no bake trail mix cookies

The last few days, I've gone through a box of tissues and a few rolls of toilet paper. Been close to coughing my brains out. Taken numerous bubble baths. Worn nothing but pajamas and yoga pants. Spent hours in bed reading. Eaten mainly chicken soup and smoothies for my meals. And have watched tons of movies and episodes of the Office. 

In case you can't tell, I've come down with one heck of a cold. 

I felt it coming on when we were in the car driving to Windhoek for the day. That night, I was so miserable laying on that hotel room floor and didn't sleep a bit due to my stuffed up nose, congested chest, and sore throat. 

What. a. dream. 

Trust me, I love being lazy- I'm basically a professional. 

But after day one, I'm ready to not be sick in bed. It drives me CAAAHHHRAAAZAAAAAY. Not to mention, since I haven't exercised since Wednesday, I feel like a big old blob. 

Unless I want to cough and wheeze to my death, I probably won't be able to run until next week. 

I am starting to feel a lot better though. I'm still so stuffed up, but I can actually taste some of the things I eat. My energy is coming back too... enough so that I was able to climb a water tower last night. 

BUUUUUUUT that's a whole other story. 

I have also come to the conclusion that the Office is basically the best show there ever was.

In one episode when Andy said "My whole life is a freaking snot bubble!", I found it oddly hilarious and relevant. I laughed so hard.

And then had a cough attack and nearly died.

Gross, sorry.

Anyways, this post is pretty scattered, but I figured I'd end it with something appropriate to a food blog… Food!

These cookies take about 5 minutes from bowl to face hole and you don't even have to turn on the oven! The base for the cookies is honey, peanut butter, and oats- that's it. I love this combo and, I'm gonna admit, at times when I need something sweet {which is. umm. always.}, I mix those ingredients together in a bowl and eat it with my fingers like cookie dough. 

For add-ins I just grabbed what I could find out of the cupboard. Raisins, peanuts, chocolate chunks, almonds, and flax seeds. You could substitute whatever nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate you would like though- the possibilities are endless. 

no bake trail mix cookies

3/4 c. creamy peanut butter

1/4 c. + 2 tbsp. honey 

1 1/4 c. quick oats

2 tbsp. flax seeds

1/4 c. salted peanuts

1/4 c. seedless raisins

1/4 c. chopped almonds

1/2 c. chocolate chunks {or chocolate chips}

In a large mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients. Stir until combined. Roll dough into balls and place on a lined baking sheet. Press down with a fork or the palm of your hand. Store in a plastic container. 

chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookies

These cookies… Oh my gosh, these cookies are glorious. 

They were born last weekend because I needed some baking therapy. I'm not talking about going online, printing a recipe, and actually *gasp* measuring. No, I'm talking whipping out a bowl, a few ingredients, throwing them in the bowl, and mixing it all up with fork. 

It makes my soul so joyous and has the power to change my attitude from crappy to happy in seconds. 

Surprisingly, they don't even have flour or butter in them which makes them {accidentally} gluten and dairy-free! Honestly, you don't even miss it at all. In the words of my brother "They taste buttery!" My dad, who mind you, usually hates on all my healthy baked goods, loved them. I didn't say anything until he'd eaten at least 4. The whole batch was gone in less that 48 hours so I knew they were a keeper.

Of course, since I and everyone else who tasted them loved these cookies so much I decided to make them again, measure the ingredients, and photograph them. My family actually said they liked them more than last time! 

Also. If you're wondering what those pink specks are in the cookies- it's jelly from the peanut butter jar. These brothers of mine eat PB&J on the daily, I kid you not. 

chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookies {dairy-free, gluten-free} 
yields 1 dozen cookies

1 c. creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 c. dark brown sugar
1 1/2 c. quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, mix the peanut butter, eggs, vanilla, and brown sugar. Add oats, salt, and baking powder. Stir until combined. Roll dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Press down slightly with a fork. Bake for 7-10 minutes. Let cool before removing to a wire rack.

peanut butter streusel banana bread

I get so excited when I think about how much I've improved in my ability to develop recipes. 

