PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP PIE

One of my best friends celebrated her 90th birthday.  Although we are years apart, she has been a best friend for over 30 years.  Her favorite snack is anything peanut butter so I thought this treat would do well for her special day. Such an easy recipe and no need for the oven on these hot days.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP PIE

1 chocolate graham cracker crust (I used store bought Oreo crust)

1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)

1 cup softened cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 carton Cool Whip

1 cup chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend together peanut butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar.  Fold in Cool Whip until completely mixed.  Add vanilla and chocolate chips.  Pour into crust.  You can freeze this or serve just from refrigerator.  Best when set for several hours.

MISS DOT'S POUND CAKE

I started joining a few friends once a month for a girls day where we get together and have lunch and visit.  We try to have a theme and do a kind of pot luck.  First one was a game day and we had a Mexican Fiesta with chicken enchiladas, beef empanadas, cilantro rice, beans, guacamole, key lime pie for dessert.  This month was a fondue party.  We had cheese fondue (fontina, gruyere, and jalapeno cheddar and white wine) with meatballs, smoked beef tenderloin, sour dough bread to dip along with a charcuterie board with tiny potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, carrots.  Dessert was a chocolate sauce with fruit and cake cubes to dip.  This pound cake was featured on an episode of HGTV's Home Town show.  It was a fun time with lots of laughs and the food was really good!  Next month is going to be a movie day with movie snacks.  

MISS DOT'S POUND CAKE

3 sticks butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

3 cups granulated sugar

3 cups all-purpose flour

6 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar together.  Add eggs one at a time.  Add flour and mix well.  Add vanilla.  Pour into an angel-food cake pan.  Place in a cold oven.  Set temperature to 300 degrees.  Bake for 90 minutes or until cake tester is clean. 

PECAN PRALINE BARK

In search of something new to bake.  Searched my 'to try' files and found this quick recipe.  It turned out really well and it will be a good one to add for Christmas goodies this year.

PECAN PRALINE BARK

12-15 graham crackers

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups chopped pecans

Line a cookie sheet (I used a large 10 x 15) with foil.  Spray with PAM. 

In a saucepan stir together the butter and brown sugar.  Bring to a boil and stir for 2 minutes.  Add vanilla and pecans.  Spread over crackers.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Let cool completely before breaking into pieces.