Homegrown peanutty goodness!

For the most part, we don't really go out to a lot of chain restaurants for dinner, however, when I think of the chain restaurants I like it's not because of their entrees, it's all about the dessert!
Cheesecake Factory cheesecake, Claimjumper's chocolate cake, and BJ's pizookie.

Wait, you don't know what a pizookie is? Or BJ's? Well when I was trying to think of this month's entry for Homegrown Gourmet I was stumped. The recipe had to be something that involved peanut butter. California is known for a lot of things, but Peanut Butter? Not so much. And that's when I thought of BJ's pizookies.

BJ's started out as a California chain specializing in Chicago style pizza - that great deep dish pizza that is almost as good as REAL pizza (meaning the kind from New York obviously). And capitalizing off this deep dish, they introduced a deep dish dessert, the pizookie. It's a cross between a cookie and a pizza. Take some cookie dough, put it in a deep dish pan, and cook it until it's ALMOST done. (My mom refers to this as the "easy bake oven" consistency). Top the hot cookie with ice cream and you have (drum roll please) a pizookie! The pizookie comes in four flavors - chocolate chip, white chocolate macademia nut, oatmeal raisin, and peanut butter.

I have a special affinity for BJs because it's one of my dad's favorites (back when he was able to eat food that didn't come from a bag or a box). Now add on the fact that my brother worked there. Stack on the bonus feature that there was one where I went to college, and it's almost like I'm related to the restaurant.

I don't know if this is really truly the recipe, but a google search turned up the recipe here. Born in Southern California and containing peanut butter? Sounds like a Homegrown Gourmet recipe to me!

THE RULES:
1. Anyone can play!
2. A theme will be picked by the host. Participants will make a dish that follows the theme and that somehow represents their home region - town, state, area. Representation can feature a local ingredient, be a traditional dish from your area, or be a creative twist.
3. Participants will have 3-4 weeks (host discretion) to complete their recipes and post them to their blog (or email the pics and text), and notify the host. The host will then post the results and then let everyone know via email or message board the results are up!
4. An explanation of your dish is required; it can be a story about the local custom or ingredient, how you came about eating/making the recipe, or an explanation about how your creative dish fits the theme.
5. Fresh and local foods are encouraged!
6. When the round is done, the host will announce their favorite dish by updating their blog. Favorite is completely subjective to the host- no one expects the host to make and taste test all the dishes, it is just something that strikes the host’s fancy! The creator of the fave gets the honor of hosting the next round, if they so choose!

Peanut Butter Pizookie

1 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon beaten egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoon unsalted peanuts
2 scoops of vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.

2. Combine all ingredients for cookie of your choice up to, but not including, the flour, in a small bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed until smooth. Add flour and baking soda and stir well by hand. Stir in peanuts then press the dough into a small buttered pie pan, cake pan or 6-inch deep-dish pizza pan.

3. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until cookie begins to brown. Cool for a minute or so, add 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, and serve.

Serves 2 for dessert.