When I first started this blog, almost all my recipes were from Allrecipes.com. I never made a single change, switched up the butter to flour ratio, used brown sugar instead of white sugar, NOTHING. It sounds so lame, but I never took any chances with my baking. And when I DID start taking chances and became more adventurous in the kitchen, that's when people started reading my little blog. 

Over the past year and a half, things have changed. Much to my mother's dismay, I hardly ever follow recipes anymore. I know {usually. but not always.} when something looks right or when it needs a bit more flour or a splash of milk. I love that I'm now able to throw some ingredients in a bowl and actually get edible results. In fact, some of my favorite things that have come out of my oven, you haven't even seen because those things are usually whipped together with nothing but a mixing bowl and a wooden spoon. 

Today's banana bread is one of those recipes that I base off of nothing but an idea I had floating around in my head. Of course, because I love you, I actually wrote down the measurements. And I'm really happy I did because this banana bread was one of the best healthy variations I've made so far. That says a lot because I probably make some sort of banana bread/muffin every other week, tweaking things each time. 

This banana bread isn't too sweet. I didn't use ANY processed sugar, but instead sweetened it with some maple syrup our visitors brought with them. {Someone from our church in the states sent some of their homemade stuff. That is organic as you'll ever get!} Since I almost ALWAYS smear peanut butter on top of my banana bread, I figured I'd actually incorporate it into the recipe. The streusel is so good, peanuty, crumbly, and adds just the right amount of oomph to an otherwise basic banana bread. `

peanut butter streusel banana bread

banana bread: 

3-4 overripe bananas, mashed

1/2 c. plain yogurt

2 eggs

2/3 c. organic maple syrup

2 c. flour

1/2 c. oats

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. vanilla extract

streusel: 

1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

2 tbsp. dark brown sugar

1/4 c. flour

1/4 c. oats

Preheat oven to 375ºF and grease/line a loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs, yogurt, bananas, maple syrup, and vanilla. Mix in flour, oats, nutmeg, and baking powder. Stir until combined. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and peanut butter and mix until it resembles a coarse crumb. Sprinkle on top of batter. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown. 

peanut butter honey granola

Believe it or not, the last couple days here have been cold. For awhile, it was really nice, staying around the 70's all day, but lately? ahhmahhgahh. The mornings and nights are so frigid my toes want to fall off and my lips turn this super weird purplish color that would NOT make a good lipstick. It's horrible. Last night I slept in long pants and a sweatshirt, with two comforters and two blankets wrapped around me, yet I was still SHIVERING. And I'm in Africa, you say? What the what. This is so weird. My little noggin can't take it any longer. There's still a plus side though… I don't have to go running the second I wake up in the morning. During the summer months, it gets hot really early, so I usually go around 6. But I've been chilling in my jammies for the morning, drink my cup of coffee, watch my Food Network, and go running around 8:30. Even when I went this morning, it was still so cold! My toes were going numb and my face burned a little bit. But I guess that's better than sweating my buns off. 

Another reason why I'm totally digging this weather? Food. Figures, right? When it's cold out, all I want is comfort food. Lentil stew and chicken noodle soup for dinner? Check. Oatmeal, eggs, and pancakes for breakfast? Checkcheckcheck. One of my favorite breakfasts is granola. I haven't made it in forever since I figured out dairy was a part of my skin problems, and I preferred my granola with yogurt. Stubborn am I. However, with all this cold weather, I'm in the mood for something hearty in the morning like peanut butter. Seriously, how bad can it be? Not bad at all, my friend. Not bad at all. 

