Peanut Butter Bars

We love Peanut Butter Bars. Who wouldn't like a yummy peanut buttery cookie bar topped with delicious Chocolate Frosting? Well not anyone at our house. We made these delectable treats to share with our family at a get together. They are perfect because the recipe makes a lot!
A while back I was venting about how much I loved these but hadn't found a recipe that I really liked so my Mother in law gave me a wonderful idea. She said that she always makes a basic peanut butter cookie dough, then just tops them with chocolate icing. So I tried that out and they were super yummy and easy especially since I had a prepackaged mix.
But today I didn't have a mix and decided to try out a new (good old) recipe from the wonderful Snow family cookbook.
Here it is:
Cream together:
1 c. softened butter/margerine
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2/3 c peanut butter
1 t. vanilla
Add:
2 c. flour
2 c. quick oats
1 t. soda
Spread evenly in a jellyroll pan (11x17?)
Bake 350 degrees 15 to 20 minutes, cool and
Top with Best Ever Chocolate Frosting.

 

My little helpers are always ready to mix up something sweet. They love dumping ingredients in and watching them mix up... and the best part of all licking the bowl clean!

 

Kind of a crazy day...First little brother helped by turning on the mixer when it was raised out of the bowl. We had a big mess and he was pretty upset. But we laughed about it and cleaned it up. Little sister had a story to tell everyone about peanut butter everywhere... Then we got interrupted with a phone call and after I have spread the batter in the pan I realized I had forgotten the soda. So scraped it all back in and mixed it up with the soda. But after all the effort they really did turn out wonderful! I will say that they are a bit milder peanut butter taste, so if you like peanut butter possibly spread some on the hot top after they have baked. Enjoy! ;)

 

Something Sweet

My kids always want to help make something sweet. This week they helped with a couple of treats. We made our brownies on Sunday afternoon (the perfect time to make treats ;), but a couple of days later my daughter really wanted to make cookies. It has been rainy and wet so we needed an indoor activity. I have been using Betty Crocker cookie mixes lately, they are so convienent and easy for the kids to help with. So she picked out a sugar cookie mix, and we had fun mixing, rolling out the dough and cutting out bunnies, hearts, stars and gingerbread people. I wish I would have taken pictures, my little 2 year old was loving it too! After they each had a turn rolling and cutting they started snitching little peices of dough, so I had to hurry and finish them up.
While the cookies were in the oven we made some buttercream frosting (my favorite!) I have made it so many times that I never measure anymore just dump till I get the right consistency.
Basic Buttercream Frosting:
3-4 T. butter (we always use margerine cause thats what we have), softened
2-3 T. milk (just keep drizzling till you get the consistency you like)
3-4 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
Beat the butter till smooth, gradually add powdered sugar and milk and vanilla till you get the right consistency. Add food coloring, and enjoy!

 

The rainclouds went away so the cookie makers drove their jeep around the yard.

 

Sunday afternoon Brownies
1 1/2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 c. oil
1/2 c. cocoa
1 t. vanilla
1 t. salt
Combine wet indgredients, then add dry. Spread in a 9x13 baking pan, Bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins. Take the brownies out and turn on the broilder top with mini marshmellows, then 'toast' under broiler.. watch carefully they can burn fast!
Spread the melted marshmellows around a bit and pour over
The Best Chocolate Frosting Ever!
Bring to boil in saucepan:
1/4 c. margarine
2 T. cocoa
2 1/2 T. water
Pour over and beat well:
1/2 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 t. vanilla