Buck-Eyes

My sister-in-law hails from the great state of Ohio.

(I've never been there, not really sure if it's great or not.)

However, Ohio does have buck-eyes. 

Which were the inspiration for someone to come up with this recipe.

Which made its way to my family about 20 years ago, via my sister-in-law. 

I loved making these as a child and now I have my own little girl who loves to help!

Start by crushing up some rice krispies. 

 I like to to do it in a ziplock bag. 

Less mess.

Mix the butter and peanut butter with the rice krispies. 

Doesn't have to be fully mixed. 

Then sift in the powder sugar. 

You don't want lumps. 

Then mix and mix.

You'll have to use your hands. 

Mix until it's all incorporated, like this...

Then roll small bits into balls. 

About 1 1/2 Tbs to 2 Tbs each ball.

Depends on how big you want them. 

(Smaller balls equals higher chocolate to peanut butter ratio.)

(Wink wink)
Place the balls on wax paper or foil and in the fridge to set. 

Melt about 12 oz of chocolate in a double boiler. 
I add about a tsp of crisco to make the chocolate set again once it is melted.

Use a tooth pick, or long skewer to dip the balls in the chocolate. 

(What makes these babies look like buck eyes is the top not being covered in chocolate.)

Place the buck eyes in the fridge again to set the chocolate. 

Then eat. 

Or give them away as a gift, or at a cookie exchange. 

Everyone will love you for them!

Buck Eyes

 1 cup peanut butter (I use creamy)

1 cup crushed rice krispies (measure them after the crushing)

1 stick butter- softened

3 cups powder sugar (sifted, if lumpy)

-Stir the first 3 ingredients together a few times, then add the powder sugar.  Mix till fully combined.

-Form into balls, and let set in fridge.

-Melt 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate and about 1 tsp crisco over double boiler.  Dip set balls into chocolate, not fully covering with chocolate.  Place back on wax paper or foil. 

-Set in fridge again. 

Brownie Pudding

One of my all time favorite desserts is brownie pudding.  One of my college roomies taught me this one, and I'm so glad she did! 

It's super easy.  Mix your flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.  Add milk, oil, and vanilla.  Mix that thoroughly.  Scrape into a greased 8x8 pan.  It will look like this.

In a small mixing bowl (or pyrex measuring cup) combine some brown sugar and more cocoa.  Sprinkle that over top of the' brownie' batter, like so...

Then pour some hot water over the top of that...

The water will cover everything, and mix in with the brown sugar and cocoa combo. 

Then stick it in the oven for 35-45 minutes.  Until the 'floating' brownie on top is set.  If you jiggle the pan the brownie won't move around in the middle.  Then it's done. 

Scoop some vanilla ice cream into a bowl. 

(We used homemade ice cream tonight, and it was devine.)

Then spoon some brownie over top of the ice cream.  You will find a secret hot fudge under all that brownie goodness, make sure you get some extra of that on your ice cream.  Yummy! 

Not that it will be difficult, but you want to eat this before the ice cream melts from the yummy hot pudding/ sauce.  Mmmmm. 

(I just made a yummy sound.) 

Brownie Pudding

1 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 Tbs cocoa (baking cocoa, the powdery kind)

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Mix these ingredients together.  Then add:

1/2 cup milk

2 Tbs oil

1 tsp vanilla

Stir until well combined.  Pour into a greased 8x8 pan. 

In a separate bowl stir together:

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

Sprinkle over top of brownie batter. 

Pour 1 3/4 cups hot water over top of brown sugar and cocoa mixture.  Pour slowly so your water doesn't dive into the brownie batter.  You want the water on top.  The batter and water will magically switch places during baking! 

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.  Serve hot, over vanilla ice cream.