The New PB&J Sandwich

I hope y'all are peanut butter and jelly lovers because here is another dose! I remember the elementary school days of sack lunches with a classic pb&j sandwich!! That was one of the highlights of my day as a youngster (and still is if I have one). A not so healthy, but extremely delicious, twist on the pb&j sandwich is pb&j bars. I was surprised how much I loved them, but then again, how could I have ever doubted the pb&j combination?? I found this recipe on Brown-Eyed Baker's blog http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2009/09/02/peanut-butter-and-jelly-bars/. She is one of my favorites! Here is what you need:

Creamy peanut butter, butter, flour, salt, vanilla, your favorite jelly or jam, sugar, eggs, baking powder, peanut butter chips, and peanuts. First thing you need to do is cream the butter and sugar. Add in the peanut butter and eggs.

Once that is nicely mixed, add in the vanilla and stir.

Now all you need is the flour mixture (flour, salt, and baking powder) and peanut butter chips.

Mix just until all the ingredients are incorporated. The dough is pretty tasty..just had to make sure it was peanut buttery enough :)

Cover a 13x9 in. pan with foil and grease or spray with Pam. Add 2/3 of the peanut butter mixture to the pan.

Press the mixture flat in the bottom of the pan. It will be a slightly thick layer.

Spread your favorite jelly over the surface of the peanut butter mixture. | chose blueberry...I think that was wise.

With the rest of the peanut butter mixture, break off small to medium size pieces and distribute them evenly over the jelly. Sprinkle with peanuts.

Now pop them in the oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until golden.

I'm telling you, these are worth trying...you may never go back to a classic pb&j after this. Well, that may be going a little too far, but they are definitely worthy of being added to the recipe collection! HAPPY NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY DAY!!!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
By: Brown-Eyed Baker

3 cups AP flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1½ teaspoons salt
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cups granulated sugar
2½ cups creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1½ cups jam or jelly (your favorite flavor)
2/3 cup peanuts, chopped

1. Cream the butter and sugar.
2. Add peanut butter and eggs. Stir until combined.
3. Stir in vanilla extract. Add flour mixture (flour, salt, and baking powder) and peanut butter chips. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated.
4. Foil the bottom of a 13x9 in. pan and spray with Pam. Press 2/3 of the peanut butter mixture in the bottom of the pan until flat and mostly even.
5. Spread jelly over the surface of the peanut butter mixture.
6. Evenly distribute the rest of the peanut butter mixture over the jelly in small to medium-sized pieces. Sprinkle with peanuts.
7. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until golden, at 350 degrees. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes. Eat up!