Frozen Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Banana Bites

You know those moms who serve fruit for dessert? That's not me. If I get a single grape into my kid over the span of a week, I feel like a freaking ninja. Literally, I am always trying to figure out ways to trick my family into eating healthy snacks. I'm really excited about these peanut butter and dark chocolate banana bites because they mean I can finally-and honestly-tell people that I serve my toddler fruit for dessert. And that's enough for me.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dark chocolate chips
• 2 bananas
• Peanut butter

Directions:

Peel bananas and thinly slice into pieces.

Spread a small spoonful of peanut butter between banana slices.

Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a microwave. Dip banana and peanut butter pieces into the chocolate and place on wax paper.

Place banana bites into the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour.

Make sure you add a lot of peanut butter. About now is when I started regretting being so conservative.

Enjoy!

Love and eating right,

 

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

I've run into a little bit of a predicament. I'm having Tim's whole family over for Christmas Eve this year. Of course, we do the typical sandwiches, chips, dips, cookies, etc. Except for one thing.

I totally forgot the "cookies, etc."

So I have 8 people coming over to my home tomorrow night, on the eve of the biggest holiday of the year, and I have no dessert. Oh, and did I mention I have no money, as it's all invested in tutu's and video games and is sitting under my tree?

I asked my mom what she suggested, and she mentioned fudge. Fudge really hits the spot if you're needing something sweet, and it's cheap and quick to make. As in this took me not even 10 minutes to make. Not even.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons cocoa
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
• 1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Directions:

First, we're going to combine the sugar, cocoa and milk in a deep saucepan.

Stir immediately (the sugar will harden) and bring to a boil for about 1 minute.

Remove from heat, mix really quick and add the peanut butter and vanilla. 

Combine. This is one of those steps that needs to be done quickly, as this is fudge and it's job is to harden in a short amount of time.

Pour into a baking dish. If you want taller, thicker pieces of fudge, choose a pan that is smaller and deeper.

Refrigerate for about an hour or until hardened. It will look...well, exactly the same as before. Just hard.

Cut into pieces and gently remove using a metal spatula.

Serve!

Love and fudge,

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Peanut Butter Balls

Is there anything more beautiful than the combination of chocolate and peanut butter? Of course not. I am so "pro" chocolate/peanut butter marriage that I used to put actual peanut butter on chocolate ice cream. Used to. Then I stopped, because I was a 100 lb. 3rd grader.

There are several reasons to make these, but the most important reason is because they're easy. So easy. I could kiss whoever made no-bake goodies trendy, because the thought of cracking one egg or measuring flour can make me break out in hives. I'm not interested. What I am is tired, hungry and in a hurry. So let's not waste anymore time chatting and get to work.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 large back chocolate chips
• 1 full tablespoon of Crisco

Directions:

• Stir together powdered sugar, peanut butter and butter. To be honest, I use my hands. No wooden spoon can stand up to this stickiness.
• Roll into balls and place on baking sheet. Make sure and cover the baking sheet with wax paper. This is vital.
• Place the balls into the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
• Melt the chocolate chips and Crisco over a very low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden or metal spoon.
• Dip peanut butter balls into chocolate using a spoon (and your fingers, honestly), and place back on wax paper.
• Place balls into fridge until chocolate is hardened, about 30 minutes.
• For an extra-special touch, add sprinkles or crushed nuts onto balls immediately after dipping in chocolate.

I dare you to make these without actually eating one. 

I knew you couldn't do it.

Love and bake-less magic,

Oreo bark

So, I made what some people would consider to be a "mistake." I told my husband, "Oh, babe, I love you soooo much that I'm' going to make treats for all your co-workers! It's going to be awesome and they're going to love you and love me and it will be fabulous." Then I casually asked how many co-workers he had.

"18."

That is a LOT of baking. And time. And money. So I decided to fill a few large $1 Christmas plates up with mostly no-bake goodies for those fabulous folks at the church. I also decided to be selfish. See, I don't do anything mint-chocolate. Nothing. That's blasphemy, to taint the flavor of my beloved chocolate with anything other than peanut butter.

Who does that? This is a rhetorical question since I realize I am the 1% of the world that hates this combo. Moving on.

This is such a cool recipe, and as someone who is not a fan of white chocolate, I can say this is delicious. So give it a try.

Ingredients:

• 2 bags white chocolate chips
• 18 regular Oreos

Directions:

• Melt the chocolate chips in a double broiler on a very low heat, stirring constantly until completely melted.
• Pour chocolate into a bowl and let sit for 5 minutes to cool.
• Crush 15 of the Oreos in a large ziploc bag and add to the chocolate. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
• Place a piece of wax paper in a shallow baking pan and pour chocolate/Oreo mixture in it. Using a spoon, spread evenly.
• Crush the remaining 3 Oreos and sprinkle on top of the mixture.
• Refrigerate for about 20 minutes or until very hard.
• Lift hardened Oreo mixture by lifting the wax paper out of the pan and placing on the counter.
• Use a knife (carefully) and break up bark.
• Remove the actual chunks and dispose of all the crumbs. Yes, you may eat them off the counter. No one is watching.

To answer your question, yes, your counters will be a mess. And it will even get on the floor. But it will be worth it when you see...well, hear about...the looks on your husband's co-workers' faces.

It might not be worth the thirdhand experience for me, but it will be worth it for you.

Love and no-bake,

Rachael