Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Over the weekend my sister and I were trying to decide what to cook for dinner so naturally we started at the end of the meal with dessert.  She whipped out her iTouch and used the Big Oven app to look up a chocolate dessert and this is what she found:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares
Ingredients
2 sticks butter, divided (Paula Deen would be proud)
2 cups creamy peanut butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (we splurged and got Ghirardelli)

In a large sauce pan, melt 1 stick of butter.  Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, and graham cracker crumbs.  Stir.  This will form a dough.  Spoon this into a greased 9" x 13" dish and press down evenly.  In  a medium sauce pan, melt the remaining 1 stick of butter.  Add the 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate and stir until completely melted and smooth.  Pour over the graham cracker crust and spread using a spatula.  Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.  Slice into squares before serving.

These are seriously addicting.  I had to cut them into small squares so they would last longer!  Enjoy!

P.S. I am so excited about the first Razorback game of the season!  Woo pig sooie!

Dinner on a Stick

Hello!  I am embarrassed to say that I have been back from my beach vacation for a week and am just now getting around to blogging!  So sorry to abandon you like that.  But to make up for it I have some great recipes!

While at the beach, each couple took turns cooking dinner.  As you may know, Ben and I like to make everything more complicated, so we had a themed meal - Dinner on a Stick.  Sounds fancy, I know.  We served everything from appetizers to dessert on sticks - four courses in all.  So I'll start with the appetizer and work my way through the meal.  Enjoy!

Antipasto on a Stick
Ingredients
1 package sliced salami
1 can large black olives
Italian dressing
1 package cheese stuffed tortellinis
toothpicks

Cook tortellinis as directed.  Transfer to a bowl with ice water to stop cooking.  Pat dry and put in a medium bowl with salami and olives.  Pour 1/3 cup Italian dressing over the ingredients, stir.  Begin assembling Antipastos on the toothpicks.

Salad on a Stick
Ingredients
1 head of iceberg lettuce
carrots, sliced
cherry tomoatoes
cucumber, sliced
salad dressing of your choice
Skewers

Cut iceberg lettuce into chunks.  Assemble carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes on skewers.  Drizzle dressing before serving.

BBQ Chicken on a Stick
Ingredients
package of boneless skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt
pepper
Garlic salt
BBQ sauce of your choice
Skewers

Cut the chicken breasts into chunks.  Season with salt, pepper, and garlic salt.  Assemble on the skewers.  Grill it over charcoal for 15 minutes.  Towards the end, brush BBQ sauce over the chicken.

Zucchini on a Stick
4 zucchini, sliced
olive oil
kosher salt
pepper
Skewers

Slice the zucchini.  Assemble on skewers.  Drizzle olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Grill for 5 minutes.

Popsicles
Peaches and cream
2 cups non-fat vanilla yogurt
1 cup mashed peaches
1/2 cup skim milk
sprinkle of sugar
wooden stir sticks (found in Wal-Mart's craft section)

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.  Pour into ice trays.  Freeze for 3 hours and then place wooden sticks in each tray.

Strawberry Orange Popsicle
1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup orange juice
sprinkle of sugar
wooden stir sticks

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.  Pour into ice trays.  Freeze for 3 hours and then place wooden sticks in each tray.

 This meal was a lot of fun and the Popsicle got great reviews, so I will definitely be making those again!

Chocolate Covered Bacon

At first I was skeptical about this food venture, but since I love the combination of sweet and salty foods I thought why not give it a shot?  Our friend Rob's birthday presented the perfect opportunity to try this recipe.  He will be the first to tell you that he loves bacon (and whiskey), but since I don't have a recipe that calls for whiskey I had to go with the bacon.

Ingredients
package of Petit Jean thick cut bacon
24 ounces of semisweet chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 375.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Place bacon on the baking sheets (you'll probably be able to fit 6-7 on each one).  Bake bacon for 18 minutes for soft bacon or 20 minutes for crispy bacon.  About half way through flip each slice of bacon so it will evenly cook on both sides.  Take the bacon out of the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes.  Transfer it to a papertowel lined plate.  Set up a double boiler and heat the water to a boil and reduce to a simmer.  Pour half of the chocolate morsels in the double boiler and stir with a fork until melted and smooth.  Slowly add the remaining morsels.  Lay 2 sheets of parchment paper on the counter.  Dip the bacon slices in the bowl of chocolate, rotating to coat both sides.  Place on the parchment paper to cool, then transfer to the refrigerator to harden.

The chocolate covered bacon was great!  We even had a piece for breakfast one morning! (what? it is bacon!)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

If you need a quick and easy dessert recipe this one is perfect!  One tip: keep the bars in a cool place until time to serve, otherwise you will have a chocolate mess on your hands!

Ingredients
2 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
3/4 cup creamy OR chunky peanut butter
10 oz. mini marshmallows
1 cup roasted peanuts

Line a 9x13 dish with foil leaving enough foil over the sides.  Lightly grease the foil.  Melt 2 cups of the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes.  Stir and microwave in 30 second intervals.  Pour in marshmallows and peanuts and stir until well-coated.  Slowly pour the mixture into the dish and smooth it out.  Melt remaining 3/4 cup of chocolate chips, pour over dish and smooth out.  Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.  Lift foil from the dish and cut into squares.