...and i'm back in the game!

After two busts in a row, I found myself really needing some success in the kitchen. Choosing a dish in which caramel was involved might not have been the wisest move given its fickle nature, but it all worked out just splendidly.


Perhaps you recall my super-duper Terribly Terrific Toffee, the tasty little treat that made its debut around Christmas last year. If not, I must insist that you check it out this instant. Go ahead. I'll wait.

Pretty impressive, right? Well, imagine it DOUBLED. That's right. Twice the toffee, twice the chocolate, twice the calories, and twice the deliciousness.


The edges were clearly the best part--more chocolate, more caramel, more euphoria.

These delightful little bars are often referred to as homemade candy bars, and that's essentially what they are. Although they look a bit like fat Kit Kats or perhaps a mega Twix bar, my batch really tasted like a Snickers. I think I was a bit over-generous with the peanut butter, but I didn't hear any complaints. Or make any myself. Which is rare.

Twickers Bars
(based on this recipe)

40 or so saltine crackers
1 cup butter (no substitutions)
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup tightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup butterscotch morsels
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

Line an ungreased 9x13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an extension of foil on either end. Line the foil with one layer of saltine crackers.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, milk, and sugar. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. (Begin timing 5 minutes from when you see the first bubbles.) Remove from the heat and spread half of caramel mixture evenly over the crackers. Place another single layer of crackers over the caramel mixture. Spread the rest of the caramel mixture evenly over crackers and top with the remaining crackers.

In a small saucepan (or in the microwave), combine the peanut butter, chocolate morsels, butterscotch morsels, and shortening. Melt over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Pour and spread evenly over the top of crackers. Cover, and chill for at least 1 hour. Lift foil overhang and remove bars from pan. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.