Sunday, June 20, 2010

I spent the weekend clearing out cabinets and drawers, baking, and knitting. First the baking -- because everything's better with chocolate! These are Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars from Better Homes & Gardens.
I couldn't find the link, so here' the recipe:
3/4 c butter, softened | 1 c packed brn sugar | 1 egg | 2 t vanilla | 1/2 t salt | 2 c flour | 1 pkg semi-sweet chips | 3 T butter | 1/4 c hot strong coffee | 1/4 c peanut butter | 1 c powdered sugar

Heat oven to 350. Grease 15 x 10 x 1 pan. Make cookie base: Beat 3/4 c butter of butter on medium for 30 seconds. Add brn sugar and beat until combined. Add egg, vanilla and salt; beat until combined. Same with flour. Spread over prepared pan. Bake ~20 minutes. Cool completely.

For frosting: combine chips and butter in small pan and stir until chocolate melts. Remove from heat and stir in coffee and peanut butter. Whisk in powdered sugar. Spread over cookie base.

I put them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to harden before cutting into bars. Crunchy, buttery and just a little peanuty. Very good! And now for the knitting:
My cabled sweater is almost finished. Wrong season, but I'm just happy to have made so much progress. One sleeve left to sew, the border to crochet and that's it! On a less-pleasant, but certainly satisfying, note, I made progress with the de-cluttering.
Our new goal is to have the house ready to list in early July. This is so much work. I would much rather hang out by the pool!