With this first post of 2011, I thought I'd keep it real and blog about something homemade!!! So...

A while ago I saw a great film, "Stranger Than Fiction". Whilst it is a story about about living your life to the fullest, and seizing opportunities while you can, and while it asks the question, "If you knew that this was your last day on Earth, what would you do?", I was not moved to go travelling or to tell my loved-ones that they were...well,...loved.

I was, however, motivated to create a new Roper Family Tradition. Regular readers of my blog will know that there are many Roper Family Traditions, and that I am a BIG fan of them!!!

In one scene of "Stranger Than Fiction", a tired (and burdened) accountant is firmly told sit down in front of a glass of cold milk and a plate of homemade cookies. This instruction comes from a young woman, who runs a local bakery. Not only does she give this instruction, but she creates the environment for it, by making the cookies herself. She talks to the man about her childhood and how, whenever she felt sad, broken-hearted or burdened, her mother would sit her down, in the same way. She speaks about how eating the cookie, and drinking the cold milk, would somehow restore her weary heart, comforting and nourishing her, both body and soul.

I love to watch the scene where the accountant sits, shoulders hunched, eyes downcast, at a small table, all by himself, silently eating the warm cookie, and slowly sipping the cold milk. As the camera pans out, the viewer is left with a sense that this man is experiencing a mother's love, comfort and cherishing for the very first time.

After watching that film, I found myself obsessed with cookie recipes. I wanted to provide that safe, loving, warm, restoring environment for my children. So, although it is not very English, I began to make cookies and milk a new Roper Family Tradition.

The following is a recipe that Seth and I created this afternoon. It is adapted from another recipe that I found in one of my fantastic cookbooks, and added to, to satisfy my insatiable need for chocolate!! Enjoy...

Seth & Sal's Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients

1 and a 1/4 cups of plain flour

1/2 tsp bicarb

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup of soft butter

1 cup of caster sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 and a 1/2 cups of crunchy peanut butter

200g bar of dark chocolate (bashed into chunks)

Pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 4.

Combine all the ingredients (except the chocolate) in a food processor.

Pulse in the chocolate chunks.

Roll into walnut-size balls and flatted on your palm.

Lay (well-spaced) on a greased baking tray.

Bake for 12-15 mins or until slightly browned.

Leave to cool on tray for one minute only.

Lift with fish slice onto cooling rack.

Serve, along with a glass of cold milk, to dishevelled children after school, at the table and wait for the short-lived silence.