M&M Bars

As promised, here are the M&M bars. These make a really nice, big pan so they are great for taking to a potluck...or bake sale. :) Enjoy!

M&M Bars

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup ap flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups quick cooking oats
14 oz pkg caramels (unwrapped)
3 tbsp water
1 cup mini chocolate chips*
1 cup chopped nuts, pecans or walnuts as you prefer*
1 cup mini m&m's*

*I don't bother to measure, usually. I just pour them on til it looks good. :)

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in oats. Press into 15x10x1 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the caramels and water. Spread over crust. Sprinkle with chips, nuts and m&m's. Gently press into the caramel and allow to cool completely before cutting.

Burnt Peanuts

Every year at Christmas time, my daddy loves burnt peanuts. It's a treat I never quite liked...I'd eat them, but it wasn't a favorite of mine. So, this year Tim found a recipe to make them. They are SUPER easy to make, too! YAY! Pack them in a pint jar with a pretty lid and you are good to go for gift giving, too! They'd make great teacher/bus driver/postal worker/etc gifts! Enjoy!

Burnt Peanuts

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
red food coloring (I use coloring paste so I only used a couple drops, but if you use the regular food coloring from the spice aisle, then you'll probably need about a tsp)

Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in:

2 cups RAW spanish peanuts WITH THE SKINS ON!

Cook until coated and no syrup remains. (About 12 minutes) Spread in an UNgreased 15x10x1 pan. Bake at 300 for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool before packing in jars.
(Sorry the picture is so dark!)