DownieUpper

The Downie

With the exception of Nick's trip to Arkansas and the approx 2-4 weeks where we were "not dating" because I dumped him (I'll never live it down), we have spent every single night together since the day we met.

I know. Cute.

Well, all of that is about to change. (Told you it was a downie.) In just a couple more days, Nick takes off to go start his new job! We're really excited about his new job, but it's definitely going to be a lot quieter around here! I'll be staying on this side of the rockies till I finish school in August.... which brings me to my picture. :)

I made this chain a few weeks ago to count down to the end of my bachelor's degree. Little did I know that now it will count down to my move to Roosevelt! (When I started it, the left side was longer than the right... look how far it's come already!)

My favorite part of this chain is the fact that Nick constantly has to stop himself from moving it so the sides are even. It cracks me up! I'm usually with him on the whole "OCD" thing, but this one CANNOT move... if you move it so they're even you can't see how far it's come already!

So, I lied. The Downie's really a tainted Upper. It's a bummer that he's leaving, but we'll be back together soon!


The Upper

So... remember that one time that I found a peanut butter and chocolate recipe that looked HEAVENLY, and then it wasn't? Yeah... me too. It stunk.

Being the person I am, and tuning into my Page Family Stubborn Streak, I would not accept defeat. A little more time on Pinterest introduced me to these babies.

 

And believe you me. These were a far cry from the devastatingly disappointing choco-pb experiment from the last post. These are DECADENT.

The original recipe is here: Foodaphilia

These are so easy... and so yummy!

Ingredients:
1 cup of peanut butter
2 Tbsp softened butter or margarine
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
Pretzels
1 bag good quality semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix the peanut butter and butter. Then add the sugars. The recipe says to keep adding more sugar until the mixture can be rolled by hand without sticking. We ended up using close to a cup of each sugar, although our peanut butter could have been creamier than normal or we might just like sugar. Who knows?

I would recommend putting the mixture in the fridge for 10 or 15 minutes to make it easier to roll. That might even make it so you don't need to add quite as much sugar.

Or don't, and add the sugar. I won't tell.

Once the mixture is ready, roll it into teaspoon-sized balls. Then put each ball of yummy goodness in between two pretzels. Once you've rolled and squished all of your peanut butter mix, put it all in the fridge for an hour (or the freezer for half an hour if you can't wait).

Once they're nice and chilly, throw your chocolate in a bowl and microwave it in 30 second increments, stirring in between. As soon as it's nice and melty, dip each of your little sandwiches into the chocolate then set them on some wax paper. Then it's back in the fridge for these little guys, just long enough for the chocolate to set.

Or just eat them while the chocolate is still melty. That works too. ;)

Keep them refrigerated until they're ready to serve.

You'll be the talk of the party. Or the happiest food-hog ever. You decide.