So I made granola! And I ate granola! A lot of granola! Way too much granola! Seriously, you guys I went into a peanut butter and brown rice cereal induced coma. Yes, I over did it, but I'll just eat a carrot for dinner and the guilt will be no more. Not that there's much to feel guilty about though… This granola is relatively healthy, full of good carbs, protein, fiber, and healthy fats from the peanut butter. It's super chewy and peanut buttery, and not too sweet. As I was mixing the granola, I couldn't keep my fingers out of there and took a bite or two. The granola tastes a little like peanut butter cookie dough! Then as I was baking it, I'd take it from the oven to stir it around and I think every time I did that, I took a chunk or too of granola. And then I took pictures which lead to more munching. I guess what I'm trying to say is… This stuff is madly addicting. No matter how much self control you have, I can almost guarantee you'll go weak at the knees and eat extremely large quantities. For breakfast, you could add it to your cereal with some yogurt and fruit. You could also throw this on top of ice cream or just munch on a handful for an afternoon snack. Either way, if you love peanut butter like I do, I think you will absotootly adore this granola. 

peanut butter honey granola

2 1/2 c. oats

1 1/2 c. brown rice cereal

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tbsp. olive oil

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. honey

1/2 c. peanuts

In a large bowl, stir all of the ingredients until combined. Pour onto a lined cookie sheet and bake for 15-25 minutes. 

puffy peanut butter m&m cookies

Lately, I've found myself in a seriously full-blown photo rut. Let me tell ya. It ain't fun.

Awhile ago, I was in love with how my photography was turning out, but then all of a sudden it was like "dude. whoa. whaaaaat happened."

People always say "you can never get worse. you can only get better."

Well, look at me, guys! Breaking trends and conquering the impossible. Just call me… WONDERFUL-COOKIE-MAKER-WOMAN.

Saving the world… One fat, wrinkly cookie at a time.

Haaaaardy haaar… haaar… har.

Dear people.

If you every find yourself in the same rut as me- walking around the entire house looking for a room with good lighting and even resorting to taking pictures ONAFREAKINGBED- well maybe that part's just me- but anyways. I was saaaaaaaaying.

If you ever have issues with light, go outside. It works MA.GIC.

For these cookies, uhh… I took a hundred and fifty nine photos. Yes, 1-5-9. Hashtag- foodbloggerprobs.

The first hundred and eight I took inside, uploaded them to the computer, edited them, uploaded them to my blogpost, decided I hated their stinking guts, deleted them, and then proceeded to whine a little bit like a three year old.

Then I manned up, trotted outside, and took fifty one more. 

When I was taking pictures outside, my dog came with, hoping I'd find his chubby little face so irresistible {which I do.} and give him human food{which I didn't.}. HA. Suckaaaah. He got no cookies, but sat by the table, stared at the plate of cookies, and licked his lips over. and over. and over. and over again. 

Well. I'm still not in love with these photos, but they did turn out better than the first hundred and eight. 

It's been a long day, I have packing to do for a little weekend trip with our missions team, I have studying to do, it's 3:30 and I'm still in my pajamas, and I probably should go for a run. 

So no more picture taking for me! An hour and a half for five pictures is good, thanks. 

Oh yah, and cookies! I made some. They're fat and wrinkly just how I like 'em. 

Like I said, we're going away on a little "retreat" with our team and I'm so excited to have some time away and do some relaxing. And sleeping. 

My mom said I could bake something to bring along and I figured why the heck not make some cookies. 

Puffy, chewy peanut butter cookies studded with some crunchy peanut M&M's. 

Do you need anymore convincing? 

I think not. 

Excuse me while I go run off all those "taste-tests."

puffy peanut butter m&m cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. dark brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. cake flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. cornstarch
1 1/4 c. peanut m&ms

In a large bowl, combine butter, peanut butter, and eggs. Stir in sugars until smooth. Add flours, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch. Mix until combined. Form into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. When you're ready to bake the cookies, reheat oven to 375ºF and grease a cookie sheet. Roll chilled cookie dough into balls about 1 1/2 tablespoons each. Press down with your palm or a spoon. Press 4-5 m&ms on top of each cookie. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and remove to a wire rack.

peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough bars

Let us sing for joy. I made something packed with peanut butter, chocolate, sugar, butter, and calories. 

Good gracious, things such as this make my heart go pitter-patter. Yah, it's been awhile since I baked something not healthy. I mean, hey, healthy sweets are good every once in awhile. But everything in moderation, amiright? 

