Peanut Butter Crack

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/4 cup graham cracker 
• 1 cup peanut butter, smooth or chunky
• 1 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1 cup dark chocolate morsels
• 2 tbs creamy peanut butter
• 1 tsp vegetable shortening
• 3/4 cups crisp rice cereal

Grease the bottom of a 8x8 baking pan or line with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Mix the melted butter with the cracker crumbs, peanut butter and confectioner's sugar.  Turn into prepared pan and spread evenly in pan.  Chill for about 1 hour.

Place chocolate morsels, 2 tbs peanut butter and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Stir until mixture is smooth.  You may have to return the bowl to the microwave for another 15-20 seconds if morsels are not completely melted.

Add the rice cereal to the chocolate mixture, stirring to coat well.

Spread on top of chilled peanut butter mixture and return to refrigerator to chill until firm, about 3 hours.

When well chilled, cut into 9 bars.

Serves 9

Beef in Beer

Ingredients

2 teaspoons cooking oil
1 cup chopped onion
6 bacon slices, diced

3 tablespoons all- purpose flour
2 lbs. beef stew meat
2 tablespoons cooking oil

1 can or bottle of beer
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme

French bread slices
Dijon mustard

Heat first amount of cooking oil in large frying pan. Add onion and bacon and cook about 5-10 minutes until onion is softened. Transfer with slotted spoon to slow cooker.

Measure flour into large resealable freezer bag. Add beef. Seal bag and toss until coated. Heat second amount of cooking oil in same frying pan. Add beef in two batches. Cook for about 5-10 minutes, per batch, stirring occasionally until browned.

Combine next 4 ingredients in a 2 cup liquid measure. Slowly add to beef, stirring constantly and scraping any brown bits from bottom of the pan, until boiling. Add to onion mixture. Stir well. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or on high for 4 to 4 1/2 hours.

Place 1 bread slice on a plate. Spread 1 tsp. of mustard on each bread slice. Spoon 1/2 cup beef mixture on top of each slice.

Serve with a side of mashed potatoes and a salad for a well balanced meal.

Banana Drops

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed banana
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Directions

Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add banana. Measure in remaining ingredients. Mix well. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375F oven for 8-10 minutes. Makes 4 dozen.

Nutella Banana Bread

original recipe: http://www.chef-in-training.com/2011/10/nutella-banana-bread/

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/3 cup milk
• 3/4 heaping cup Nutella

Instructions:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8×4-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.

- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda & salt.

- In a separate large bowl, beat sugar and butter with an electric mixer at medium speed until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, milk and vanilla. Beat until blended. Add flour mixture, beat at low speed just until flour is incorporated (don’t over mix).

- Spoon Nutella into a small dish and soften in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Add 1 cup of the banana bread batter to the Nutella and stir until blended well.

- Spoon Nutella batter alternately with plain banana bread batter into the prepared pan. Swirl batters together with a knife.

- Bake 50 to 60 minutes, it will seem a tiny bit undercooked but that’s what makes it good. Cool for at least 15 minutes in the pan, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.