow onion

2 tsp cumin

2 tbsp thyme

2 tsp paprika

1 1/2c white rice

3 c chicken broth

1 can black beans

juice of 1 lime
salt to taste

chopped cilantro, for garnish

Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and chopped onion. Saute 3 minutes, then season with 2 teaspoons cumin, thyme, and paprika. Pour in chicken broth and raise heat to bring to a boil. Add rice and lower heat to simmer when boil resumes. Cover pot tightly. After 12 minutes, stir in black beans and lime juice. Replace cover. Cook another 15 minutes. Turn off rice and beans, season with salt and stir to combine then let stand until ready to serve. Sprinkle cilantro as a garnish.

Cinnamon Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last year, I made a post about Chocolate Chip cookies. It was the ultimate no-fail cookie recipe. It was perfect and I then began to experiment. I created instead, Cinnamon Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies! Yum! These are the perfect blend of flavors and I am obsessed! I need to be careful not to consume too many. I lost 15 lbs in the last year and I'd like to keep it that way. So, these will be made to give out, not for me to consume! Trust me, this is a HUGE sacrifice! But if you're willing to just dive in... be my guest!

Cinnamon Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 c rolled oats, ground

1 c flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon, plus more for dusting

1/4 c butter, softened

1/4 c oil

1/2 c sugar

1/3 c brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c peanut butter, creamy

1 c chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.

Grind oats in a blender or food processor. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, and peanut butter; beat until smooth and creamy. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients, beating on low speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonfuls, at least 1 inch apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Dust with cinnamon. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until firm around the edges and golden on top, about 15 minutes. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.