Energy Bites (Banana Balls)

So I found on facebook a group of friends in a word of wisdom support group.  Someone posted this from the children's friend and I actually liked this recipe, it has helped my sweet tooth cravings and fills me up.

Energy Bites (Banana Balls)

Energy Bites:
2 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup peanut butter
1.4 cup honey
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together, shape into teaspoon size balls, refrigerate for 2 hours, enjoy!

I used organic peanut butter, raw unpasteurized honey and dairy free chocolate chips 

These are really yummy and quick to make!  I use fresh squeezed peanut butter I get at winco.  If I dont have special choc chips, I use regular.

:)

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle

For mother's day, my children made wonderful tacos and desserts, yes I always ask for tacos on mother's day or my birthday cuz I just love them.  Megan decided to make a dessert and it was yummy so I shall include it in here:

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle

Ingredients

• 1 (19.5 oz) Pillsbury Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix
• 2 (13 oz) packages Miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• 4 c. 2% milk
• 2 (5.1 oz) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 c. creamy peanut butter
• 4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 (8 oz) cartons Cool Whip, thawed
• 
  

Instructions

1. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions using a 9x13 in pan. Make sure not to over bake the brownies.
2. Cool on a wire rack; cut into 3/4-in. pieces.
3. Cut Reese's peanut butter cups in half; set aside 1/3 cup for garnish.
4. In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Add peanut butter and vanilla; mix well.Fold in 1-1/2 cartons whipped topping.
5. Place a third of the brownies in a trifle bowl. Top with a third of the remaining peanut butter cups. Spoon a third of the pudding mixture over the top. Repeat layers twice. Cover with remaining whipped topping; garnish with reserved peanut butter cups.
6. Refrigerate until chilled.

I did not have a trifle bowl, but we had those clear plastic cups that you drink out of, like 7 oz, with a wide opening.  We put the trifle in there and so it was individual servings and it turned out AWESOME!  yummy!

for a picture go to this site, this girl has some good recipes too so enjoy her blog!  go here

For the thought today:
We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong.  The amount of work is the same.
-Carlos Castenada

Reeses Peanut Butter Miniature Cookies

Okay, I just made several dozen of these and these are my new favorite cookie!  I got the recipe from thesisterscafe.com and you can see a picture of them here  and get the recipe as well

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
1 cup butter (2 sticks) softened to room temp
2/3 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2  2/3 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
48 miniature Reese's Peanut Butter cups, unwrapped

Cream butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla together until smooth.  Combine flour, soda and salt and add to butter mixture.
form dough into 1 inch balls and place in mini muffin pan (leave in balls; do not press down)
Bake at 350 for 10 -11 min (I timed mine at 9 1/2 minutes and they came out PERFECT)
Just cook until they start to brown and then take them out.
Immediately press a miniature peanut butter cup into the cookie until the top is even with the top of the cookie.  Let cookies cool in pan for at least 10 min before transferring.

Sandee's tips for perfect cookies:  Spray the mini muffin pan with Pam.  Bake 9 1/2 min.  After putting the reeses peanut butter cups in the cookies, then I put them in the refrigerator for 10 min, then take them out and they will come out of pan perfectly!
They actually taste better after letting them set a couple of hours!
These are very easy to make, you make 24 at a time, and they taste so yummy and look so cute!
Perfect for showers and birthday parties and finger food!
LOVE IT!

Peanut Butter Cookies Or Reeses Peanut Butter Cookies

This is one of my favorite peanut butter cookie recipes, you can make them plain or after taking cookies out of oven, you can put a chocolate kiss or chocolate star on top of each cookie and let cool!
Yummy! (or you can drizzle chocolate over them or dip one side in chocolate)

Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Thoroughly cream butter, peanut butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla.  Sift together dry ingredients; blend to cream mixture. Roll into balls, Place on greased cookie sheet Can use a fork to crisscross them flat.  Bake at 375 for 11 minutes.  Cool slightly.
Reeses Peanut Butter Cookies:
(this version came from Christy's friends Julie and Amber who would make these and leave them at the doorsteps of people they liked, we got some once! they are divine and yummy and wonderful! and it was Amber's recipe!)
Recipe same as above but you will need 1 pkg Reeses miniature Peanut Butter Cups
Mix the dough together and then roll into 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch balls.  Place in ungreased muffin tins.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Bake 8 to 10 min.  Let cool one minute and then press a peanut butter cup upside down into the cookie  Cool.

