Sweets and treats

I love candy.  Love love love love it!  However, I've been trying to not eat it as much as I used to.  I decided to try and evolve a candy into something so that I can get the candy and be more satisfied with just one.  I decided to settle on Rolo Cookies.  The original cookie uses a peanut better cookie with a rolo in the center, but I have family members allergic to peanut butter so I went with a normal sugar cookie (Though I'm SURE they would taste amazing with peanut butter).  You can use any sugar cookie recipe you'd like.  Once you've rolled it into a medium sized ball, push the rolo in the center and wrap it.  Make sure there is enough dough on the bottom so your rolo doesn't ooze out the bottom.

The last thing I've made recently (which is apparently also the best) would be these Peanut Butter Cup Bars.  Basically, an at home version of Reese's.  Also, WAY easier to make than buckeyes (ugh, rolling things in chocolate is not fun).

Peanut Butter Cup Bars

1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
(Line a 8×8, 9×9, or 7×11 pan with foil for easy removal of bars later.)
Melt 1/2 c. butter of low heat. Remove from heat and stir in confectioner’s sugar. Add peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs, stirring until creamy. Spread mixture into pan, patting down evenly.
In same pot, on low heat, melt butter. Add chocolate chips and stir until chips are nearly melted and very soft. Remove from heat and continue stirring until chocolate is smooth and shiny. Spread over peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cut into bars.
Store peanut butter cup bars in refrigerator.

I would definitely recommend these!

Sea Foam Candy

I have recently gotten into baking.  Today was a rainy downer of a day (What's new in Washington State?) so I decided what better to try and make some Sea Foam Candy.  My mom and Grandpa LOVE Sea Foam Candy... I didn't think it'd be too hard, so I figured why not and try.  I think they turned out pretty good.  If you're interested I used this recipe:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,187,154167-245199,00.html

So awful out.  Disappointing.

It was getting realllly hot.  I was getting nervous and couldn't hold the thermometer anymore because the steam was hurting too badly.

When you add the baking soda the whole pot just starts to boil and foam like an animal with rabies. 

Breaking everything up was really messy, but sort of fun.  I just took a knife to it... if you end up making Sea Foam I would suggest looking for a better method.

Mmmmmm, I love LOVE love chocolate <3  They are currently hardening, so I haven't tried the finished project, but I've got high hopes.

And to end it a picture of The Boyfriend with Charlie.  He wouldn't wake up and Charlie wanted to play.  Rude.

sippin' on some syzzurup

I've been drinking tonight.  It wasn't one of those "I want to get so wasted I can't remember anything" nights, but a "Let's have a relaxing drink outside while having a much needed talk with The Boyfriend night".  I loved it.  A change, which is what I've been craving.  It made me fall in love all over again.  He's a good man.