recipe: chocolate brownies with peanut butter fudge icing

i don't know that there has ever been a better marriage than that of chocolate to peanut butter.

(see: reeses peanut butter cups, reeses pieces, peanut butter m&ms, snickers peanut butter squared)

it definitely has stood the test of time..

(unlike the marriage of kim kardashian to chris whateverhisnamewas)

and yes.. i just spent a good 5 minutes figuring out how to stick that dig in there.

i hate reality tv, and it annoys me that people are famous for NOTHING.

(see: snooki & 'the situation' i mean really?!?! how are people like this famous?!?!)

but, like i was saying.

peanut butter + chocolate = sweet heaven
i know you'll agree, because you wouldn't want to disappoint me so close to christmas! :)

i ended up with a new 9x13 pan a few weeks ago after failing miserably at
 baking up some from-scratch scalloped potatoes (the hubs fav)

& proclaiming it to be the pans fault.

yep. i blamed the pan.

because i didn't have a 9x13 which is what the recipe called for.

i also may have claimed his favorite brownies would be thicker if i had the right pan.

it's all about how you sell the purchase ladies & gents! :)

so i figured i had to christen my new baking pan

& what better way to do it then marrying together two different brownie recipes my hubs loves

(he is kinda a brownie snob)

the brownie recipe is from a scrapbooking friend.

she has been blessing us with her AMAZING brownies at our retreats for a few years..

and they are always irresistible.

ALWAYS.

i begged the recipe off her because i knew the hubs would be in heaven.

she uses all top of the line goods in hers, which make them divine..

but i use good ol' hershey's cocoa & the hubs is still in love with them.

the peanut butter icing recipe is from that southern charity cook book i have in my possession.
(i looked for an online source, & found this very similiar recipe from southernplate, i'm thinking every grandma has their own variation on this stovetop peanut butter icing recipe! :)

i made the peanut butter brownies it was intended for, and while they very good

& certainly eaten up at a fair rate..

it was a little too much peanut butter in one bite for our taste..

but the icing was SOO good, i couldn't wait to find something else to put it on! :)

brownies (my adjustments in parenthesis):

-2 cups sugar

-1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

-1/2 cup cocoa powder (i've upped mine to 3/4 cup)

-1 tsp salt

-4 eggs

-1 c canola oil (increase to 1 1/4 if you increase the cocoa)

-2 tsp vanilla extract

-1/2 c walnuts (i usually leave these out)

1. preheat oven 350.

2. mix all ingredients together until well blended. pour into 9x13 pan.

3. bake for 24 minutes. (we like ours a little underdone, so i typically take them out at about 22 minutes)

4. cool completely.

peanut butter fudge icing:

-1 1/2 cups sugar

-6 TB milk

-2 TB shortening

-2 TB butter

-1/4 tsp salt

-1 1/2 tsp vanilla

-3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1. mix sugar, milk, shortening, butter & salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.

2. stir constantly to prevent scorching, until mixture comes to a rolling boil.

3. once boil starts, allow to boil for 1-2 minutes WITHOUT stirring.

4. remove from heat & immediately add vanilla & peanut butter, stirring until smooth.

5. pour over cooled brownies & let set.

feeling refreshed after a trip to ikea yesterday

(am i the only one who feels like a kid in a candy shop in that place?)

i managed to come out only spending $26, which is the most i've ever spent there at one time..

but certainly not what i COULD have spent!

then dinner last night with my brother & his wife at an amazing little greek restuarant in orlando.

(ps. love the shops & food, hate the traffic big city!)

off to start/finish our gifts for family!

let the crafting commence! :)

xo-k

linking to:
fireflies & jellybeans
tales from bloggeritaville
house of hepworths