Recipe - Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs

Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs

I'm drooling a little as I type this blog, just looking at the picture of these Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs.  I LOVE Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and have tried several different copycat recipes, but I've never found anything out there that was close to the real thing.  I think I've found it.  This recipe is OUT OF THIS WORLD!!  I definitely think you could cut the recipe in half.  I made the full batch and it made approx. 37 rather large Peanut Butter eggs.  You can make them in any shape you want, but for some reason, the egg shape always tastes better to me.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs
(Courtesy of Whimsical Princess Recipes)

(Full Batch)

4 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Creamy Peanut Butter (I used Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter....Like that was going to help!)
1/4 Cup Butter or Margarine
3 Tablespoons Milk
3 1/2 Cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 Tablespoon Shortening

Directions:
Mix the powdered sugar, peanut butter and butter together with a mixer.  Add the milk, one tablespoon at a time.  The mixture will look crumbly, but will stick together when you smash it all together.  It's really easy to work with at this point.  Take a small handful of mixture and press together and form an egg shape.  Place formed egg on wax paper and place in freezer for 1 hour.
Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a glass bowl and microwave for 1 minute at a time, until completely melted.  Once melted, dip each egg in chocolate, covering entirely.  Place dipped egg back on wax paper and put in frig to firm up.
That's it!  You're done.  Nothing to it.  Now, share a few with some friends.  They will be forever grateful.


CAUTION:  These are very rich and VERY dangerous!!!  Don't eat entire batch in one sitting.  If you're depressed and feel like doing some binge eating, this is NOT the recipe.  Far too many calories will be consumed and the regret will last a life time. Otherwise, enjoy!!!

It was the best of times.........

And the fun ensues at our house.  We have an extra dog at our house this week.  Jasper, the lovable lug of a lab from across the street, is staying with us while his family is out of town.  We really do love having Jasper here, as he and Java are the bestest of friends.  4 dogs is a LOT to handle, especially when Chris takes off to California for a few days.  I can barely handle the 3 on my own, without having a mental break down.  They always seem to get into more trouble when "Dad" is away.

2 Beagles against 1 Lab - Let the roughhousing begin!

I wasn't sure how it was going to work, all 4 dogs under foot, but so far (we're only into day 2), so good.  They are having a blast together and actually being pretty good.  Jasper loves to play and I think he could play all day, if I let him.  Unfortunately for Jasper, the Beagles like to sleep most of the day.  The mornings and evenings are a different story.  It's all about roughhousing!  From running around the dining room table to playing tackle in the den and running like crazy dogs in the backyard, they manage to wear themselves out.

Each Man to their own corner....Ready?  Set!  Sniff!!!

It's so nice they're all friends.  Why people say that all male dogs don't work is beyond me.  We've always had 2 or 3 male Beagles at a time and it couldn't work better.  Guess we've been lucky.

Jasper and Java - Best Friends forever!

Our neighbor's dog (Jasper) get's so excited to come over to our house, he will literally drag you across the street, just so he can see his friend, Java.  I went over to get Jasper one day, so he could come over and play, and he got so excited, that he pulled me down in the street and was dragging me behind him, until I managed to let go of his leash.  I don't think our neighbors will ever have to worry about Jasper getting out and running away.  He heads straight for our house, each time he gets the chance.  It's the craziest things with Java and Jasper.  They both sit and the window and look for each other, whenever they can.  If one see's the other, chaos usually follows!

Boy Wonder, the "little guy" - Almost 3 years old

Our little guy is a Champion Beagle.  We got him the day he finished his time in the ring, back in February.  He's only 13", but built like a stud!  Even with his small stature, he weighs just as much as Java does.  Wonder is so small, we were a little afraid that Jasper might have him for a little snack, or at the very least, run him over, but they all get along great.  Wonder may be small, but he's feisty and we doesn't let anyone walk on him.  He's such a little cutie pie, my Wonder!

Buddy  will turn 11 in December.

This is Buddy, the only Field Beagle of the group.  He's our oldest and most docile dog.  Buddy is almost 11 years old, but still loves to play with the boys.  He just plays in shorter spurts now and gets distracted very easily.  He's a stop-drop-and roll dog.  He stops, drops to the ground and rolls over for you to pet his belly.  Buddy is all about the belly rubs!

Java - 3 years old

Mocha "Java" Joe is the most photogenic of boys and our Alpha Dog. While he hates the camera, it sure loves him.  Java's got such a pretty face, it's hard not to photograph him constantly.  He's also the loudest and most obnoxious of the 3 boys.  His bark is enough to make you go deaf.  We've done everything to get him to quiet down, but he's stubborn.  Java is also a big baby and didn't get the memo in Kindergarten, that he's supposed to share.  He does not like Wonder getting any attention and hates it even more when Wonder has something he doesn't have.
A water bottle is Java's biggest concern.  If you give him a bottle, he really doesn't want it.  BUT, should you give Wonder a water bottle, then all bets are off.  He wants what Wonder has and will get it, no matter what. Even if we give both of them a bottle, Java will always want Wonder's bottle.  And once he gets it, he will guard it with his life!  Have you ever seen that commercial for Travelers Insurance?  Where the dog puts his bone in the bank to protect it and then has nightmares and can't sleep, because he thinks his bone is going to get stolen?  This is Java, with a water bottle!  Ridiculous!!

Recipe - Balsamic Caprese Panini

Balsamic Caprese Panini

I love a Caprese Salad.  Especially when you get some really good Mozzarella and some home grown tomatoes and basil!  YUM!  So, when I came across this recipe for a Caprese Panini, I knew it was going to be good.....I just didn't know how good it was going to be.  This Panini is light and refreshing, for a sandwich, without giving up taste and flavor.  I think it has become one of my all time favorites!

Balsamic Caprese Panini


French Bread
2 Medium Tomatoes, Sliced
1 Package of Fresh Mozzarella, Sliced
Fresh Basil Leaves
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Cut French Bread to desired size. Coat one or both sides of bread with balsamic vinegar.  Top with a light coat of Olive Oil.  Next Layer on your basil leaves, sliced tomatoes and mozzarella.  Repeat with basil, tomatoes and mozzarella.  Cook in Panini maker until bread is crisp and mozzarella has slightly started to melt.

HINT:  Don't buy the cheap Mozzarella.  Buy the freshest Mozzarella you can find.  It really does make all the taste difference in the world.