In a perfect world….
I love Food Bloggers. They are people unlike any other on the Web, I truly believe this. My husband is often in awe when I get something in the mail and he gives me the “what did you buy?” look. And I have to tell him nothing, a Food Blogger just sent me a treat. He is blown away by this. His world of the Internet and mine are very different. I mean this month alone I have gotten a ton of feel better cards, a couple of books to have to read when I sit and get my allergy shots, and Hello Kitty stickers (which totally made me smile, and still make me smile when I think of them).
And for as much as I love Food Bloggers there is one thing I hate. I hate that the ones I have such good connections with live NO where near me (with a few exceptions, there are a couple great Seattle area ones that I get to meet up with from time to time). And I don’t have the money to go to visit any of them. 
I have this vision of my own version of Wisteria Lane, but my neighborhood is filled with Food Bloggers and none of the drama. Well, maybe just a little drama, a girl needs to gossip a little, eh? 
A nice myriad of bakers and cookers all coming together on one street. Ah, that would so be nice.
I often will be done emailing someone and think to myself, oh how I wish I could just have them come over later for tea and cookies. Ah, if only in a perfect world.
Since I have been trying to be nice to my husband as of late by making more things he liked, I thought I would make him something using his all time favorite peanut butter. The original recipe calls for blackberry jam but my husband will only eat grape jelly (I know, I know). This was pretty simple until I got to the grating of the frozen dough. As I state in the recipe, using a cheese grater while on pain medication doesn’t mix. No worries, no blood was lost.
My husband wishes they were more soft, I tried to explain that they were shortbread and therefore not meant to be soft. See, this is why I need Food Bloggers living next door to me.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Shortbread Wedges
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¼ cup creamy (smooth) natural peanut butter (I used Jif, screw natural )
½ cup sugar
Large pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup grape jelly (you could use any jam or jelly)
Spray bottom of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with nonstick spray. Beat butter and peanut butter in large bowl until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add sugar and salt and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add flour; beat on low speed just until blended.
Transfer 1/3 cup dough to work surface. Shape into 1/2-inch-thick disk, place on plate, and freeze until hard, about 1 hour. Press remaining dough evenly over bottom of prepared pan. Spread jam over dough in pan, leaving 1/3-inch plain border. Refrigerate while dough disk freezes.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Using large holes of box grater, grate frozen dough evenly over jam (if you are on a pain medication like me I highly suggest you just break it up into little pieces…drugs and grating don’t mix kids). Bake shortbread until dough edge is deep golden and grated dough on top looks dry and baked through, about 50 minutes (mine only took 40). Cool shortbread completely in pan.
Release pan sides. Cut shortbread into wedges. Store airtight at room temperature.
Adapted from Bon Appetit January 2009
58 Responses
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March 20th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I wish we lived closer!!
March 20th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Yes, the food blogging world is like no other! There are so many kind and interesting souls around… It’s so sad most of them live thousands of kilometers away from me/us! We should build a town for food bloggers only!!!!
That recipe is awesome! I love that combination!
Cheers,
Rosa
March 20th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
There’s no better peanut butter than Jif
Looks lovely. I think there are many of us that would gladly be your overweight neighbor!
March 20th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Food bloggers are a great bunch
This looks yummy! Peanut butter and jelly has always been one of my favorite combinations.
March 20th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Yum, peanut butter and jelly! That looks so cool.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
This looks delicious! Hahah, I love that your husband wanted soft shortbread. We do need a neighborhood of food bloggers!! P.S. I love Jif. I have the natural, don’t get me wrong, but I love the creaminess that is Jif. I wish I could have a slice!
March 20th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I am so fascinated by pb&j desserts. I like strawberry jam but blackberry sounds good too (sorry, no grape here). I can’t wait to try these, thanks!
March 20th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
That would have to be a huge street! I would love that too! Your last picture is stunning!
March 20th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I saw that in the magazine! Yours looks way better than theirs…I am going to make it soon…perfect for kids too!
I would love to be your neighbor
March 20th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
It so awesome though, “meeting” people from around the world and the country. Although it would be nice to meet them person, it’s also nice to get the global perspective on things.
