So I made these recently from a recipe on Instructables
I was worried they wouldn’t turn out, like so many of the other nifty recipes I find on the Internets, but no need. (The sous vide salmon from that guy who wrote the really expensive cookbook, on the other hand, was a freaking DISASTER and I will write about that some other time).
Basically, you take two Oreos per cupcake cup (24 total), smear peanut butter in between, and then top them with brownie mix. I used Ghiradelli brownie mix and natural organic peanut butter, though I think the peanut butter was too dry; maybe use Jiff or one of the shelf-stable ones with added sugar (it’s softer)
I took the advice of a commenter and dipped the Oreos in melted butter first. Yes. A heart attack waiting to happen.
Then you bake for 20 minutes and it’s super easy and they look like this:
]See, even in unnatural light with a camera phone they look pretty darn good.
They only make 12. I took them to book club (where we were reading a book about natural eating, ha ha) and I was afraid there wouldn’t be enough, but I cut them in half because they’re very rich. They got demolished. I still had some left so the kids got them. Definitely not an everyday thing, and not something I would make unless sharing with a large group.
MARGARET DILLOWAY 
Dear Margaret – I was house-sitting for friends (now in a kind of semi-retired state) in Sydney (130 kms south of where I live – on the Pacific Ocean just south of Newcastle) and meeting up with a kinsman (who spent 20 years in Japan – in Tokyo) as opposed to my own 16 (in far western Honshu) when I found your book “How to Be an American Housewife”. Brava! Moving, sensitive – and with a lovely sense of irony making it a truly pleasurable read. I kept turning down corners of pages when I thought I wanted to make some particular observation to you – the author. I had a pen-friend from Miyazaki when I was 13 (now 62) still a friend – though nowadays we speak in Japanese – a language I took up in my 40th year to teach at junior high level – then went off to Japan hoping to develop fluency in the tongue as well as the culture. The post-war occupation for Australians – who controlled the Hiroshima-ken region – plus HQ in Tokyo – meant that at its close (1952) over 600 Japanese wives accompanied their husbands back to Australia (the true death-knell to the iniquitous so-called “White Australia Policy” we had suffered with from 1901. Solrun HOASS made a movie/documentary “Cherry Ripe and Green Tea” in which she focussed on four of those brides: including Chiaki FOSTER – who became a friend via a distant cousin’s wife Midori – who lived in the same town. Midori – in one of the twists of fate (serendipity) which convinces me there are not six degrees of separation but a mere one or two – was a best friend in high school in Miyazaki of my pen-friend Mie! And her husband – whom I did not know then – was just a year or two ahead of me at Tamworth High School! Four years ago (some four years after Chiaki’s death) I was visiting a friend teaching in a middle school in that town (700 kms from where I live – though then I was on a visit back from Japan) – we were friends from our time in Japan – he invited me along to his Japanese classes as a special guest. After receiving and answering questions in Japanese I opened it up to questions in English. One little girl (then about 15 – now at university) asked me why I had become interested in Japanese. I told her of my pen-friend – of my cousin’s wife – in that very town. Who? she asked, quick as a flash. I told her. She was a friend of my grand-mother. It was now my turn to narrow the eyes: Who is she? Chiaki FOSTER! Oh, my goodness! And so I told the whole class about Johana’s grand-mother – interviewed on National radio/part of that seminal documentary! Your book raises so many memories for me – it rings with absolute verisimilitude – with the clarity of truth! I won’t go on much further! Just two things. I found in Yamaguchi-ken (where I lived for 14 of my 16 years) a true paedagogical hero YOSHIDA Shoin (1830-1859) – in whose name I established an International Paedagogical Fellowship (in 2004); and in 2009 (March 20~April 20) I walked the entire 1200+ kms of the 88-temple pilgrimage route around Shikoku. My farewell to Japan. Which I miss every day (my friends/students/colleagues – the very essence of it all). Again I say to you – Brava!
Thanks for sharing your story, Jim! Wow, it’s funny how small the world is– I don’t think I’ve experienced that many “2 degrees of separation” so often. I’m glad you read it and liked it well enough to write.
I meant to tell you that the house-sit was just recently – last December – leading up to Christmas – but it was only this week that I got to read the book, finishing yesterday! The thing about coincidence is that if one has lived widely (and long enough) and is open to conversations with people – and throw in enough connective clues within a continuing conversation then it is sure to reveal itself. Guaranteed! Two other maxims I found in Japan: (a) Buddhist ~ “The World is a Mirror” sekai-wa kagami - 「世界は鏡」(Golden Rule equivalent); and from a 16th century Zen Tea Ceremony Master ~ “One Time, One Meeting” ichi-go, ichi-e 「一期一会」(any meeting is important – first time/every time – don’t waste it in trivialities)
I met an aspect of you through your beautiful book – now via your blogs – what you had to tell the reader was too important a message for me to simply put aside once read without responding. Hence my letter. In this way I hope I do honour to all those friendships I have with Japan/Japanese connections. Thanks Margaret.
Yet one more thing (the continuing conversation thing) One of my father’s aunts married a Canadian Air Force man in Sydney towards the close of World War II. They returned to Alberta (my uncle’s father was a noted Social Credit MP in the National Parliament in Ottawa). Then my uncle (by marriage, mind) took up studies – taking his Masters and PhD in early genetics – living and teaching in Montana, Portland, Oregon and later in the south-west (Arizona). They were LDS. A several times great grand-father of my uncle was Truman Osborn ANGELL the architect of various LDS Temples including the beautiful structure in Salt Lake City. I have many cousins scattered across the States – the world even – of that connection. Sometimes I would engage young US LDS missionaries in Japan in conversation in the street of the city where I lived – and inevitably – given the former polygamous nature of that church – find some family connection. I was raised in another fundamentalist US-based Protestant sect so I understand via that something of feeling different/separate – in the world but not of it – though I let it go in my late teens. In Japan I had friends of many Buddhist sects – stayed in many temples, attended many different kinds of ceremonies – good people living generous lives of service to their communities and parishes. And I became a very good friend of a Shinto priest – who made me an honorary member of his Shrine. A religious way without scriptures – but guiding stories – protection of the environment, ritual ceremonies to mark the seasons – a listening ear – the beating heart of that city! I was privileged.
Sounds delish. Right now I’m on a gluten free, supposed to be!, diet and I’m really trying. Not eating bread and rarely a cookie. Or two.
Also cutting out sugar because mine is high. What a drag. How can I be me without that sugar high that keeps me going.
Caffeine is cut nearly to 0.
I have one cup of coffee in the m orning on a good stomach day. Otherwise it’s tea.
Enjoy the good stuff while you can as long as you can. As for me I miss donuts the most.
Will share this recipe with my daughter. The triplets and their little bro will love them.
Blessings!
Just finished reading your American Housewife book. I read it in 2 days, could not put it down. Thank you for not much “language” and leaving some things to the imagination. 🙂 I loved this book and looking forward to your next one. Will be talking about this book on my blog. Thanks again.
Thanks, Jody!