peanut butter squares

For many things.

For being MIA, which I have an excuse for.

For my last post being crappy, which I do not.

For obviously writing out my apology in chocolate chips so that I could eat them afterwards. Selfish, but genuine.

For giving you ANOTHER recipe with peanut butter and chocolate.

Except I’m not that sorry about that- these aren’t cookies, and they’re fantastic.

The reason I’ve been on hiatus is because my charger for my laptop has been shall we say, finicky, recently. And the other night when I was wiggling it around so I could ~~watch the season premiere of Dexter ❤~~ work on a lab write up, it started sparking and smoking. Not really interested in starting an electrical fire in my bedroom, I put the laptop away for a few days. The new one hasn’t come yet so I’m actually racing the clock/my battery here, which is why I drafted first.

Usually it takes me about an hour to finish a blog post because my first few drafts are even more ridiculous and all over the place than what I actually send. So I did it the old fashioned way.

And I made something really cool this weekend that I’ll post when the new charger gets here from Jerz.

Ironically, Sheila mentioned these peanut butter squares in an apology post as well, which I won’t link to because it includes a heinous picture of me. Happy hunting.

I was ashamed when I realized that we’ve been blogging away for a few months now and I hadn’t yet shared this recipe. These are my dad’s absolute favorite dessert. And actually, no one makes them better than my Aunt Sue. The recipe came from her, and she always brings them over for his birthday. He is a selfless selfless man and shares them with us. I’m not entirely confident I would be so kind.

When my mom and dad were dating (newly married?) my aunts told her that these were Timmy’s favorite dessert and gave her the recipe. She got right to it and made them, but it didn’t say anywhere on the recipe that you HAVE to add a healthy layer of chocolate frosting.

So when Marilyn presented Timmy with these naked squares, he (as she tells the story) just stared at them and said “Where’s the chocolate frosting?”

Let me take a moment to say that my dad is probably the greatest man ever, so it’s somewhat comforting to imagine that during some small window of time in his younger years, he might have been kind of an ass. All the single ladies, there is hope.

Peanut Butter Squares

1/2 cup softened butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup peanut butter

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup oatmeal

Combine butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla.

Is it just me, or is opening a new jar of peanut butter really exciting?

Add the peanut butter. Then flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix evenly, then fold in the oatmeal.

Spread in a small greased baking dish (at home I use a 9×9) and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

My only issue with this recipe is that I can’t deliver them straight from the oven to my face. You actually have to let them cool and then frost them, and then let the frosting set up a little bit.

Have no fear, though, they’re still ooey gooey.

These are perfection. They’re ALMOST as good as Aunt Sue’s, probably better than the chocolate-free ones my mom made that time. And almost as good as eating them with my mom and dad at home.

By the way, Mom and Dad, this little tribute is my way of apologizing for forgetting your anniversary. 26 years! Boo yah. Turns out forgetting frosting isn’t a relationship killer.

You’re the best!