If you love peanut butter...you might, maybe, sorta like this...

PEANUT BUTTER PIE

It's not a secret that I'm in love with peanut butter - seriously, dangerously, in love. Swooooooon.

The posts all over the FoodBlogLand in response to the death of a husband/father/friend and his wife's request for everyone to make a peanut butter pie and feed it to those we love, reminded me of a recipe I'd not made for a long while.

I can't imagine...and don't want to. I have no words - I don't know her, but my heart goes out to anyone dealing with this kind of loss. So in the kinship of bakers, bloggers, wives, and friends, here's my entry.

The photo is ancient - taken long ago for another forum. Doesn't matter - the pie is fab and those I love love it.

I do have a no sugar added version of this recipe HERE.

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Crust:

1 1/2 cup vanilla wafer cookie crumbs OR graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In microwave-safe bowl melt peanut butter and butter. Add to crumbs and mix until well combined. Pat into a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden. Cool completely.

Filling:

One 8-ounce pkg. cream cheese
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 cups sweetened whipped cream (1 1/2 cups whipping cream, 2-3 T sugar)

Chopped peanuts or cookie crumbs

Stir together cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, and vanilla until well mixed. Fold in thawed whipped topping or whipped cream. Pour into prepared pie crust and carefully smooth to edges. Sprinkle chopped peanuts or cookie crumbs on top for garnish. Cover tightly and chill overnight.

Mostly I freeze this in individual portions...you know...for PORTION CONTROL!! This stuff is dangerous!

Yes. Please.

PUMPKIN-CRUNCH GRANOLA

I love granola. Period.

My dad was the granola maker in my family growing up. Huge vats of the stuff every week or so. Fragrant, golden chunks bathing in cold milk, or tossed on top of warm, cinnamon-applesauce, sprinkled over a fruit crisp, or simply in a baggie, eaten with grubby hands, outside in a swing.

Granola means homey-comfort, to me.

And what's so great about any recipe is the chance to do whatever you want with it. The add-in's are endless. Go as down-home or gourmet as you feel! Breakfast (lunch, dinner, brunch, linner, midnight snack, or just-because) is better for it.

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1/4 cup pure pumpkin puree

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice (OR 1 t. cinnamon, 1/2 t. ginger, 1/4 t. cloves, 1/8 t. nutmeg)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup chopped pecans (OR walnuts, macadamia nuts, coconut, etc)

.

In a medium bowl combine the pumpkin, maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, spice, vanilla, and salt. Stir in the oats and nuts until every flake is coated.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Coat an 11-inch baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray and spread the oat mixture evenly. Bake for 45 minutes (stirring every 15 minutes) or until deep brown. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet. Store in an airtight container. Makes approx 15 (1/4-cup) servings.

Lovin' from your oven!

CHOCOLATE CHIP MERINGUE BARS

Cookie jar a little lonely? Need a quick yum for a weeknight dessert? Gotcha covered with this one.

Adore these little things! Shortbread style crust, smooth chocolate, chewy meringue topping...what's not to love?

(I made these a long time ago and left off the chocolate...instead spread blackberry jam over the crust. Or keep the chocolate AND the blackberry jam. Wow!)

In these photos I only had half a package of chips, so there will actually be more than it looks like in mine!

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3/4 cup shortening

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 large egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

One 12-ounce package chocolate chips

2 large egg whites

1/2 cup brown sugar

Optional: 1 cup blackberry, raspberry, strawberry jam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl cream the shortening and sugar. Beat in the salt, egg yolks, and vanilla. Gradually blend in the flour. Spread the mixture evenly in the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Set aside.

In a medium bow, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually beat in the brown sugar.

(Add the jam, now, if you want.) Sprinkle the chips over the crust. Carefully spread the meringue over the chips. Return to oven for 20 minutes, or until meringue is set and golden.

Allow to cool and cut into bars.