Of course, since my tastebuds haven't felt the presence of sugar in awhile due to the diet, I'm gonna be honest. I OD'd it on these. 

Totally, full-on, stuffed my face, couldn't stop, over did it. 

It's funny because I haven't cheated with dairy or gluten at all {I haven't had BREAD in weeks. Truth.}, but I have allowed sugar which is the thing I need to cut out the most. That probably made no sense, but just act like you understand, ok? 

Anyways. I ate a lot of these last night. They made me happy. And hyper. And I think you should make them. I'm happy we had company over that I was able to send them home with. Ooooootherwise, I would have eaten the whole dang pan by myself. Seriously, there might be something illegal in there. 

These bars literally taste like straight up peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough. HEA.VEN.LY. For shizzle. 

The good thing is, you can eat it all straight from the bowl if that's what your little heart desires. It's safe to eat- no flour {because raw flour tastes icky} or egg. Press into a pan, cover it in chocolate, roll it into balls, eat it with a spoon, do what you wish.

peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough bars

1/2 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. peanut butter

2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 c. dark brown sugar

2 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. chocolate chips + 1 more cup for topping if desired

In a large bowl, whisk together butter, peanut butter, vanilla, and brown sugar. Add powdered sugar and mix until combined. Fold in chocolate chips and press into a greased pan {mine was small- like 5x6, but you could use a bigger pan for thinner bars} If desired, melt 1 c. chocolate chips and pour on top. Chill in refrigerator for 2+ hours and cut into squares.

peanut butter banana energy bars

{Note: I hesitated to post these because THE PICTURES ARE HORRIBLE. However, They're some of my favorite energy bars I've ever made and I think if you make them, you'll love them!}

I really super hope you're not sick of all these "energy bars" or "energy bite" concoctions I've been feeding you 3 times a week. 

I mean SERIOUSLY. Can you blame me? What's a girl to do when she can't have gluten {I cheated.}, dairy, or sugar? This is the closest thing I can have to a giant ice cream sundae covered in homemade chocolate fudge sauce, brownies, peanuts, peanut BUTTER {in my Buddy The Elf voice}, and bananas. 

Wait. I might have done that Friday night. Whoops? I'm a bad dieter. 

Anyways, please don't worry. I'm probably just going through a phase or something… But if this sticks, who knows! Maybe I'll have a homemade energy bar business when I grow up! 

Seriously, I'm kinda not even kidding. 

Today, I bring you bananas and peanut butter all wrapped up into a chewy, addicting, bar that can be made in a matter of minutes. 

Yah, yah, I know, I know. 

EVERYTHING in the recent weeks has either contained chocolate, peanut butter, bananas, oats, was no bake, or even BETTER- all of the above. You can't get sick of that? Can you? 

Please assure me the answer is no. 

peanut butter banana energy bars

1 c. chopped dates

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

2 tbsp. honey

2 1/2 c. crispy rice cereal, crushed

1 small banana

In a large bowl, combine the chopped dates, honey, and banana. Add in peanut butter and crushed cereal. Stir until combined. Press into a 9x9 pan lined with parchment paper. {My bars didn't take up the entire pan. I just pressed them into a square because I wanted them to be thick.} Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Cut into squares and store wrapped in plastic wrap or in a plastic container.

{skinny} chocolate peanut butter pie

One my bestest friends' birthdays was about a month or so ago, and at her party {with 2 friends. I feel so honored.}, along with a humungo chocolate laden cake, there was a cute little peanut butter pie. I opted for the pie because gosh dang it, I love my peanut butter! I took a bite, took a few more, and then seconds, and maaaaaaybe thirds. When she told me that it was healthy, the angels started singing. "How in the what is this healthy?", I thought to myself. Well apparently the crust was made from dates and the pie part was peanut butter and bananas.  Thank goodness it was healthy though, because that made up for the fact that I ate like a quarter of the pie by myself. No shame. 