Reese's Peanut Butter Brownies

This recipe came to me from my wonderful daughter in law Krista (and my favorite!).  She brought these to a party and it was such a simple yet elegant idea, and they are just super yummy, make them and see!

Krista's Reese's Peanut Butter Brownies
1 box fudge brownie mix
1 bag of miniature Reese's peanut butter cups

Frosting
1 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter softened
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 Tblsp milk

Make the brownies according to the box directions.  Pour batter into greased 9 x 13 pan.  Unwrap Reese's peanut butter cups and place in rows about 3/4 inch apart into the batter.  Bake according to box directions.  Allow to cool completely and frost with peanut butter frosting.  Save a few of the peanut butter cups and chop them into pieces to sprinkle on top of the frosting.

YuMMY!

For the nourishing of our souls:
Of course my mind went to the Book of Ruth in the Bible as Naomi talks about her daugther in laws, and if you read Chapter 1 in the Book of Ruth, you will see the love the daughter in law had for her mother in law, but the popular scripture is found in verse 16:
Chapter 1:16  And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee:  for whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou lodgest; I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God
verse 17   Where thou diest; Will I die and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death part thee and me

How grateful I am for forever families and wonderful children in laws who have joined and become our family. I have been so blessed!  May we all be better mothers, mother in laws, daughters, daughter in laws, sons, and son in laws! Call yours or mail a letter or send them a surprise package today!

The absolute Best Peanut Butter Bars

Okay, so I haven't met anyone yet who does not like these peanut butter bars, even my  friend at work who does not like peanut butter likes these bars.  There are lots and lots of recipes for these, but none will compare to these, as this recipe is the best.   I found them on a blog called Heather's Peanut Butter Bars but I dont remember the site to give her credit, I have been in heaven since I found it!

1 cup Peanut Butter
1 cup margarine (or Butter)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal

Cream peanut butter, butter, and sugars.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Mix together and press into a greased large jelly roll pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes.  Cool completely and frost with a layer of peanut butter, then chocolate frosting. (If you do not have a lot of peanut butter, then you can skip adding the layer of peanut butter on top, I have done that and still get lots of compliments on the bars)

NOTES: 
when you are spreading the dough into the pan, it seems like the dough will not be enough, but it is, just use your hands and gently press the dough around to fill the whole pan!

If you do want to put a layer of peanut butter on the bars before frosting with chocolate, I just scoop out a big spoonful of peanut butter (two big scoops) and place in a microwave cereal bowl and soften the peanut butter in the microwave about 30 to 45 seconds Then I spread it on top of the cooked layer.

Also, the chocolate frosting and peanut butter will mix together a little when frosting, if you prefer they don't, then refrigerate the bars with peanut butter on them and then frost with chocolate frosting.


I just make a choc frosting with my basic buttercream icing, where I dont measure exactly, but I pour into a bowl about 4 cups powder sugar and about 5 Tblsp softened butter and about 1/4 cup milk and about 1/4 cup or more unsweetened cocoa powder, mix with mixer and add more milk or powder sugar if necessary.  Can I just say DIVINE!

and now for the nourishing of the soul:

In Matthew 28:20 it says:
 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway (s), even unto the end of the world Amen"

Nothing can be more divine than to know that our Savior is with us always.  ALWAYS.  let that sink in!  We are never alone.  NEVER.  We always have a friend with us, ALWAYS, knowing that brings great joy to my heart!

Enjoy this day and live it to its fullest! (with dishes in the sink and laundry in the basket, woo hoo!)