First things first…..you might ask where I have been and why I haven’t blogged in what seems like ages.  I wish I could I tell you all that I have been vacationing on a fabulous island out in the south pacific or that I was endlessly strolling through the beautiful streets of Paris, but alas, I have not.  Maybe in my dreams…..

I apologize for the lack of posts to my blog in that last few months.  One of my New Years resolutions is to spend more time blogging.  Not an insane amount because frankly I’m not sure where I would find that time, but I do want to get back to posting more regularly.  Once a week seems about right, don’t you think?

So here we go making resolutions happen with dessert #1 of 2013.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars…need I say more?

It’s basically a peanut butter butter cookie layer with a generous topping of chocolate.  Delicious!

I found this recipe on one of my favorite food blogs Buns in My Oven.  Karly is hilarious and I truly enjoy reading her posts, but not only that, her recipes are amazing.  I can say that because I have tried many of them.  This recipe was one I had flagged a bit ago but never got around to trying.  So when the spark hit me, I went with it.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars (from Buns in My Oven)

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
7 ounces sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 can
2 cups Milk Chocolate Chips

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9×13 pan with shortening and then sprinkle with flour or alternately line the pan with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.

Cream the butter with the sugars until light and fluffy.  Next, add in the eggs one at a time beating until combined and then the vanilla.  Next, slowly add in the flour mixture and beat until well combined.

Spread mixture in the 9×13 pan.  Heat the peanut butter and condensed milk together in a saucepan until melted.  As soon as it is melted, immediately remove from heat and pour over the cookie mixture and using a knife swirl the mixture into the cookie dough.

Bake for 25-30 minutes.  (Mine took 30 minutes)

Remove from oven and cover the bars evenly with the chocolate chips.  Let sit for 5 minutes and then using a spatula spread the chocolate over the bars.