Beat the Buckeyes Bars

I realize it hasn’t been THAT long ago since you heard from me with the first installment of Peanut Butter + Chocolate=Delicious.  However, Jessie’s sister Emily, created an awesome icon just for MY recipes.  Ummm…excuse me but take a good look, how gorgeous is THAT?  Emily ROCKS.  I feel like I’ve finally arrived as a blogger.   I couldn’t help myself I HAD to write the next installment immediately just so I could see this beautiful icon gracing the screen of Nothing Gets Crossed Out.  Bear with me and if my sarcasm and attempts at being witty get to be too much, focus on the pretty icon, oh and the peanut butter and chocolate.  I know you can pull through. 

In case the last recipe was a bit too labor intensive for you, what with all the saucepans, stirring and stuff, this one might be more your speed.    This is one of those that you probably have everything you need already in your cupboards and best of all the only cooking/baking required is done in the….wait for it….MICROWAVE!!!  Oh yeah baby, that’s what I’m talking about.

This is probably my FAVORITE Peanut Butter + Chocolate recipe, because it’s quick, easy, and reminds me of Christmas in the 80’s (one of my favorite decades to date..hello New Kids!!),  when my mom would make dozens and dozens of Peanut Butter Balls to give out to church members and friends.. If you’ve ever had and fallen in love with the infamous Peanut Butter Balls or Buckeyes as our Ohio friends/rivals call them, then these are for you.  Their technical name is Buckeye Bars but I live in a DEVOUT Hawkeye household and in light of this weekend’s game against the Buckeyes the name had to be changed.  They’ve been officially renamed….Beat the Buckeyes Bars.  I will definitely be making them for the game on Saturday in hopes that my husband won’t choke on them like Vanderberg choked as quarterback in last week’s game…ba da bam.  Sorry couldn’t resist.  Maybe I should send Vanderberg a batch of these to give him a little pregame edge.  Anyway, enough sports talk on to the really important stuff…..

Beat the Buckeyes Bars (adapted from Taste of Home)

1 c. butter, cubed

1 ½ c. creamy peanut butter, divided

3 ¾ c. powdered sugar

5 Nestle Crunch bars chopped (or can substitute 8 oz. chocolate chips and a sprinkling of Rice Krispies if you’re feeling really adventurous)

Directions

In a large microwave safe bowl, combine butter and 1 c. peanut butter.  Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute or until butter is melted, stirring once.  Beat in powdered sugar.  Spread into an 11 x 13 pan coated with cooking spray.  Pat down so that it’s uniformly flat. 

Rinse out the first bowl you used (I’m all about conserving dishes).  Place candy bars (or chocolate chips) and remaining peanut butter in bowl; melt in microwave, stirring until well blended.  Spread over peanut butter layer.  Refrigerate until cool or if you’re impatient like me stick them in the freezer to speed up the process. 

Cut into squares and if there are any leftover (which there probably won’t be) store them in an airtight container in the fridge. 

Go Hawks!  Beat the Buckeyes!  Please?  I’ll make the whole team Beat the Buckeye Bars if you do.  Never mind the Rose Bowl, I know how to REALLY motivate.       

Peace out from the Prairie Princess.