Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday and Cyber Monday have come and gone. I am sure glad I wasn’t caught in any on that. I will take my chances on getting the gifts I want to purchase and not fight the crowds. I don’t do well in large gatherings and I sure don’t need anything bad enough to try and brave the mad crush of a large crowd.
Christmas has just gotten too commercial for my taste. I remember getting a new pair of boots, a new winter coat and a big bag of fruit as gifts. I don’t see how people can afford all the stuff they buy at this time of year. Momma Said, “Sometimes less is more.” I feel if you have to give a gift, give something from the heart. It means a lot more in the long run.
I like to bake and give it all away. Homemade cookies sure beat the socks off those packaged things that show up this time of year. A good loaf of banana bread and homemade honey butter hits the spot too. I don’t think the season has to be all about how many gizmos you get or things that you just stick in a drawer and never use. Momma Said, “Everyone likes cookies.”
So start your holiday baking with this recipe that will put smiles on everyone’s face.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 3/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1 cup (6 oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 large egg, beaten
1 (14 oz.) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
HEAT oven to 350°F. Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, baking powder and baking soda in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in peanuts.
RESERVE 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture. Stir egg into remaining crumb mixture. Press onto bottom of 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
BAKE 15 minutes.
STIR together sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter in small bowl until well combined. Pour evenly over partially baked crust.
STIR together reserved crumb mixture and chocolate chips. Sprinkle evenly over peanut butter layer.
BAKE an additional 15 minutes. Cool. Cut into bars.