Our beloved Buddy passed away earlier this week. I kept trying to write a post to memorialize him, but nothing I said seemed to do him justice. I typed and deleted and typed and deleted and just couldn't get it right. Those of you with pets understand; Buddy was so much more than a member of the family. He was calm and caring, never asked for anything, and gave us unconditional love and loyalty. He was the best and most comforting listener in the family, and he was always, always a very good boy.
We held a beautiful service to celebrate Buddy's life, sharing our favorite memories, and laughing and crying as we relived the last nine years. One of the many, many things I will miss is having him with me in the kitchen as I cooked, quietly keeping me company (and eagerly cleaning up any morsels that "accidentally" fell on the floor). When I made my daily pb and j, Buddy was right by my side, never begging, but forever hopeful that I would slip him a spoonful. He loved steak, bacon and pork chops, but peanut butter was his true weakness.
When my son was in high school, I always had a batch of these chocolate peanut butter pretzel bars on hand for him and his friends. I'm not sure who loved them more-- the teenagers or Buddy. Buddy of course couldn't eat the chocolate, but he could always count on me to sneak him a bite of peanut butter when I was making them. So, in honor of Buddy, I made these bars last night. They were just as good as we remembered, but, this time, they were bittersweet.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars (adapted from Pure Wow)
3 cups pretzel crumbs, divided*
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (salted ok if you don't have unsalted)
1 3/4 cups smooth peanut butter, divided**
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 12 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
Lightly grease a 9" square pan.
In a large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups pretzel crumbs with the confectioners' sugar.
In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter with 1 1/2 cups peanut butter and vanilla.
Fold the peanut butter mixture into the pretzel mixture until completely combined.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer.
Place the chocolate chips in a small heat-safe bowl.
In a small pot, bring the cream to a simmer over medium heat.
Once the cream starts to simmer, pour it over the chocolate chips and let sit 15 seconds.
Stir the mixture until fully combined and smooth.
Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter-pretzel mixture and spread into an even layer.
Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup pretzel crumbs evenly over the chocolate layer.
Microwave the remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter for 20-40 seconds until loose and runny.
Drizzle the softened peanut butter over the crumbled pretzels.
Refrigerate until firm before cutting and keep in refrigerator.
Tips:
*I love Trader Joe's Gluten Free Pretzel Twists in this recipe. If you use them, 3 cups will be about 1 1/2 of the 8 ounce bags, crushed in a food processor.
**I think natural peanut butter without added sugar is best in this recipe, just make sure to stir it really well.
We miss you, Buddy, and hope you are enjoying an unlimited peanut butter fountain in heaven.
Virtual hugs to you and your family, Jackie. Those of us with pets have travelled this road and know how lonely it can feel without them. Glad you could write this about Buddy.
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