Mothers day get-together

Our Mothers Day family get-together was good. Lunch was simple, smart and yummy. We had make-your-own sandwiches with veggies 'n dip or chips 'n dip. I brought a couple desserts. I didn't know what to make at first; I knew I didn't have any chocolate and we hadn't gone shopping yet. I thought about using peanut butter, so Sunday morning I woke up and looked up recipes. I made blondies (minus the chocolate and nuts) with peanut butter frosting, and 1lb of peanut butter fudge (instead of 2, since I only had half a container of marshmallow fluff.) They turned out pretty good and were quick and fairly easy to make. :)

Blondies

(BHG New Cookbook 12th Edition) http://www.bhg.com/bhg/store/product.jsp?psrc=origsource&prodid=prod590004

A Southern cook's preference for brown sugar over granulated sugar resulted in these butterscotch bar cookies many years ago.

Prep: 20 minutes Bake: 25 minutes
Oven: 350°F Makes: 36 bars

2 cups packed brown sugar

2/3 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1 cup chopped nuts

1. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium saucepan heat brown sugar and but­ter over medium heat until butter melts and the mixture is smooth, stirring constantly. Cool slightly. Stir in eggs 1 at a time; stir in vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
2. Spread batter in prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate pieces and nuts. Bake in a 350° oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wood­en toothpick inserted near center comes out clean (avoid chocolate pieces). Cool slightly on a wire rack. Cut into bars while warm.

Nutrition Facts per bar: 157 cal., 8 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 21 mg chol., 65 mg sodium, 21 g carbo., 1 g fiber, 2 g pro.
Daily Values: 3% vit. A, 2% calcium, 5% iron
Exchanges: 1 1/2% Other Carbo., 1/4 Fat

Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fluffy-Peanut-Butter-Frosting/Detail.aspx#nutri-box#nutri-box

"The perfect fluffy frosting for brownies or chocolate cake. Sweet but not too sweet. Peanut buttery but not greasy. So wonderful and it won't over power your brownies!!!"

PREP TIME
10 Min
READY IN
10 Min
Original recipe yield 2 cups

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons milk, or as needed
2 cups confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS
Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer. Gradually mix in the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least 3 minutes for it to get good and fluffy.

Peanut Butter Fudge with the Marshmallow Fluff

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/35/Peanut_Butter_Fudge_with_the_Marshmallow_Fluff42723.shtml

Ready in: 30-60 minutes Difficulty: 3 (1=easiest :: hardest=5)
Serves/Makes: 2 lbs

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1 cup milk

1 jar peanut butter (12oz.) smooth or crunchy
1 jar marshmallow Fluff (also called creme)1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Directions:
Boil 2 cups sugar and 1 cup milk to soft ball stage. Remove from heat and add 1 jar peanut butter, and 1 jar marshmallow fluff, add vanilla. Pour into a buttered pan 8x8x8-inch. Let cool and cut into squares.

Have sprinkled red and green sugar on for the holidays too.