Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars – Grandma Ellen

When we were children Eve, Cindra, Kyle, Kody, Quin, Kameron and Templar attended Scera Park Elementary school.  Most days we would walk home to eat lunch since it was only a block away.  On the weeks that our classes were assigned to work in the lunchroom we would eat lunch at school. It was always a treat when they served the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars for lunch.  Cindra loved them so much she asked one of the lunch ladies for the recipe and this has been a family favorite ever since.

¾ cup margarine
¾ cup peanut butter
¾ brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp. vanilla
3/4 teaspoon soda

½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cup flour (whole wheat flour works well)
1 ½ cup rolled oats
1 package chocolate chips

In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well

Spread into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 325° for 18-22 minutes or until lightly browned.

Sprinkle chocolate chips onto hot peanut butter bars.  Return to oven for 1 minute.  Spread the chocolate chips over the peanut butter bars and let cool completely.

Frosting: (1 part peanut butter, 2 parts powdered sugar)
1 ½ cup peanut butter (1/2 can be butter or margarine)
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons evaporated milk or milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Cream the peanut butter.  Add half the powdered sugar and blend.  Blend in milk and sugar.  Add remaining powdered sugar. Stir until smooth.  Spread smoothly over the cooled chocolate chips layer.