I am thrilled to have one of my favorite people joining us today. Jill Kemerer and I have much in common. Aside from the fact that we both write for Love Inspired, we both hail from Michigan (our small-town schools competed in sports), we're both blond and we both love to cook. So in honor of her latest release, Her Small-Town Romance, Jill has agreed to share one of her favorite recipes--and a book giveaway--with us.
Take it away, Jill.
I have a sweet tooth. Let me rephrase that. I have a
mouthful of sweet teeth. I love chocolate! And cookies, cakes, candy, pudding…I
love it all. I first made this recipe a few years ago as a gift. Needless to
say, it turned out so delicious, I promptly made an extra batch for us! The
best part? These don’t even have to be baked, and they melt in your mouth.
Peanut Butter Squares
Prep time: 15 minutes
Refrigerate an hour before serving.
Makes 25 small squares
Ingredients:
Peanut
Butter Layer
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
3 TBS butter, melted
¾ cup powdered sugar
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
Splash of vanilla extract
Top
Layer
½ stick (4 TBS) butter
½ cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet, but feel free to
use milk chocolate)
Instructions:
First, tear off a sheet of wax paper and line a 9x9
pan with it.
Melt 3 TBS of butter (I throw it in a bowl in the
microwave for 20-30 seconds). Put the melted butter, peanut butter, powdered
sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl or mixer and blend for about a
minute.
Press this mixture into the 9x9 pan. Tip: I put a
plastic baggie over my hand and spray it with nonstick spray for less mess.
In a small bowl or saucepan, melt the top layer
ingredients (butter and chocolate chips). If using the microwave, heat for 30
seconds, stir, then heat for an additional 20-30 seconds and stir. If using a
saucepan, melt over very low heat or use a double boiler.
Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter layer.
Pop the pan in the fridge for an hour. When you’re
ready to cut, take the bars with the wax paper right out of the pan and cut
them into small squares before serving.
Jill, I don't know whether to love or hate you for sharing these delectable treats. Anyone else out there drooling? If you're like me, you're going to be thinking about these peanut butter squares all day. Make that all week. Things this good should not be so simple.
Another treat, though, one that doesn't necessarily have an affect on your waistline, is Jill's latest release. I'm in the process of reading Her Small-Town Romance and let me tell you, it is SO good. If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of Jill's book, just leave a comment to be entered. (U.S. mailing addresses only, please) A winner will be drawn at random Monday, April 11th.
Here's more about Jill and her book:
***
HER SMALL-TOWN ROMANCE
Finding Her Way Home
Cozy Lake Endwell,
Michigan, seems the perfect place for Jade Emerson's new T-shirt shop—and
perhaps a fresh start. After a lifetime of letdowns, she is finally ready to
face the future on her own. So when local wilderness guide Bryan Sheffield
offers to help Jade overcome a past trauma, she warns him they will remain
strictly business. But soon, with the help of Bryan's big, complicated family
and a boisterous St. Bernard named Teeny, Jade's frozen heart begins to thaw.
Now Jade wonders if she can return the favor, bringing a little happiness to a
man who has long kept his own sorrow under wraps…
Interested
in purchasing Her Small-Town Romance? Purchase links available at http://jillkemerer.com/books/her-small-town-romance/.
About Jill Kemerer
Jill
Kemerer writes
Christian romance novels with love, humor and faith for Harlequin Love
Inspired. Jill loves coffee, M&Ms, fluffy animals, magazines and her
hilarious family. Visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and connect with Jill on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for her Newsletter!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jillkemerer
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/f3YzL
I'm glad there are no chocolate chips in my pantry right now because I'd be in the kitchen making this! Peanut Butter and chocolate are yummy and one of my weaknesses!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I know what you mean, Melmanro. I'm fighting the urge myself.
DeleteMelmanro, this recipe is so easy, too! My hubby kept saying, "these are addictive"!!
DeleteMindy, thanks so much for hosting me today!!
Hi Jill! So good to see you here. :)
ReplyDeleteThese bars look so easy, it's almost sinful. I'm refusing to listen to that little voice inside my head that's telling me that these would make a great breakfast!
Besides, chocolate and peanut butter are always a win/win combination!
Congratulations on your book release, too. I also grew up in Michigan, and I love reading stories that take place there. I'll be looking for it on my next trip to Walmart.
Ooo... I hadn't thought about breakfast, Jan, but peanut butter has protein, right? And chocolate is one of the major food groups, so these must be healthy. We'll just call them protein bars.
DeleteThese little delights are appropriate for any meal, Jan! That's so cool you grew up in Michigan! My husband and I are both from mid-Michigan. Love it!!
DeleteThe perils of living alone -- I can't possibly make these until I'm going somewhere I can share. LOL But I think I still might keep way too many back. Mind you, a great way to get some quality protein in my vegetarian diet, right? Thanks for sharing!!!!!!! (well, my tastebuds thank you, my hips don't.)
ReplyDeleteYes, Kav! That's just what I was telling Jan. Protein bars. Very good for you. :D
DeletePersonally, Kav, I like to have a tray of these all to myself. I mean, who wants to share them?? Not me! And, yes, peanut butter is PROTEIN! HEALTHY!!
DeleteHi Jill! Those look soooo yummy! And it looks so easy! I'm going to try that...adding chocolate chips to my grocery list this week. Thanks! And thanks for the giveaway. I remember we were voting for the title way back when! =) Count me in for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteAnnie
justcommonly[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi, Annie. Thanks for stopping by the cafe. Don't these treats just make you want to invite company over just so you'll have an excuse to make them? I'm still fighting the urge to make them.
