Peanut Butter Bars!

This is an all time family favorite! You can never go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate. This will definitely cure those chocolate cravings.

Bar:

3/4 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour

Mix all ingredients until combined. Pat into a large cookie sheet.(No need to grease the pan.) Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. (Not a min. longer.. trust me. They will not look done, but they are!) Spread with an additional 1 cup of peanut butter. To make it easier to spread, warm in the microwave first. (I highly recommend this idea!!)
Cool completely then frost with chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Frosting:

1/4 cup melted margarine
1/2 cup cocoa
1-2 tablespoons milk (Depending on how runny you like your frosting.)
dash of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups of powdered sugar.

Mix well. Add more powdered sugar if too runny or more milk if too thick.

Enjoy with a nice tall glass of milk!

Sugar Cookie Bars

I love sugar cookies, but there is a lot of effort that goes into making them. This recipe definitely make the sugar cookie process so much easier. I like to under cook mine a little. I take them out at 8 mins. (NOT a min. more.. Trust me!!) They do look under cooked and not done, but I think that they are better this way.

Bars:

1 cup butter, at room temperature (I use half butter, half margarine.)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

5 cups flour

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter; at room temperature
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
food coloring, if desired

1. Bars: In a large bowl cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Mix in vanilla and almond extract.
2. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, salt & baking soda. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased, rimmed baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan). The dough will be just like cookie dough- heavy & sticky- so it’s best to spray your hands with a little nonstick spray and use them to help mold the dough into the pan.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 mins, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. (I like to slightly under cook mine. I take them out at 10 mins. exactly. They are not brown at all, but I think that they are better this way. Cool completely before frosting.
4. Frosting: In a large bowl, beat butter, vanilla, almond extract and salt. Add powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) until combined, then add milk & mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Add a few drops of color, if desired. Spread over cooled cookie, then cut into bars.

Yield: 32 bars

Cinna Sticks

Whenever we order pizza, we always need to order cinna sticks. (For the kids of course!) I found this recipe and it is so good. I never have to order cinna sticks again. They are fast and easy.

• 1 package prepared pizza crust (or your favorite recipe. See my Fast and easy pizza dough recipe!!)
• 1/4 cup melted margarine
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Icing

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 - 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Roll out pizza dough into a large rectangle.
3. Brush melted margarine over dough.
4. In a small bowl combine sugar, and cinnamon, mix well.
5. Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mixture liberally over the pizza dough.
6. Slice the dough into either long sticks, or cut dough in half, and then slice into smaller sticks.
7. (The smaller sticks are easier to handle.) Place on an lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until done.
8. While the pizza sticks are cooking mix together the powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
9. Mix until smooth.
10. You may need to add an extra teaspoon of milk.
11. Serve icing with sticks.

Chocolate Mint Brownies

Brownie:

• 4 eggs
  
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup butter
• 4 ounces baking chocolate squares
• 1 cup flour

Topping:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoons peppermint extract
• green food coloring
• 3 -4 tablespoons milk

Frosting:

1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup cocoa
1/8 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Beat eggs until fluffy.
2. Add sugar and vanilla; beat well.
3. Melt the butter and chocolate and add to the mixture (mixing well).
4. Add flour and stir until smooth.
5. Pour into pan.
6. Bake at 375*F for 25 min (if using 9x12 pan) or for 20 min (if using 15x10 pan). Cool.
   
7. Topping: Mix 4 tablespoons butter, confectioners' sugar, peppermint, and milk.
8. Add green food coloring.
9. Frost brownies and refrigerate.
10. Chill 1 hour.
11. Mix the ingredients for the frosting and spread on the top of the green mint filling.
    
12. Cut into squares and enjoy. (Then go run several miles to burn off the calories!!)