SWEET VALENTINES RECIPES

The first recipe I want to share is for chocolate covered peanut butter hearts and lips. Growing up our Head cook in our school cafeteria made these awesome no bake peanut butter bars. I have been searching for years to find a recipe that tastes the same. I finally found one and was given the idea to cut them out with cookie cutters and dipping each one into chocolate instead of just spreading them in a pan. They turned out so great and were super simple. If any of you grew up in Fairfield and loved the peanut butter bars. Then these are for you.
Don't they look great:

Chocolate covered Peanut Butter Hearts/Lips
1-18 oz jar creamy peanut butter
1 stick softened butter
3 cups powdered sugar
2 cups rice krispies
2-3 cups chocolate~you can use chocolate chips, dipping chocolate~I used half and half milk and dark chocolate dove miniatures
3 T. shortening

Mix the peanut butter and butter until very creamy. Start adding the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Mixing well. You should be able to start mixing it with you hands after you put all the powdered sugar in without the dough sticking to much to your hands. Mix in the rice krispies. The dough will look like this:

Roll the dough out to 1/2 inch thick and cut with desired cookie cutter shape. Place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. cover with wax paper and put them in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes. They will be fairly hard and that is how you want them. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate with the shortening in the microwave. cooking for 30 seconds at a time and stirring in between each until the chocolate is all melted and smooth and runny. Then dip each shape in the melted chocolate with a fork. I placed the hearts on top of the fork and lowered them into the chocolate until well covered. Shake off any of the excess chocolate and place back on the cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Let them chill in the Fridge until they are set. I also store mine in the fridge. You can also just press the peanut butter dough into a greased 9x13 pan and pour the melted chocolate over top and put in the fridge until set if you don't feel like dipping every single shape.


Next I made Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars. These were so tasty and easy. I got this recipe off of the http://www.thesisterscafe.blogspot.com/ I reccomend making these if you need something quick and easy and tasty.

CHOCOLATE CHIP TOFFEE BARS

2 1/3 cup flour

2/3 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup butter

1 egg

1 pkg. chocolate chips~any kind you like. I used a mix of milk and butterscotch chips

1-2 cups more chocolate chips for the top~I used about 1 1/2 to 2 cups

1 cup chopped pecans or any nut you like(I also think you could leave them out if you don't like them and it won't matter)

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

1(8-10 oz) pkg. toffee bits~you can find these next to the chocolate chips in walmart,etc.

Stir together the flour and sugar. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the eggs and mix really well. Stir in the package of chocolate chips and nuts. Reserve 2 cups of this mixture for later. Press the remaining dough into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Take out and immediately pour the milk over the crust. Sprinkle the toffe bits all over the milk and then sprinkle the remaining dough over the bits. Top with however many more chocolate chips you would like. Th original recipe called for 1/2 cup but I put about 2 cups more. Then return to oven and bake for 25-30 more minutes, or until set and golden brown. I also drizzled the top with melted chocolate. You don't have to do that though.

These were gooey and yummy!!!

HAPPPY VALENTINES DAY!! I HOPE YOU ALL OF A GREAT DAY OF LOVE WITH YOUR LOVED ONES!!