That shortbread looks amazing.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
These look fantastic! We made peanut butter wedge shortbread in the TK a while back but I couldn’t figure out how to make them look like much – you’ve solved my issue perfectly!
Nice work.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Oh wow that looks just perfect. I love any incarnation of shortbread. And though it might sound strange, I’m very impressed with your exactly equal cutting of the wedges! Mine are always different sizes.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I have found both the food and craft blogging world a wonderful place too, everyone is so encouraging and inspiring, it truly is a wonderful community to belong to.
I love peanut butter and jelly, or jam as us Aussies call it! This recipe seems wonderful, and I must bookmark it to try!
March 20th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
For someone on pain meds you sure can turn out something so looks delicious! I hope you feel better…
March 20th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I agree — food bloggers are so generous and wonderful. I wish there were more living near me, too, but through food blogging I’ve met friends all around the world.
March 20th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I just discovered the world of food blogging and I love it – I too (already) wish there could be a few baking play dates (anyone live in SF want to bake with me?) I am going to have to make this for my husband’s french family – they think PB&J is weird.
March 20th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
This looks great!
March 20th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I’m local! This looks great. My husband loves PB & J. I’ve made him some bar cookies but this looks better.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I was just pondering a PB&J cookie recipe today! I had never seen one, and I was thinking I would have to get ambitious and invent one– and here you read my mind from 2500 miles away and did it for me. Looks yummy, thanks!
March 20th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
This looks wonderful! I may even make it this week for a bake sale! Yum.
I know what you mean, there are some bloggers that I would LOVE to meet but few of them live near me.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I so wish that all the great bloggers could live closer. Or atleast all vacation in the same place for like a week. I would miss living and enjoying other locations vicariously through others.
March 20th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Looks yummy!
March 20th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
It sure would be nice to live near some other food bloggers. I’m in the food blogger desert here!
That pb&j shortbread looks terrific! Definitely one to try!
March 21st, 2009 at 1:01 am
Oh thiese wedges look so good. And as I a big peanut butter lover these surely will be a treat. I think like you it would be so nice to meet some bloggers. Ha and I live in the middle of nowhere I ve never met any food bloggers, Wish to though. If I ever come to Seattle I would surely meet you
Would be so nice. You re one of my most favourite bloogers. Hope you re feeling better now.
March 21st, 2009 at 2:36 am
I know exactly what you mean…I wish we were all living closer to each other. The husbands….they are our worst critics some times!!!
March 21st, 2009 at 5:04 am
I feel so close to so many food bloggers and live near NO ONE! I’m in one of the smallest towns in the smallest state. Some of my favorite people are on the West Coast! I still dream about meeting them though. Maybe someday I will.
March 21st, 2009 at 5:20 am
Well, when I come over to USA someday, I plan on meeting up with you and Lynn. I wouldn’t miss it. I might make you bake a few hundred of my favourite recipes of yours!
I, too am impressed with your extremely accurate and straight cutting of the pie/pi! I am pi-dazzled!
March 21st, 2009 at 5:23 am
I totally agee foodbloggers are really wonderful people.
Love that shrotbread, i canreally imagine the wonderfull flavour when you bite into a slice.
March 21st, 2009 at 6:00 am
I agree food bloggers rock! I too get so many parcels in the post and my hub can’t believe that I did not buy some of the stuff. i also agree about not living closer – especially to you! I would bring the coffee to go with this these shortbread wedges if you did live closer to me. On second thoughts I’d be 30 pounds heavier if I did live close to you!! Hugs!
March 21st, 2009 at 8:08 am
My world changed with food blogging…& I believe my family’s did too, & yes, the poor postie’s as well…LOL!! Ah the perfect world…if only…*SIGH*. Those shortbread wedges are singing to me; they are beautiful!
March 21st, 2009 at 11:08 am
They look lovely Peabody! I’m always irrationally irritated when someone criticizes a dish for not being something it’s not meant to be. It drives me insane! So I hope your hubby appreciated them for the crisp, short beauty they are!
M
March 21st, 2009 at 11:32 am
My husband seriously eats peanut butter and jelly sandwiches EVERY DAY in his lunch. He loves them, what can I say? He’ll adore this yummy treat, but I too will have to use grape jelly. Wamp wamp…. Thanks for sharing! -e
March 21st, 2009 at 1:46 pm
That looks great!
