MOM'S PEANUTTY BROWNIES

Sometimes I forget where I store all of my recipes. I've got some typed up in sticky notes on my MacBook desktop, some on actual recipe cards, some written on lined paper in a binder... they are everywhere! I just recently re-discovered my Microsoft Word recipe book! It was so great to see all of my childhood favorites pop up. After seeing the document, I remembered going through all of my parents' recipe cards and typing up all of my favorite recipes. Now I feel a little bad for all the email requests I've made for family favorites because apparently I had them with me the whole time! Regardless, it was super sweet to see my once favorite recipes all in one place. I hadn't baked for my coworkers for a while, so I decided that baking for this week's lab meeting was the perfect opportunity to bake an old favorite treat.

I hate blondies. I'm just going to put it out there. I don't just dislike them, I hate them. I will spit them out! They are flavorless! These aren't your typical brownies, but they are definitely not blondies. So don't even think the word! Anyways, these aren't standard chocolate brownies, but they are just as rich, just as gooey, and just as satisfying. Because they have PEANUT BUTTER!!! Soooooo much peanut butter. I go through phases of peanut butter cravings. You might, maybe, possibly, probably, no... definitely is more realistic... be able to characterize this week as one of those phases. But these brownies are packed with peanuts so you'll surely satisfy any peanut cravings (or even just sweet cravings!) after eating these! I'm not going to lie, I ate one for dinner. Yep, just a peanutty brownie for dinner. Best decision I've made all week. Besides deciding to make them of course :)

mom's peanutty brownies

1 cup peanut butter (go for the Jif-like brands for this recipe! I know people like organic stuff but this is not the time!)
1/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped peanuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixer bowl. Beat in eggs. Combine all dry ingredients except the chocolate chips and peanuts, then slowly add to creamed mixture. Stir in peanuts and chocolate chips and pour into a greased 9X13 pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. The bars will be pretty gooey, but they are better that way! I promise.