Peanut Butter Pretzel Time

IT'S HERE....SUMMER!!! The time of BBQ's, sundresses and sunshine is finally here and I couldn't be more excited.


I have been so extremely busy these past few weeks that my baking was placed on hold, however I had the opportunity to experiment with a new ( and SUPER EASY) recipe this past week for a work BBQ. Everyone loved these....myself included and I will definitely need to make them again! 


So if you are looking for something quick, fun and so delicious for an upcoming gathering, these are for you!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Sandwiches

Ingredients

1 cup of peanut butter

2 tablespoons melted butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar to start

3/4 cup brown sugar

Bakers chocolate squares

Small Pretzels (the large ones are seriously too much for these)

Directions

Line a baking sheet with wax paper or tin foil paper and set aside.

Using a stand mixer, mix peanut butter and butter until combined. Once mixed, add sugars and mix until combined. You should be able to roll the mixture into balls without sticking to your hands. If the mixture is still sticky, keep adding powdered sugar until the consistency is thicker.

Roll the peanut butter/sugar mixture into small balls, and sandwich each ball inbetween two mini pretzels. Lay each sandwich on the baking sheet and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler... or in my case a glass bowl overtop a pot of boiling water. Once the chocolate is perfectly tempered meaning shiny and smooth, dip each pretzel sandwich halfway in and place back on the baking sheet. 

Chill in refrigerator until chocolate is set.

My next baking challenge....strawberry shortbread mini-tarts possibly for Canada Day tomorrow!

Tick Tock Tick Tock

That is the sound of time passing...no....wait...FLYING by! I've been deeply engulfed in work for the past few weeks... so much so that I have had no time it seems for the present. 


That is all coming to a slow end as summer officially will kick off next week! I've started to lift out of the gloomy weather we have been having and started looking forward to what I know is going to be an amazing summer!


So to slowly get back into gear with my blog which I have sadly neglected these past 2 weeks, I've decided to create a countdown list of all the things I am greatly anticipating this summer:


1. Sunsets from our beach-front home
I was born and raised on the Mediterranean. Ocean sunsets and sunrises are the only things in the world that can re-charge my soul. I am beside myself with excitement.

We can see the Napali Coast from our beach.

2. Apple-Bananas and Open Markets
You wouldn't know it considering how much baked goods I consume, but I can be a health-food nut too! I love farmer's markets with fresh, locally grown produce and local specialties. I have already scoped out which markets in Kauai we are going to and a food item I am especially excited to try is what are known as Apple-Bananas or Manzano Bananas.

Stubby little jewels of sweet banana, apple, pineapple, strawberry flavours.

3. Flip-flops, Wedges and Peeps - Oh My!
Imelda Marcos has nothing on me for crazy shoe collections! Nothing though is better than summer shoes with their bright colours, jewelled fabric and ability to dress-up or down any outfit!

I'm coveting these currently....even though my collection does not require any additions...but a girl can love from afar!

Croner

4. Endless Baking

I want to take advantage of what little time I will have this summer to be more adventurous in my baking. I'm going to try to bake items out of my comfort to challenge myself and to have some fun doing it!


I've never baked a pie...you did just read that correctly. I have never baked a pie... but I will this summer! Depending on the fruit in season, it'll either be strawberry, blueberry or peach and I want it to look like this:

Aiming high for a perfect pie!

5. Reading for FUN!

Summertime is synonymous with reading for me. I have a few books so far on my to-read list as soon as they arrive in the library for me!

As time continues to speed past me and I mourn the end of another school year, I can also look forward to many new and amazing experiences. Welcome Summer!

Fruity Pebbled

There are very few cereals out there that I enjoy and so I usually make my own granola and have that with skim milk every other morning. However, when it comes to fun sugary cereals, Fruity Pebbles are ranked high on my list and of course are unavailable in Canada but maybe that's a good thing?!

I've been eating through this box for about 4 months now...that should tell you how much cereal I eat and just how much I treasure this variety. I was down to the very last and I decided to make them into Fruity Pebbles Treats aka melted butter, marshmallows and whatever cereal you have handy.


I found these amazingly huge, fluffy and kosher marshmallows the other day and they were absolutely perfect in combination with my Fruity Pebbles.

When added with butter and the Fruity Pebbles... you end up with these colourful and oh-so-good Fruity Pebbles squares.

KAUAI

My usual weekly blog post was overtaken by *life* these past few days. Its been such a whirlwind week full of events, that I honestly can't remember much of it and sometimes that's just OK! As much as my body hates how busy I am at times, my mind relishes it. Being focused on certain things is something I always strive for. I like to work and I like having things to work towards.


On that note, I think its only fitting to let you know that we've decided on Kauai for our first ever vacation together in 10 years! Its also our very belated honeymoon and we wanted nothing more than to relax, take things at our pace and enjoy life minus the "busy-ness" of it all.


We've rented a gorgeous beach front home right on the North Shore. We researched resorts but when we totalled the costs, the value just didn't make much sense. We currently live nowhere near an ocean so being ocean-front was an absolute must and the resorts were charging a crazy amount for just a chance view of the water. We knew right away that renting a private home was going to be our best and most cost efficient option. 


So.... here is a preview of what awaits us in only 32 more days... but who's counting?

These seats are waiting for us!

Anini Beach...right outside our door.

The stunning Na Pali Coast. Snorkeling and Sunset dinners.

I'm hoping *life* will slow down a bit so I can enjoy it more and yet at the same time I have so much to look forward to that I don't mind it speeding...that is until we've reached Hawaii!