A Southern Grace: boo, i say. boo.

October 29, 2009

boo, i say. boo.

Yum

Not "Boooooo!" like the noise an unhappy crowd makes, but "BOO! Boogity-oogity!" in the scare-some-hapless-kids-into-wetting-themselves sense. That's what I meant.

Two is always better than one, is it not?
Not that I would intentionally do such a thing, of course.

We all know that I'm not the most creative person, so my offering for Halloween this year relies heavily on the random colors associated with the holiday. I made fudge, and I made it to be black and orange. Isn't that clever? I'm actually quite proud of myself.

I know this recipe by the name Easy Bars, and I have a story to share:

In elementary school, we had to occasionally give presentations to our classmates, teacher, and some judges from around the community. One year, I decided I would present the preparation of a tasty and aptly-named treat called Easy Bars.

It's important to note that one hard and fast rule for any food presentations was to never lick your fingers or utensils. I knew this. However, I became so flustered at one point that I stuck pretty much my entire chocolate-covered fist into my mouth. Can we say humiliation? I think so. I painfully groped my way to the end of my spiel and promptly bolted to the bathroom in tears.

After I had pulled myself together a few hours later, I came back and offered the judges some of the finished product, giving the excuse that I had waited to serve the goodies because I didn't want to spoil their lunches (even as a child I was pretty shrewd). I got a blue ribbon.

Thus marked the beginning of the end of my career as a public speaker.


Fact: Marshmallows are more tasty than they have a right to be.
These are good. These are simple. Make them, but don't lick your fingers. And have a thrilling Halloween.

Easy Bars, Halloween-Style
Black:
1/2 cup peanut (or almond) butter
1/4 cup margarine
1 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 bag mini marshmallows

Orange:
1/2 cup peanut (or almond) butter
1/4 cup margarine
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 bag mini marshmallows

For each layer, do the following:
Melt the peanut butter, margarine, and chips in the microwave and mix until smooth. Do not lick your spatula. Stir in the vanilla. Do not lick your spatula. Fold in the marshmallows and mix well. Do not lick your spatula. Dump into a buttered or lined 9x9 pan. The order of the layers is completely up to you. Place in the fridge until set and slice into squares. Now you may lick your spatula.

69 comments:

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

These do look good, and I would be licking my spatula.

Eve said...

It was so hard for me to learn to stop licking things halfway through making them? Or shove my face into a bowl of cookie dough because omgSOgood...

Also, it totally warmed my heart to read "I'm not the most creative person"

Ah... I'm not alone. :)

Robin said...

But I WANT to lick my fingers. Speaking of that, a while back my girlfriend had a gathering at her home and one of the ladies brought her deviled eggs with her and put them together at the party. While filling each egg white with the yellow yolk mixture she licked her fingers between each egg. We were so grossed out that NO ONE ate her eggs. The next party she brought something else she fixed at home- no one touched them either- if she licked her fingers in front of us, who knows what she did to the food while in her home when no one was looking. Blech!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Haha what a cute story! I dislike public speaking too-if only I had some of this to comfort me!

KatB said...

Can't wait to try these... yum. :)
Thanks for sharing!

furniture Toronto said...

Hi. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I'm used to make fudge but this recipe is little bit different. My little niece loves preparing such kind of things and I will be happy to offer her this recipe.

Good luck,
Ella

Lindsey@pickyeatings said...

I'll make these and lick my fingers, but I'll just make sure no one is watching. And then I won't share them.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Those bars look so scrumptious! I'd love to knock on your door and say "trick or treat" ;-p!

Cheers,

Rosa

lisa is cooking said...

Licking your fingers just shows how good it is! I love the marshmallows and the layered colors.

Antonietta said...

Love the story attached to this recipe!

kat said...

Funny story!

vanillasugarblog said...

lol yeah do not lick that spatula indeed.
nothing scary about these little gems. they are downright tasty.

Julie said...

Stop all the boo-ing, you're scaring me! I want these bars, and I want to lick the spatula :)

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Ha-ha, love the directions, don't lick the spatula, don't lick the spatula, NOW lick the spatula! I say what they don't see (at home) won't hurt 'em! :) Just kidding..we only lick spatulas and bowls after we're done!
~ingrid

Anonymous said...

These bars look terrific with marshmallows! My daughter says they look like little cute ghosts hiding in the bar :)

Heather said...

i think you're quite creative, and resourceful after that story! and these bars look yummy :)

Anonymous said...

Look delicious!! I might try them for the cake walk we're having at our trunk-or-treat this weekend.

nora@ffr said...

Yummy! Absolutely irresistible. I love these pretty bars!! they sound soo delicious!
cheers and have a grea day!

Mimi said...

Great story, Yummy bars! To much spatula licking leads to an empty pan, I know from experience.
Mimi

shaz said...

I lick the spatula but AFTER the cake's in the oven :) Oh these bars! Peanut butter and chocolate are my favourite combo. Happy Halloween to you.

Barbara said...

We are certainly on the same wave length this Halloween, Grace!
Your recipe combines the best of both bars on my post...changing peanuts to peanut butter, and doing layers. I think I might like that a lot.
Revoltingly sweet, aren't they?
Happy Halloween, Grace!

Hungry Dog said...

Cute story, and awesome bars! And might I just say I love the name of them? Who DOESN'T want to make something with "easy" in the title? I'll take two...or three.

LilSis said...

