Chewy Peanut Bars

I'm getting a bit of a delayed start today.  We woke last night to a ridiculously loud thunderstorm, then saw there was a tornado warning for our area and the surrounding counties.  I'm not going to lie I was a little scared!  Visions of Dorothy and her little house were in my mind!  The tornado was moving northeast, which meant it could be coming straight here.  We waited until it thankfully went north of us and continued to move on.  We went back to bed around 2, and I had a hard time getting up this morning.  Then we were without power for a while this morning, making it difficult to get ready and, you know, use the internet.  Anyway, if you find yourself sitting in your basement during a tornado warning, you should munch on these chewy peanut bars.  Or just make them to snack on during pleasant weather too.

Chewy Peanut Bars
2 1/4 cups coarsely chopped roasted salted peanuts
1 Tbsp water
50 store-bought soft caramel squares, unwrapped (a 14 oz bag has 50 in it)
1 cup mini marshmallows

Lightly coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.  Line with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on all sides, then lightly coat the parchment paper with spray.  Cover paper with 1 1/4 cups chopped peanuts.

In medium pot, combine 1 Tbsp water, caramels, and marshmallows over 

medium heat.  Cook, stirring frequently, until caramels and marshmallows 

melt and mixture is smooth, about 8 minutes.

Immediately pour over peanuts.

Then top with remaining 1 cup of peanuts.

Let cool until set, about 2 hours.

 Cut into bars and store in airtight container with parchment

paper in between layers.

Source:  recipe from Everyday Food, April 2011

Winner & M&M Pretzel Treats

The winner of the Starbucks giveaway, using random.org, is Jess!  Congrats Jess!

I will contact you to get your mailing address so I can send you your giftcard!

Thank you to all that entered, to those who have been following my blog, and to those who have become new followers!  More giveaways to come in the future...

We've been having such beautiful spring weather lately!  I am so happy that the sun is shining, the grass is green, and the skies are blue.  I don't even mind the occasional spring rain shower, because I'm just glad it is not snow!  I wanted to make a spring-y snack this week.  Of course I thought of M&M pretzel treats.  My mom makes these in theme with the holidays.  This is quite easy to do, since M&M colors conveniently change with each holiday (Christmas, Valentine's, Easter, 4th of July....you get the picture).  These are so easy to make, and who doesn't love the sweet+salty combo?

This is all you need:

Place waffle pretzels on an ungreased baking sheet.

Don't use any of the broken ones - intact pretzels only.

Place one Wilton candy melt (buy them at Michaels) on

top of each pretzel.  Bake at 350 degrees for 2 minutes.

As soon as they come out of the oven, place one 

M&M on top of each slightly melted chocolate,

pushing it into place.

 Let them cool and the chocolate harden.  Can also place the 

entire baking sheet in the fridge to help them harden. 

Make sure you only let them bake for two minutes!  You don't want the chocolate to start melting through the holes in the pretzel.  This is a perfect snack for a party, or even for cute favors!  The Wilton candy melts come in all different colors, as do M&Ms.  My sister also made these this week here.  Great minds think alike!  And actually what is really funny is my other sister and my mom also made them this week.  You could say our family likes these...  Enjoy!