Cafeteria Food-Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

I went to a teeny weeny public school in rural Missouri. I went to the same school K-12 and had 21 kids in my graduating class (crazy, eh?) So every single day of my school career K-12 I ate lunch in the same cafeteria. I was a bit of a picky eater, but, this may come as no surprise…but I LOVED desserts. One of my favorites? Peanut butter chocolate squares. Last fall, my mom sent me the recipe for them, and this weekend, I FINALLY made them.  They were so simple, and just as yummy as I remember!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Servings: 24 Squares

* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, divided
* 2 cups creamy peanut butter
* 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
* 3 cups powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
* 2 cups (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt 1/2 cup (1 stick) of the butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, and graham cracker crumbs. This will make a stiff dough.

Spread dough in a lightly greased 9- by 13-inch dish. Press down evenly.

Melt remaining 1/2 cup butter over low heat. Add chocolate chips and keep heat very low. When chocolate is soft, stir gently. Continue heating until lumps are all melted. Stir, and then spread this mixture over the peanut butter layer.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes, then cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator.

De-lish!

I will never understand my husband.

I love my Hubby. Dearly. He’s my best friend. My rock. He keeps me sane when I go crazy (which is often). He sticks around even when I decide to redecorate a room at 11:oopm at night. Or when I go into a dressing room with fifty dresses and decide I don’t like any of them. Or watch Real Housewives of New Jersey. Or New York. Or Orange County. He’s pretty awesome.

But sometimes I REALLY don’t understand him. And the number one disagreement in our marriage? I LUUUURVE Peanut Butter. He doesn’t. Seriously. How can someone born and bred in the United States NOT like peanut butter?!?  I’m pretty sure it’s un-American. I’m frankly surprised they even let him in the military with his hatred of Peanut Butter. The man likes peanuts. Just not peanut butter! And definitely not peanut butter with chocolate. He shuns desserts  like these Squirrel Bars or these Peanut Butter Brownie cups and yes, even these Muddy Buddies. I just don’t get it.

Because of this marital difference, my friends are the happy recipients of many peanut butter/ chocolate desserts. This Sunday, my friend Tess hosted a baby shower for my friend Leighanne–this fabulous lady right here:

LOVE her! Leighanne is a fellow peanut butter/ chocolate lover. So I did what any good friend would do..I made her this guy:

This is Martha Stewart’s Peanut Butter tart. And boy was it YUMMY.  I even bought a special tart pan for the occasion (which I’m very excited to use for many other tarts in the future!):

And my favorite part of making this dessert? Shaving the chocolate with a vegetable peeler to make these little garnishes:

Aren’t they fun? These would be a such great addition to all sorts of delicious desserts! So there you have it…I guess my hubby just doesn’t know what he’s missing!