Mini Peanut Butter Cups

I found this recipe online at http://www.make-stuff.com/cooking/peanutbutter_cup.html.

I changed it a bit as I found it a bit more difficult to do. Trial and error, right? It is a nice recipe, but very sweet.

Peanut Butter Cups



(Note: Recipe asks for 1lb powdered sugar, which is about 3.5 cups... but I found this to be too much. I could only get 2.5 cups into it, and so I think it should probably be 1/2 lb, or 2 cups of the stuff)


Ingredients
1 lb powdered sugar (use 2-2.5 cups instead of 3.5)
1/4 lb margarine (1/2 cup)
6 oz milk chocolate (1 cup of choc chips)
1 cup peanut butter

Melt margarine in a medium or large saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter. Gradually add the powdered sugar (it says to transfer to a mixing bowl, but I hate doing extra dishes, ha ha). Stir until well mixed and press into a pie pan... or in my case into about 3 dozen mini cupcake tins lined with mini cupcake papers. Melt chocolate and spread over top. Chill.

Note: Takes about 10 minutes to make, and 30 to press into the minis. Probably only 15 total if working with one pie pan, so that way would be quick and easy.

Sweets and Snacks

Here are the sweet recipes, as well as good party snack foods.

Cookies
Carrot Coconut Cookies
Cream Cheese Cookies
Reese's Cookies
Spritz Cookies
Unbaked Cookies

Muffins and Cakes
Banana Blueberry Muffins
Banana Macadamia Nut Bread
Bran Muffins
Butter Sponge Cake
Carrot Ginger Cake
Cocoa Fudge Cake
Easy Mix Cakes
Never Fail Chocolate Cake
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Zucchini Bread/cake

Fondant/pics of cakes with fondant

Squares / Desserts
Apple Crisp
Granola Bars
Easy Chocolate Brownies (top recipe in link)

Other Snacks and appetizers
Chocolate Truffles
Deep Fried Popcorn Shrimp (plus various other appetizers)
Spinach Dip (bottom recipe in link)

Recipes Part IX: Everyday Easy Brownies and Spinach Artichoke Dip (Jan 10, 2008)

Yup, I finally decided to add recipes again. It's been awhile. These are two of the recipes I made for my Tupperware party! I love them!

Everyday Easy Brownies

1. Partially melt 4 squares of chopped bakers unsweetened baking chocolate with 3/4 cup butter in the microwave on MED for 3 minutes. Stir until completely melted
2. Add 3 eggs and stir till well blended. Stir in 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
3. Spread in a greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.

I added peanut butter and chocolate chips on the top after baking, letting them melt, then swirled them together. You can do similar with creamcheese (mix 1 pkg with 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, and some jam) but put this on the top of the unbaked brownies before putting them in the oven (swirl/cut in with a knife). Or you can make them rocky road with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, putting back in the oven for about 5 minutes.

Baked Triple Veggie Dip

1 1/2 cups parmesan grated cheese

2 cans asparagus spears, drained and chopped (I omitted this as they are expensive)

1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 container herb and garlic cream cheese spread

1/2 cup mayo

Preheat oven to 375 F. Reserve 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Mix remaining ingrediants till blended

Spoon into 2L baking dish, sprinkle with reserved parmesan

Bake 35 minutes or till lightly browned. Serve with corn chips, crackers, or veggies!

Makes 4 1/2 cups

Recipes Part III: Granola Bars (Jul 18, 2007)

Today I decided to add a recipe for something sweet... granola bars. These are pretty adaptable, as you can add almost anything you want as extras. This recipe has been adapted from a website, as I've added less than half the sugar, omit the salt, and change what I add into the bars.

Granola Bars
Ingrediants
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-1/2 cup butter
-2 Tbsp honey
-1/2 tsp vanilla
-1 egg
-1 cup whole wheat flour
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1 1/2 cups rolled oats
-1 1/4 cups rice krispies

Add ins (add as many or few as you want)
1/2 cup choc chips
3/4 cup coconut
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup nuts
1/2-1 cup raisins (or other dried fruit)
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup all bran

1. In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add honey, vanilla, and egg. Mix well.

2. Blend in flour, cinnamon, and baking soda. Stir in remaining ingrediants.

3. Press firmly into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Or, in the microwave, nuke on medium power for 7-9 minutes, and rotate dish every 3 minutes (unless, your microwave does that for you).

4. Cool, and cut into 24 bars.

Nutritional Information per bar
This info is based on the addition of the all bran, peanut butter, coconut, and chocolate chips.
Calories - 182
Fiber - 2g
Fat - 10g
Protein - 4g
Carbs - 22.5

Note: A large amount of carbs and calories (about 40 calories per piece) is due to the chocolate chips alone. The peanut butter is a great source of protein... although also a large source of fat (but it's all the good kind), and contributes about 35 calories per peice. Butter... another38 calories per piece... due solely to fat. I'm thinking of seeing how apple butter works...

Enjoy!