no big dill

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Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

You're going to love me.  Or hate me.  Or a little of both.  Or a lot of both.  We've got a lot of potential for unlimited options of love/hate proportions today.  All because of this:

You might be wondering why mess with the perfectly good confection Mr. Reese has going on?  I'll give you a few reasons.  First, you can control every single ingredient (who cares if people call us control freaks?)  Secondly, you can use your favorite brand of peanut butter, or even make your own.  Thirdly, you can control the peanut butter/chocolate ratio (are you on the nutty side?)  Fourthly, you can use your deepest, darkest, richest chocolate, and be 100% confident it's going for a good cause.

If those aren't reasons enough, and though I usually like to steer clear of "secret ingredients"(like black bean fudge), these do have a secret ingredient.  But no worries:

Graham Crackers: little extra crunch to your peanut butter cups.  In fact, Ryan said, mmm, what's that bit of extra crunch?  Told you.

1/4 c butter

3/4 c of your favorite crunchy peanut butter

3/4 c graham crackers crumbs (or about one sleeve)

1/4 c sugar

1 c chocolate

2 Tablespoons milk

Peanuts for garnish

Place cupcake liners in a pan.  I used mini liners and they were the perfect size for us.  Melt butter in a pan, add peanut butter, graham crackers, sugar.  Mix until incorporated.  Melt chocolate over low heat and add milk.  Spoon a small amount of chocolate in the bottom of each liner.  Shake gently to even out. Add desired amount of peanut butter mixture, top with more chocolate and shake gently again.  Top with a nut if desired.  Refrigerate until set.

The only drawback I found was these need to be refrigerated to easily peel the liner off.

peanut butter cup chevron!

But, then you can keep a stash there and grab one as you take a deep breath, staring into the fridge, deciding what you should make for dinner, just before what I call "crazy hour" when Ryan isn't home yet, everyone is cranky, yet there's still homework to do, baths to take, papers to sign, and lunches to make for the next day.

Yes, that's when you pop one of these in your mouth to take the edge off, and crank dinner out, sign papers as you stir, help with homework between checking the oven goodies.  Just don't breathe on anyone, or they'll suspect.

And do you know what else I'm thinking?  Almond Butter cups!  Or what about cashew?!  Or a medley of all three, with the nut on top to differentiate!

So tell me, what's the love/hate ratio going on?