Anyways, since that glorious day of discovery so long ago, I've been thinking about this pie. Non. Stop. Almost every day. ALMOST. As you can tell, my thoughts are mostly consumed of sprinkles and pretty pastries and brownies and healthy pies.  It's kinda weird. I seriously have no idea why I've waited so long to make this pie. It's SO quick and easy and you TOTALLY can't tell it's healthy, I promise! Pinky promise! If I never even found out that it was healthy, I'd still say it's the best peanut butter based dessert I've ever tasted. I'm not joshing here, people. 

I'd have to say, I think the healthy chocolate crust is my favorite part of the pie. It's made with dates, honey, cocoa powder, and cookie crumbs. I know that sounds rather unappetizing, but it results in a super chewy, chocolaty crust- the perfect base for… PEANUT BUTAAAAAAAAAH! The pie part is  SUPER easy. If you feel like leaving the crust off, I'm sure you could, and you could have this ready in just a couple minutes. The filling is made of pureed bernerners, honey, peanut butter, vanilla, and a little bit of powdered sugar. Pour that into the crust, plop it in the freezer, and wait for a few hours. I know. It sucks to wait. But if you don't freeze it, you'd be left with a gooey gloppy peanut buttery mess. Which aaaaaaaactually doesn't sound too shabby. 

Just be classy and freeze it.

This pie is GREAT to just make ahead and keep in the freezer for when you get those cravings for something sweet. It makes it easier to have something healthy on hand instead of caving in and eating a package of cookies or something NOT healthy. The best part is, you can eat like half the thing if you're feeling real crazy. Yah, be like me. 

{skinny} chocolate peanut butter

crust: 

1 c. dates

1 c. cookie crumbs/graham cracker crumbs

1/3 c. cocoa 

1/2 c. honey

filling: 

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1 1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

2 tbsp. honey

3 tbsp. powdered sugar

To make the crust, combine the dates, cookie crumbs, cocoa, and honey in a food processor or blender. Press into a round pie dish and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the bananas, peanut butter, and honey. Add in the powdered sugar and stir until smooth. Pour into prepared crust. Refrigerate for 2+ hours or until firm. 

salted peanut & butterscotch puppy chow popcorn

There's some foods that I can just have a bite of or even totally pass up {emphasis on SOME. Not many. At all. But SOME.}. And THEN there's things that I make and can't seem to stop eating. Like there's a magnet constantly attracting my hand to the bowl and I have no self control whatsoever. It's like... involuntary. Isn't there a name for that? Uhh. This goodness is one of those things. Awhile ago, the sugar angels of above {my brain.} sent me a vision of morphing puppy chow and popcorn into one super addicting snack that turned out to be one of the most popular recipes on the blog. Ahhmahhgahhh that was good. I've made that stuff countless times and my love continued to grow, BUT I was getting ready to switch it up. 

I'd have to say, aside from the obvious chocolate and peanut butter, butterscotch and peanut butter are up there on the awesome scale. It's the perfect combo of sweet and salty... My favorite! Add some salted peanuts and powdered sugar into the mix and HOLY GOSH, you're toast, man. In a good way. Please, just prepare yourself to lose all control of your eating habits when you get within, oh... 10 feet of this popcorn. 

This snack is way quick and easy! You can have it from microwave to mouth in about 5 minutes, especially if you use microwave popcorn instead of stovetop. Whatever floats your boat! Combine some butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a mug, pop it in the microwave, and stir it up until it's all smooth and creamy and dreamy. Abstain from dipping your face in it. We don't want to make a mess here. Pour that greatness on top of the popcorn, throw in some peanuts and powdered sugar, toss it around in a big 'ol bowl, and prepare to be amazed. 

The end. 

salted peanut & butterscotch puppy chow popcorn

9 c. prepared popcorn {microwave or stovetop is fine}
1 c. butterscotch chips
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1 c. salted peanuts
3/4 c. powdered sugar

In a microwave safe bowl or mug, microwave the peanut butter and butterscotch chips until just melted; stir until smooth. In a large bowl, pour the peanut butter/butterscotch mixture over popcorn. Add in salted peanuts and powdered sugar. Toss to combine.

butterscotch & oatmeal peanut butter cookies

You guys... I'm learning French. {!!!!!!!} I'm not going to go so far as to say I'm good at it. I totally get it. Or I'm super great at the pronunciations. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm totally botching it. Like I was trying to say "frere" the other day but it somehow came out sounding like I had just dropped a bomb. 

