To win you back

This morning I chopped up Oreo cookies and stirred them into a cookie dough.


I’m not sure what came over me. It was odd. (And not worth repeating.)

I also made homemade Twix bars. (!!!!!) (“!!!!!” means “totally worth repeating.)


The recipe called for Club crackers—a (practically) never purchased junk food—so this, also, was odd.

Normally, cooking with processed food does not rock my boat, but today it did. Perhaps because of the coconut pudding a la Elmer Fudd. (Who is Elmer Fudd anyway? Does he have anything to do with pasty hasty-posting puddings?)

Or perhaps it’s because the natives have taken up squatting in the back forty.


Perhaps it’s because the combination of digging a hole and getting shot with my phallic telephoto lens makes my husband get all frisky-weird. (Yikes. That came out sounding way worse than I intended.)


Perhaps it’s because of the super-high winds that are whipping through our valley, relocating the clubhouse window to the orchard and making our dog’s ears stand on end.


But most likely it’s because I’m feeling guilty about ordering you out to the kitchen to cook up that nice pot of glue-disguised-as-coconut pudding. I need to win you back. The pressure is on, the bar has lowered, and I’m getting all sorts of sleazy, skirt-hiking slutty.

Peanut butter! Waggles some fire-engine red-painted toes.

Chocolate! A flash of slender, fine-turned ankle.

Crispy, buttery crackers! Hike that skirt a leeetle higher and—whoa!—check out that curving, muscular, smoooooth calf!

Caramel! What sumptuous, dimpled thigh, oo-la-la!

But—the skirt falls—that’s it. This is all you’re getting. Even I have limits.


There’s not much to say about these Twix bars except this:

*They taste like Twix bars.
*The caramel part is my favorite.
*I’m also really fond of the peanut butter-chocolate topping.
*They are addictive.
*If you have any problems with self-control, you probably shouldn’t make them.
*If you don’t have problems with self-control, you still probably shouldn’t make them because once you do you will have problems with that self-control that you now no longer have.
*You should make them.


(Please note: my husband gave me the go-ahead to post about these.)


Homemade Twix Bars
Adapted from Hoosier Homemade

48 club crackers (about 1 1/3 sleeves)
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 cup graham cracker crumbs

Lay 24 crackers in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish.

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, sugars, milk, and graham cracker crumbs. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat a bit, and cook for about five minutes, stirring steadily. Pour the caramel over the crackers and immediately lay the remaining crackers on the hot caramel, pressing down a little so they stick together. Chill the pan in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a glass bowl and microwave, stirring frequently, till the chips have melted. Spread the chocolate on the top and chill until it sets up.

Cut into bars and store in the refrigerator.

This same time, years previous: dulce de leche coffee, blueberry-cornmeal muffins

12 Comments

  • Jennifer Jo

    Libby, The graham cracker crumbs give the caramel a neat texture and flavor. I'm sure you could leave them out, but then it would lose some of its Twix-ness.

  • Libby

    This looks tasty. What is the purpose of the graham cracker crumbs in the caramel? Do you think I could leave them out without ill effect?

  • jennifer

    Wow! First off, I love how these are a "no bake" kind of fun. Second, yes, I too love the caramel. mmm, yummy! These turned out great- thanks for sharing the recipe.

  • elizabeth

    These twix bars are so good! Thanks for posting. Mine turned out thin and I like the look of your thicker bars. You must have used a pan smaller than 9×13?

  • teekaroo

    My husband will kiss my feet if I make these for him…although I'd rather a massage. Writing down the crackers on my list now.

  • Shannan Martin

    "All sorts of sleazy, skirt-hiking slutty…"

    This appeals to me for so many reasons.

    Reason 1: It's hysterical.
    Reason 2: Alliteration
    Reason 3: It's directly related to Twix candy, which is one of my faves.

    You've won me over, Sister. And isn't that all that really matters?

    Hello?

    Hello?????

  • Rivki Locker

    I just came across your blog on Simple Bites and am so pleased that I did. It looks great ,and I love your photos. Those twix bars look SUPER professional. Can't wait to see more recipes!

  • Mavis

    I am soooo going to make these! I should be able to work a box of club crackers and graham crackers into the budget this week… these look delish!

  • Margo

    oh no – GLUE??! (setting the can of coconut milk reluctantly back in the pantry). I've already told 2 people about this pudding.

    I still might make it anyway because it's so pretty.

    I think those Twix bars look like something my aunt made over Christmas and called English toffee. I don't have any self-control and my jeans feel tight today, so I'm not going to look too closely at the recipe.

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