DeleteThanks so much, Annie!! The recipe is super easy--and so, so yummy!
DeleteHey, Jill! Thanks for this great, quick, easy and chocolate recipe. I can't wait to try it! Your book sounds great. Can't wait to read it! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sally. The book is awesome. I love the way Jill tells a story.
DeleteThanks, Sally!! I'm so impressed with all you're doing to stay in shape--you inspire me!
DeleteHey, Mindy! Thank you, Jill! I'm just waiting for summer to hit lol. It's cold again and calling for snow. I can't run in snow lol.
DeleteLoved Jill's line about having a "mouthful of sweet teeth". Made me giggle! I have enjoyed Jill's Lake Endwell series and would love to win the new installment.
ReplyDeletewesnpam[at]fulton-net[dot]com
You won't be disappointed, Pam. Bryan and Jade's story is a must-read.
DeleteThanks, Pam! Ask anyone in my family--they know I'm a chocoholic!! And thank you for your kind words about my books!
DeleteThose bars look good! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletealysap at yahoo dot com
Hi, JCP. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteJCP, I'm tempted to whip up a batch now! Mouth...watering... :) Thanks!!
DeleteJill, welcome!! We're so glad to have you today. I LOVE this recipe! I have a friend at church who makes it for every event. But now I'll have the recipe myself! :)
ReplyDeleteMissy, you'll have to let us know if having the recipe yourself turns out to be a good thing or a bad thing. :D
DeleteMissy, church friends make the best desserts! :)
DeleteActually, I once got the recipe from my friend and tried making it. It turned out terrible! I used low fat peanut butter and the crust didn't want to stay together. LOL
DeleteThose are basically the bar version of peanut butter balls which my husband CANNOT get enough of! He would really love it if I would make those for him...thanks for the recipe! Your book sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Beth. Except for the brown sugar, they are just like peanut butter balls. Though much quicker to make. Which puts them in the dangerous category. Dangerously delicious. ;)
DeleteBeth, you don't have to roll or anything! Easy!! :)
DeleteGlad I'm not eating sugar right now - that looks and sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds really good, too.
Thanks for stopping by, Tonja.
DeleteStay away from this recipe or you'll be right back on the sugar! It's so good!! Thank you!
DeleteI'm so excited that you're here!!!!! YAY!!!!! And these are a family favorite up here in the COLD, CRUEL NORTH!!!! My daughter-in-love Lacey makes them for all kinds of family gatherings, and she's even created them like mini peanut butter cups.... she's got a flare! I first met these when I was a Tupperware lady a LONG TIME AGO...
ReplyDelete(pauses, goes into a song-and-dance routine of the Tupperware jingle)....
And they're still a favorite, Jill! Thanks for being here today!!!
Ruthy, you were a Tupperware lady?! Girl, I bet you were a top seller. Back when we were military, I hosted a number of Tupperware parties. Tupperware is big with the military crowd because we could ship the airtight containers with the food still in them. Even overseas! That was a great way to insure we all bought containers, especially for our pantry goods. My flour, sugar and salt I bought in South Dakota, followed me all the way to Iceland.
DeleteI am cracking up!! Thank you, Ruthy!! I'm having a vision of little mini peanut butter cups... I might have to buy a mold! :)
DeleteOH, MY GOODNESS! I think I gained a pound just looking at those delicious delicacies. This is definitely a dessert I will be saving.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win Jill's book. I love the cover. :)
Ginger, I just gained a pound too! Haha! Thank you so much!
DeleteThis is turning out to be peanut butter week at the Yankee Belle. Maybe I'd better rethink tomorrow's post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting with us today, Jill. I'm sorry I couldn't be here earlier. It's state testing week in NY and all electronics have to be turned off.
After a day of testing like today, my students deserve a tasty treat like this!
Mary Cate, I wish I had peanut butter to share on Friday! :)
DeleteCate, you NEED the peanut butter squares to survive state testing!! *hugs*
DeleteAmen.
DeleteAdding my apologies for missing your big day at the café, Jill! We made two Minecraft cakes for our local library (Minecraft party!), baseball, errands, and finally just got dinner on the table!
ReplyDeleteThis looks SO tasty. And congrats on your debut!
Oh my goodness, my middle son was a huge Minecraft player. He got in when it was in beta form and ended up running a server. :)
DeleteMy son loved Minecraft, too! And he plays baseball. Fun!! Your library sounds awesome!!
DeleteYum! I think I am going to have to go eat some cake now. Not quite the same thing, but it will do. Love the cover on this book too. Thanks for the giveaway. :D
ReplyDeletesydneyjames68[at]gmail[dot]com
I love cake! It's always yummy! :)
DeleteOh, my good. These look amazing!!! Congratulations on your release, as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tina!!
DeleteActually, these are sort of like Buckeyes in a bar. I love Buckeyes.
ReplyDeleteExactly! My Buckeyes always turn out ugly. They're supposed to be uniform balls covered in chocolate, but mine look more like rocks! The bar form is MUCH easier!
DeleteWell no wonder why I like you so much Jill....these peanut butter squares sound divine!! (peanut butter anything being my downfall)This is a must print and make recipe :-)
ReplyDeleteAs for your book, sounds equally as good!! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
I'm with you, Trixi. Anything peanut butter. :)
Deletelooks tasty
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
oh my... I am going to have to try this out. I know a friend who would LOVE this. He loves peanut butter/chocolate anything. Must do this for him.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to win your new book. Sounds even better than the recipe. :)