Recipe Friday August 1st

I made some peanut butter no bake cookies and peanut butter bars to take to the nurses at the hospital. They really liked the bars, so I thought I would include the recipe here:

Peanut Butter Bars

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
4 tablespoons peanut butter



DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, mix together the butter or margarine, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
In a metal bowl over simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread over the prepared crust. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.

It was especially nice that they didn't have to be baked, the humidity is so high, I didn't want to heat the house, or stress the air conditioner.

Here's the no bake cookies:


No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS

3 cups white sugar
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats


DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a rapid boil and boil for one full minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and peanut butter. Mix in the oats, stirring until the mixture begins to cool. Transfer to a large bowl if it does not fit into the pan well. Drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Let cool until set. Makes 60 cookis or so.