Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispy Treats

Did you know that today, January 24th is National Peanut Butter Day?
In honor of this, I am posting one of my favorite treats!

Yeah...you read that right.
 Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispy Treats.
 
These bad boys are dangerous.
Dangerously good.
Our family may or may not have polished off 2 batches of these in the past week.

Here is what you need:

• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup Skippy peanut butter
• 4 1/2 cups Rice Krispy /Puffed Rice Cereal
• 1 cup chocolate chips (I use Milk Chocolate)

Directions:

 1. Place corn syrup and sugar into 3-quart saucepan.
Tip: Before measuring the corn syrup, coat your measuring cup with cooking spray, the syrup will pour easily out of the cup. 
Cook over medium low heat, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves.

DO NOT LET THIS BOIL!!! Just heat it until the sugar is dissolved.
Yes, I am yelling at you :)

2. Remove from heat & Stir in peanut butter.

Mix well.

3. Add rice krispy cereal to the mixture.

Stir until well coated.

4. Press mixture into an 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan coated with cooking spray. 

Set aside.

5. Now it's time to melt the chocolate.
Put 1 cup of chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.

Heat at 50% power in 30 second intervals until it is all melted.

6. Spread the melted chocolate evenly over cereal mixture.

Let stand until the chocolate is firm (this takes 2-3 hours)
Try and have patience. You will want to devour these bars, but let the chocolate harden first :)

 Cut into bars when cool. 

Seriously. These bars are AMAZING.
You need to make them right now.
 

In my opinion, these are WAY better than regular rice krispy treats. 

(I am not a huge marshmallow fan, but peanut butter & chocolate? Yes, Please!)

**If  there are peanut allergies in your family, I am sure you could substitute the peanut butter for almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower butter.**

Since it is National Peanut Butter Day, here are more delicious peanut butter treats:

Valentine's Peanut Butter Heart Cookies:

Peanut Butter Ritzies:

 Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Cookies:

Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Buttercream:

Happy Peanut Butter Day!

Cheesy Pepperoni Dip

It's almost time for the Superbowl, which means yummy food & drinks!

I am all about easy & delicious appetizers when it comes to Superbowl Sunday (or parties in general)

Here is an easy to make dip that serves a big crowd!

Here is what you need for Chessy Pepperoni Dip:

• 3/4 cup HORMEL® Pepperoni minis
• 1 1/2 cups shredded pizza cheese blend
• 3/4 cups sliced olives
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions

Directions:

The main ingredient is these awesome HORMEL® Pepperoni minis (love that I don't have to dice up the pepperoni!) They also come in Turkey Pepperoni minis for a lower fat version!

Chop your green onions:

In a bowl, add all the ingredients:

Stir everything together:

Spread in baking dish (I used a pie dish)

 Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until bubbly and slightly browned on top.

Serve with Tortilla Chips (I use Scoops because those chips hold a lot of dip!)

  This is a perfect dip for watching football.

And, it serves a big crowd!

Disclosure: This post was written as part of my participation in the
Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. While Hormel Foods
provides me material and necessary resources to complete various
activities, the thoughts and statements in this post are my own.

What is your favorite appetizer to eat while watching the Superbowl?

I have a few more recipes coming up in the next week that I am looking forward to sharing with all of you!

Miscellaneous Monday + A Winner

How about some miscellaneous on this lovely Monday?

 {ONE}

When we were in Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago and saw the most incredible sunset over the Lake. 

This photo doesn't even do it justice. It was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen.

The colors were reflecting over the entire lake. Breathtaking.

{TWO}

Kate is turning 7 this week....I can't even believe it!!!!!

Lots of party prep happening.

 I am excited about her party.....guess what the theme is? ;)

 {THREE}

I have been making smoothies this year as a way to eat more fruits & veggies.

This smoothie was amazing! I threw in some almond milk, peanut butter, bananas & spinach/kale mix. You couldn't even taste the veggies. I will have to blog the recipe next time I make it & get the measurements written down.

 {FOUR}

The weather we have had here in California the past month is CRAZY.

It has been in the 70's since Christmas. 

The girls have been wearing short sleeves & flip flops.

It does not feel like January.

Blue skies, warm days...it is messing with my mind.

I keep thinking it is Spring. Which means Summer is almost here.

But, no. It is January. We have many, many more months until Summer. 

See what I mean about the mind tricks? Ha!

But in all seriousness, we need rain...really bad. 

We are in a drought. It is not good!

{FIVE}

All this Spring like warm weather is making me want to shop for Spring/Summer clothes

LOFT is having a HUGE sale right now, save 40% using code GET40

 Click {here} for Loft.

Gap is also having a big sale right now. 

Most styles are up to 60% off and you can get 25% off using code GAPHELLO

Click {here} to shop Gap.

Old Navy is having an online sale also!

Use code SAVEMORE at Old Navy

Click {here} to shop Old Navy.

I know I need to stock up on Spring/Summer clothes for my kids!

{SIX}

Speaking of clothes....mark your calendars...our next Pin-spired link up will be on Friday January 31st (since February 1st is a Saturday)

 Can't wait to see what outfits you link up!

{SEVEN}

My younger sister Rebecca is pregnant with Baby #2 and due in May.

I had a feeling it was going to be a girl. This Fall, I had a dream that she was pregnant with a girl and then the next day she told me she was pregnant!

I wish I would have video tapped my girls reaction when they saw that the inside of the cake was pink. Screaming, Running, Jumping up and down. So fun.

 I had saved 2 bins of my girls baby clothes....special ones or really cute ones that I just couldn't bear to giveaway. I had so much fun going through them last week with my sister. So happy that her little girl will wear some of my girls clothes. Lots of memories in those bins.

Can't wait to meet my new niece in May.

All the cool kids are born in May ;)

{EIGHT}

The winner of the new blog design from Bella Lulu Ink is:

 Lisa Schmidt

Leave me a comment with your email so I can get you in touch with Chelsea!

Congrats on winning the giveaway!

If you didn't win, be sure and check out Chelsea's Etsy shop {here} that has tons of affordable blog designs & templates.

{NINE}

I might be turning into a hippie. Ha!

 I got a starter kit of some Essential Oils and started using them this weekend.

 Hoping the lavender one helps Luke start sleeping better...he has been waking up so much the past month or two...teething is the main culprit but now I think he is just in the habit of waking up. 

I want my good sleeper back!

Anyone else use Essential Oils?

{TEN}

Yesterday my beloved 49ers played in the NFC Championship against Seattle. 

I wore my red lipstick for good luck.

It didn't work. I am so sad they lost. 

This was me before the game...when I was happy & smiling.

 It's almost embarrassing how sad I am about the game. 

I am a really, really, really big sports fan and when my team doesn't win it makes me in a bad mood...which is ridiculous. Why do I care so much? It's just a game. But, ugh. So sad. 

This interview after the game did NOT help my mood. 

I mean REALLY?!?!?!? 

You just beat a team & are going to the Superbowl and all you can talk about in the interview is how terrible your opponents are & disrespecting them? Talk about un-classy.

I was rooting for the Broncos before this interview, but that just sealed the deal.

Gotta cheer on the team from Colorado....part of my heart is in Colorado.

Go Peyton! Go Broncos! 

Who are you rooting for in the Superbowl?

Do you go to a Superbowl party?

I have a handful of appetizers/dips/treats that I will be blogging in the next 2 weeks that will be PERFECT for the Superbowl. (The Superbowl that the 49ers are not in. Waaaaaa)

Stay tuned!