posted by Andy 03-26-103 6:11 AM
Andy's Eatmore Bars
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or 1 cup semisweet chips and 1 cup milk chocolate chips)
3/4 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1 cup corn syrup
2 Tbs molasses (optional)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups quick cooking oats
1-3/4 cup peanuts, salted or not, chopped
2 Tbs chopped dried cherries (optional)
Lightly butter a 9"x13" pan; set aside.
In a large pot, bring chocolate chips, peanut butter, corn syrup, and molasses (if using) slowly, I repeat, s-l-o-w-l-y, so as not to burn the chocolate, to a boil, stirring frequently. Boil 3 to 5 (*see note) minutes after the first bubbles materialize, stirring constantly; remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Add remaining ingredients and stir well to coat.
Scrape into prepared pan and spread evenly to corners. When warm, not hot, cut into bars- 1"x2" or 1-1/2"x2-1/2" or so. Makes ~30 bars.
Note: These keep very well at room temperature - they're just as good a week after they're made as the day after; they're high energy and great for camping, hiking or cottaging. If you cook them about 4 to 5 minutes they'll be more like store-bought Eatmore bars, ie chewier. The molasses is optional ‘cause I always thought Eatmores had molasses in them (turns out they don't, but they do have dried cherries in them). The hot mixture spreads more easily in the pan if you use a clean rubber spatula/scraper, coated with a little butter, to spread it. Let sit a couple of hours if you can to let the flavours meld and the oats soften.