...at any rate, I am here. Alive and well. No, I was not trapped under a large heavy bookshelf for the past 15 months. 15 months!? Has it really been that long? My name is Therese, and I am also a procrastinator. My adventure has not procrastinated, it has leapt forth and claimed me. I am now (so far) happily employed at a well-known local bakery in town as a baker. Well done me! I even gave myself a pat on the back for that one. For privacy (and probably legal) reasons, I won't tell you the name of the bakery, or real names of anyone I might mention in any forthcoming blogs. I also feel compelled to mention that I won't be posting any recipes from said bakery, incase of, oh you know...getting sued or fired. :) I will talk about what I do, and give you my "at home" version - either my personal recipe, one I found online, or an easy-bake way to make some delicious treats.
Since my last blog was about peanut butter and chocolate, let's keep with that. Did you ever want something sweet, but you don't really have the ingredients in your cupboard, or you don't want to be bothered with mixing, stirring, scooping, spreading, etc, etc. ?? Or maybe it's just too flippin' hot in the house to turn the oven on? Well here you go- so quick and easy, you'll be making this regularly.
I give credit to my cousin who made these for me once, and I've made them dozens and dozens of times over since. I remember when she made them she said a comment to me that she couldn't believe she was making this simple treat for dessert, since I was a professional baker and all. Which of course, is silly!! I even buy puff pastry pre-made from the frozen food section of the grocery store *gasp!* Shhh...we'll make that our little secret. Back to my cousin. She made this ***Aaaammmmmaazzzzinggggggg*** chocolate marshmallow square. I could have eaten the entire pan, which I think I might have since done at home once or twice...oops! Funny to think back on this memory, because we actually make these regularly at the bakery I work at!! Simple, rich, mouth-watering awesome. That is my personal definition of these squares.
There is only 3 ingredients. You can buy the 3 ingredients at any grocery store totalling under $5. One bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup of peanut butter, and one small bag of mini marshmallows. You *MUST* buy semi-sweet chocolate chips. It doesn't matter if it's chips, jumbo chips, chunks n chips or mini chips - they're just getting melted anyways, but they *MUST MUST MUST* be semi-sweet. I have forgotten this simple, stupid, easy tip several times, and even once recently and it resulted in failure. Semi-sweet chocolate chips. Repeat it. Semi-sweet. Only.
Don't get in the grocery store isle, staring at the 35 types of chocolate chips they sell and think to yourself, "ooh maybe I should get MILK chocolate chips (or DARK chocolate chips, or Butterscotch chips etc etc) because they're my favorite and they would make this treat even more perfect for my personal tastebuds." NOOO! Stop what you're doing and PUT DOWN the rainbow covered skor bit mini chips!!! SEMI-SWEET. Ok, now the why. Semi-sweet are the only kind of chip that will melt, in a bowl, in the =microwave=. The rest you have to melt in a double boiler, on the stove, at the correct temperature, and if you get it wrong you'll muck up the whole chocolate bowl and have to throw it out because it looks like clumpy dirt. This results in a second trip to the grocery store, now agitated that you bought the wrong kind of chips in the first place, stand in line again, to get home and try again. Yes, I've made this mistake several times. Semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Ok, so you have your semi-sweet chocolate chips. Chuck the peanut butter (any kind will do!) in the bowl with the chips, melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals - to avoid burning the whole works - stir until smooth. Take your 8X8 square pan and feel free to lightly butter the bottom to avoid sticking. Dump in the marshmallows to cover the bottom of the whole pan, pour the chocolate/pb mix over and mix it around a little with a spoon to cover everything. Put it in your freezer for 15 minutes, or refrigerate for 30-45 minutes. Cut into whatever size gluttonous square you desire and voila! Drool-city squares.
It's great when you have unexpected company, treats for the kids, or you just had enough of your PMS and want to kick it's butt out the door. Either way, it's a rich pleasure that you have to try at least once. Or maybe a few dozen times. Until next time...
Enjoy!
~Sally
Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares
1 package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup of peanut butter
1 bag of miniature marshmallows
- Put chocolate and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 30 second intervals (stirring as you go, to avoid burning the mixture)
- Lightly butter an 8"X8" square pan.
- Put enough marshmallows to fully cover the bottom of the entire pan (I use the whole bag)
- Pour your melted chocolate / peanut butter mixture over the marshmallows until completely covered.
- Freeze for 15 minutes, or refrigerate 30-45 (basically until they are hardened)
- Cut into squares, and
enjoy!