My friends laughed. 

I laughed so hard I cried. 

Good times, good times. 

Through this experience though, I'm learning not to take myself so seriously and to laugh at myself... And my classmates too. Muahaha. 

Not only am I learning to laugh, but I'm actually learning a little language too! So far I can count to ten. Say the days of the week. Say I'm 15 years old {which is a lie. Only a couple more weeks.} And a couple other little phrases. Definitely not enough to have a conversation though, unless you'd like to talk about numbers or colors. In that case, I'd love to chat. 

Our teacher is from France and she's learning some English in exchange. At class the other day, we were going over the parts of the body, and when we came to the toes, she said "What are these things? The fingers on your feet?" That brought up a wave of laughter. 

Again... 

My friends laughed. 

I laughed so hard I cried. 

Learning French, I'm {suuuuuuper slowly} getting this much closer to my dream. The tiny dream: To travel to Paris. The big dream: Open a bakery in Paris. I'd call it... Sophie's Cakery. Which is quite ironic considering cakes come out of my kitchen only about once every couple months. A cakery without cake? Is that even legal? Might need to reconsider things... 

In other news... I made you cookies!

When I pulled out the first pan of these cookies, I knew they were going to be crazy good. And tempting. And addicting. So I figured I'd bring them to French the next day, because I'd rather make my friends fat than myself. True selflessness, people. When my mom saw these she declared, before she even tried one, that they would be the best cookies I'd ever made. I told her I was planning to bring them to class, but she refused. Not surprising though! These cookies are crispy on the edges, soft and chewy in the middle, and the perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Bon appetit!

butterscotch & oatmeal peanut butter cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter {I used crunchy. But use whatever you have on hand!}

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 c. butterscotch chips

:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugars, and peanut butter.  Beat in the eggs until well blended.  Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and oats; stir into creamed mixture until well mixed. Fold in butterscotch chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

peanut butter chip brownies

Life has been so crazy and hectic, I just haven't had time to do any baking.

Until Valentine's Day, that is, which is only appropriate given it's the day we celebrate the loves of our lives. For me, that would be chocolate. 

Last week {well maybe it was two weeks ago? or three? my life lately is a big fat blur.}, we drove from Otji aaaaaaaaall the way down to Cape Town, South Africa to meet my grandparents {!!!!!}. It was a painful 17 hours of driving in the dry, hot, boring dessert. And unlike the US, there's no Starbucks to stop at on the way. Tragic, I know. 

I settled for WIMPY coffee {good 'ol African fast food} and zoomed through a whole 2 and a half books the way there and back. I just love reading. And when I find a book I love, I often times can not. get. my face. out of it! 

After spending a week in Cape Town, all 7 of us {my family and my grandparents} plus all the luggage {which was A LOT!} piled into our little van and made the long journey back to Otji, only to spend one night at home and get on the road again the next morning to head up to a game reserve for the next 3 nights. That brings us to now. 

I'm so happy to be home! It felt so amazing to sleep in my own bed, eat our own food MADE in our own house, and shower in my own bathroom. I love traveling, but two weeks of go go go is noooot my cup of tea. Especially in Africa, where it takes a minimum of 2 hours to get to one town to the next! Oy.

Brownies = real life. 

peanut butter chip brownies 

1 c. butter, softened

2 eggs

1 c. white sugar

1 c. flour

1/2 c. cocoa powder

1/2 c. peanut butter chips 

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease a 9x9 in. pan; set aside. 

2. In a large bowl, ream together the butter, eggs, and sugar. 

3. Once combined, add the flour and cocoa; stir until smooth. 

4. Fold in the peanut butter chips and pour batter into greased pan. 

5. Bake for 15-20 minutes- they should be just slightly underdone. 

6. Let cool on a wire rack before slicing into squares.