Don’t worry, my boyfriend ‘doesnt really like’ anything I ever make. But when I wake up I will find 3 cupcake wrappers and a glass that obviously had milk in it!
March 21st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Totally agree! Food bloggers are SO great. Wish I could have you over for tea or coffee and visit you more often, too. Love the peanut butter and jelly shortbread. If you sit a piece in a paper bag with an apple, you’ll get a slightly apple flavored soft cookie. But hubby might not like that slight apple flavor.
March 21st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
What a great take on the pb&j combo!
March 21st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Looks perfect to me. Hey, I live in Seattle and I’m fun!
March 21st, 2009 at 5:23 pm
This recipe is great! I love PB and J sandwiches, so this shortbread form would more than hit the spot! Your wedges are just perfect!!
March 21st, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I agree- we’re a “special breed” aren’t we? Maybe there is such a thing as a food blogger heaven where we all just live a cloud away and make each other wonderful treats.
Sounds good to me. Looks delicious by the way.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:26 am
I love ANY combo of PB&J — and of course your shortbread is beautiful!!
Food bloggers rock — do let me know if you find yourself in the NYC area!
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:18 am
I agree with you 110%! Food bloggers rock!
I am always surprised when I hear people talk negatively about blogs when my experience has always been so positive…yes, a neighborhood filled with food bloggers would be a wonderful place to live! I’ll gladly do some of your chores for some of these luscious treats! 
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I can’t remember if I ever made this or not. Maybe it was the pb&j squares. Anywho, this is obviously right up my pb alley; I swear I can’t get enough of the stuff. I have to print this one out.
And you’re so right, there are so many food bloggers out there that just totally rock my world and put me in the best mood when I’m down. Thanks for this wonderful post.
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Hey, I’d move into that neighborhood, even though I’m sure I’d eventually become obese!
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I have often felt the exact same way! We are working on a group from here in Utah for just that reason. How great would it be to just all be neighbors though!
That shortbread is a thing of beauty! Yrt another recipe of yours I now have to bookmark!
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
That looks so delish…I love shortbread. And peanut butter. AND jelly!
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I agree – I just started my blog and everyone has been so nice!
Your shortbread tart looks amazing!
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:41 am
I too love the food blog world. It took me over a year to get brave enough to join it personally… there are so many out there I could never live up to (like you!) but I love it all the same.
Oh, and I think I am on the other side of the country, (FL), sorry.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:35 am
This looks ABsolutely amazing! I can’t wait to make it!
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 am
I love your version of Wisteria Lane. You’d always have neighbors who could loan you a cup of sugar. Instead of “a whole cup?”, the question would be “what kind of sugar?”
Love your Jif shortbread!
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:10 am
I love food bloggers too, it is a fun group to be a part of! The dessert looks scrumptious!
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 am
I just made this, in 2 mini springforms instead of 1 big one, and used strawberry…It is still cooling but looks delicious!
I wonder if I could make these bite size using muffin pans?
Thanks for the posting this recipe!
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 am
Oh, I could kill for a slice of this beauty right now, Pea (PMS is pretty heavy on my this time, I crave for sweets like a mad person).
And your post made me smile, because that is exactly how I feel – some of you I dearly adore (you are included, of course) are half a planet or at least an ocean away. I wish I could have you all over for dinner at my house.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:17 am
This was sooo good! I just posted it!
March 26th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
i made these once and they were fantastic. i feel ya on the no-nearby-food-bloggers front…once i searched for food bloggers in my area and all results ended in 0
.
March 26th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I agree with you that food bloggers are the best. It would be great fun if we could all do a potluck together. Although, it is also great to be able to connect with online friends at any time night or day. Love that!
March 27th, 2009 at 5:16 am
[...] 27, 2009 by Debbie When I saw this on Cooking This and That who found it on Culinary Concoctions by Peabody who found it in the January 2009 issue of Bon Appetit I had an instant craving. What was it about [...]
March 28th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
That looks awesome. A food blogger version of Wisteria Lane would be cool – minus the infidelities and temper tantrums
April 6th, 2009 at 9:09 am
You can come visit me!! I’m just in Vancouver!
July 19th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
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