1/06/2008

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Bars

Well, I guess the title says it all. Nice bar cookies that ridiculously easy to make. Not healthy by any stretch, but tasty.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9" x 13" pan in oven, melt

  1. 1 stick (1/2 c) butter
Sprinkle evenly over butter
  1. 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
Pour evenly over crumbs
  1. 1 (14oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
Top with
  1. 1 (12 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
  2. 1 cup peanut butter chips
Press down firmly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until lightly browned. Cool and cut into bars. Makes 24 to 36 bars.
I learned the hard way I would spray the pan with Pam next time I make these.

Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake comes from my wife's Grandma Rose, who produces all manner of good ol' Southern treats.  I shouldn't be surprised, but Paula Deen makes an almost identical recipe (though she uses a cream cheese frosting).  This cake is alarmingly pink but supremely delicious.

Mix together

  1. 1 box white cake mix (18.25 oz)
  2. 1 small box strawberry Jell-O (3 oz.)
  3. 3/4 c vegetable oil
  4. 4 eggs
Stir in
  1. 1 c strawberries, thawed (from frozen sweetened strawberries, juice reserved)
Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 F for 35-40 minutes or until done. (Can also be baked as two 9" rounds, although baking time may have to be adjusted.)

In an electric mixer, cream
  1. 6 T butter (3/4 stick)
Gradually add
  1. 1 lb. powdered sugar (~4.75 c)
  2. 1/4 c juice from frozen strawberries
  3. 1 t vanilla
Slowly add about half the sugar, then half the juice and all the vanila, then the rest of the sugar. Add enough additional juice to reach frosting consistency. Allow cake to cool to room temperature before frosting, so frosting doesn't melt!