Finger lickin' good and EASY? I'm in!! I might even have to make these for Halloween. My family knows not to expect any cute little Halloween cupcakes or cookies, since I'm not the Worlds' greatest baker, but candy, I can do! Thanks! (I love the instructions in the recipe)

Elle said...

How could I make these and *not* lick my fingers? And the spoon, and the bowl...

This looks addictive!

George Gaston said...

Grace, these great looking treats have an ooey, gooey quality that makes me want to lick my finger tips ~ making all their delicious goodness to last that much longer. Thanks...

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

This is the first time I see this treat. Looks delicious.

Jennifer said...

Wow, I have never seen anything like this before which is a good thing, I cant wait to make them!

Melanie said...

The bars look delicious and easy, and your story made me sad...then glad. Good job on the blue ribbon. Fantastic job on the bars.

Marjie said...

You may lick your fingers all you like. These are, after all, your easy bars. These look wonderful, and Thor says he'd share with you and the kitties even if you had all licked your fingers.

Dolce said...

This looks delicious! Very very sinful though... I hope kids show up quickly otherwise I might eat them all!

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

Aww....I bet you were such a cute kid.

Gloria Baker said...

These like really nice!!! and you make me laugh Grace!! xxgloria

Anonymous said...

hhahaha i love how you started the post off!
reminds me of snickers. mmmm.

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

We must be twins separated at birth because this chick does not do public speaking. And creative Yeah, not so much
Love, Love the bars. I will be making these. I will think the whole time "I'm making award winning bars"!
Happy Halloween!

Unknown said...

Love your blog!

Cyndy said...

OH Yum, Lick the spatula??? But of Course.
What a wonderful treat!

♥peachkins♥ said...

I can see many finger-lickin' moments with this bar...

giz said...

You did a bootiful job. And I'll bet you were the story of the evening at the teacher's family home that night. Feel the fear and do it anyways.... try public speaking again - you'd be good.

Kate at Serendipity said...

I love Halloween. This sort of goodie is one of the reasons!

Teanna said...

What do you mean, I can't lick my spatula!? I would be licking the spatula all over the place! Those look awesome!

Aleta said...

How cool to see the two colors - Love it! And you think you aren't creative? OH please!!!

La Bella Cooks said...

Wow, how did you possibly have any left to photograph?? These are perfect for Halloween or anytime.

Nutmeg Nanny said...

These look great! Thank you so much for partcipating in All Through the Year Cheer. Now I'm off to make these bars....delicious!

Cate O'Malley said...

Now that's the bowl I want to lick clean - sounds delish!

farida said...

This is something my 6 year old would love to make and eat:) I wouldn't mind eating it too:)

Psychgrad said...

I'm so licking my fingers -- can't take me anywhere. These look like the peanut butter marshmellow bars Giz used to make around Christmas....the ones that I would sneak out of the basement freezer.

Unknown said...

I tried them! Yum!! Thanks so much for sharing the story and the recipe. I'm going to go give my little neighbors some bars pretty soon (they give me an excuse to make stuff like this).

:)

Lori said...

I lick my fingers but then I wash them afterwards (anal I am). And I so felt empathy for that little girl running to the bathroom in tears. Ah, Grace, I am so glad you won the ribbon!

Unknown said...

Grace...you're killing me!!! these look so good...and i'm wanting some now YUM! and what a cute childhood story. Soo...when you're in the kitchen, do you still shove chocolatey fists in your mouth? HAHAHA

Angie said...

Thanks for sharing this recipe, and reminding me when I can lick the spatula!

Velva said...

Delicious! A great halloween treat.

Donna-FFW said...

That is a deep rooted fear I have.. accepting baked goods from people when you dont know they're sanitary habits, handwashing, licking spatulas, spoons etc..

These sound damn good!

eatme_delicious said...

Aw sounds like a traumatizing childhood experience! I can see why the bars won you a blue ribbon. I love bars like this!

Peter M said...

I heart your mosaic of marshmallows....BOO!

Emily said...

Ohhh Grace! That's such a sad and cute story! I bet you were cute as can be. I know how you feel about public speaking. Ughhhh. Makes me ill.

These treats look spectacular!

Y said...

Maybe next time you should feed them first, to distract them :) These look lovely, and highly distracting to my eye (and stomach!).

foodhoe said...

That's a tough task for elementary school kid! Cute story, it's awesome that you got a blue ribbon. And I love pb, chocolate, butterscotch and marshmallow... I'd have to drizzle chocolate on top too though!

Unknown said...

I'm a big fan of licking the utensils. Only when I'm cooking for my little family though. I don't think they mind. I hope. :) Let's just not tell them.

noble pig said...

Oh yeah!

Lisa-Marie said...

I must eat some of this now. The Hughes' will behaving to tomorrow!

Abby said...

Oh, wow. LOVE the ingredients list!

Albany Jane said...

Anything with butterscotch chips immediately calls my name. Embarassment aside, I'm sure everyone thought it was just adorable.

Personally, I can't even think of public speaking. Terrifies the crap out of me. I still shudder when I remember a talent recital in elementary school.

Deborah said...

I am so making these, and I'll be licking the whole way through!

Lynn said...

Dang, these look delicious.

Jaime said...

ooooh I have to try these! I've got a bag of mini marshmallows just waiting to be used!

Chef Fresco said...

Mmm mmm good - and perfect holiday treat!

Kitchen Butterfly said...

I'll take it purely on looks...and it rocks

Cafe Fashionista said...

I don't care if this is for Halloween; I'm making these for Christmas! :)

The Urban Baker said...

wow...I am getting a cavity just reading this. heck, it was worth it!