One of my favorite parts of the day occurs very early – we’re talking sub 6am here – when my Mom and meet to go on a walk around the neighborhood. She drives over from her house a couple blocks away, then waits in the driveway until I stumble out my front door still half asleep, and we pause to giggle at each others outfits as we head down the street.
Pants that are 3 inches too short for her, and Ben’s basketball shorts that come down below my knees for me – both with hair that rivals Medusa’s.
This usually isn’t a big deal during the colder months, when we’ve still got several hours left before the sun comes up, but then daylight savings time inevitably kicks in and puts our wretched fashion show on display for the whole neighborhood to see in the spring.
You should hear the dogs howl!
Anyway, the distasteful fashion isn’t why I adore the time of the day so much, rather, it’s the company. While putting a couple miles under my belt as the sun rises is awesome, mostly I just love being able to spend 30 minutes each day with my Mom.
We talk about all kinds of stuff – work, family, plans, news, celebrities – and occasionally get to reminiscing.
Last week we got to talking about foods my brothers and I hated growing up. Pork chops, succotash, (SUCKotash is more like it,) broccoli stems, ham loaf, and of course, cooked carrots, came to mind – but also, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
It’s true. I freaking hated peanut butter & jelly sandwiches when I was growing up, and still do, actually.
That sickeningly sweet PB&J combo makes my tongue recoil, and I much preferred to open up my lunch box as a kid to find a Bologna, Lettuce & Mustard Sandwich waiting for me inside.
Unless, of course, that PB&J combo comes in the form of a baked good with a sweet, summertime element, like Fresh Strawberry Peanut Butter Bars. Leave it to a baked good to change any deeply rooted distaste!
Luscious peanut butter cookie bars slathered with sweet strawberry preserves and topped with fresh strawberry halves, completely shatters my previously held hatred for mixing the flavors of peanut butter and jelly together.
Dense and not too sweet, the burst of fresh strawberry flavor in these bars totally won me over!
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Fresh Strawberry Peanut Butter Bars
Description
Fresh Strawberry Peanut Butter Bars are a decadent, yet fresh dessert that will squash any PB&J craving!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2-1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup strawberry jam (could use jelly or preserves)
- 4 cups strawberry halves (about 1-1/2lbs)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl until well combined, about 30 seconds. Add sugars, baking powder, and salt, then beat to combine. Add eggs and vanilla, then beat to combine. Add flour, then mix until it's just incorporated.
- Turn dough out into a non-stick sprayed 9x13 baking dish, then spread it into an even layer with your fingers. Bake for 25 minutes, or until dough is set in the center. If the sides begin to brown too fast before the center is done, gently lay a piece of foil on top of the baking dish, and continue baking.
- Cool completely, then spread strawberry jam on top and top with strawberry halves. Cut into bars and serve. Store covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
From BHG.com
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
The juicy strawberry halves are just as thick as the peanut butter cookie dough underneath, and gives these bars the fresh, healthy-tasting twist I think I was always searching for in a PB&J sandwich.
But let’s not over look the peanut butter cookie! Chewy, and ultra-dense, it is the perfect base for these sweet, summertime bars. YUM!
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Are there any foods you hated as a child, that you still hate to this day?
Totally still hate succotash. The lima beans are what get me!
little bit 05.16.2012
have I told you lately how much I LOVE you?? thanks for this recipe… I can not WAIT to make this! strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, mixed berries… YUM.
actually, can you just air-mail me one of those tasty looking bars? for research purposes, of course. please?
Carrie @ Season It Already! 05.16.2012
Okay, those pictures this morning just aren’t fair! ;-)
Alice 05.16.2012
I love PB&J! I have always, and will always, HATE JELLO! I can’t stand the texture. I mean, really, should food come in that many variaties of neon? OH, and tuna salad. I can’t get over the smell.
Love the fresh strawberries on top of these bars. Will have to give it a try this weekend!
jennyv 05.16.2012
Love that you’re able to walk with your mom — those moments are priceless… Someday you’ll have to get your husband to take a picture of the two of you all disheveled (not necessarily to share with us but for you to have for years to come!)
I LOVE PB&J… I just started to like jelly within the past few years. Prior to that it was always requested while I was in school to have a ‘pb folded’ — meaning one piece of bread, slathered with Jif, folded. That first bite in the middle was PB goodness! I’ve somehow moved from the white bread & Jif to Trader Joe’s sprounted 7-grain and all-natural almond butter or sunflower butter!
Kristin from MN 05.16.2012
Two things I hated as a child that I now love – pancakes and vanilla ice cream (not together, although that doesn’t sound too bad). Oddly enough, my son likes lima beans. He requested we even plant some in our garden. I know, weird! :)
Erin 05.16.2012
I love pb&j but have yet to make a dessert option with it. I really like the fresh strawberries on this.
Sarah 05.16.2012
Lima Beans are for SURE disgusting! I will not eat for any reason mayo… sick!
Jen 05.16.2012
What is that blue spiky looking thing on your mixer blade?
Iowa Girl Eats 05.16.2012
It is my #1 fave Kitchen Aid attachment:
Carrie 05.16.2012
The PB bars look great, but I had to write to tell you that I made your Kale Chips last night, and was blown away by how good they were!! Goodbye garlic bread, these tasted just like that without the bread!! Keep the good recipes coming!! Thanks for your hard work on the blog.
Iowa Girl Eats 05.16.2012
Oh good – glad you liked them! Hope to make some more soon with the kale growing in my garden!
Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables 05.16.2012
I can’t even fathom hating pb & j!! I probably hated bologna equally as much as you loved it :)
Chelsea @ Chelsea Eats Treats 05.16.2012
That is so nice that you get to spend so much time with your mom every day! I wish I could do that with my mom. Methinks she would not be too thrilled about driving an hour each way to walk with me though ;)
These bars look scrumptious, as usual!
McKenzie 05.16.2012
These look delicious! Like you I never understood the appeal of PB&J. I even tried again in college but prefer my sandwiches PB only.
Heather {ModernMealsforTwo} 05.16.2012
My tastes have changed a lot so there’s nothing I hated as a child that I won’t eat today. However, there is one thing that I loved as a child that I won’t touch. In elementary school I ate so many Little Debbie Nutty Bars that I gag thinking about them. Blech! :)
Iowa Girl Eats 05.16.2012
Ew, me too – I can’t STAND them!
Heather {ModernMealsforTwo} 05.16.2012
Ha! It’s good to know that we’re in the same boat… and that I won’t see a knockoff Nutty Bar recipe on here anytime soon ;)
Stephanie 05.16.2012
She actually does have a knockoff Nutty Bar recipe on here! haha!
Deborah 05.16.2012
My parents tried to get us to eat brussel sprouts and the deep fried them! So gross, I remember how horrible the house smelled. Another one was meatloaf, can’t stomach it still to this day.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious 05.16.2012
These bars are absolutely sinful! And I just love that you’re using fresh strawberries on these. Yum!
And btw, gorgeous pink mixer. I have the same one :)
Jen 05.16.2012
Any seafood, steak, & mushrooms still won’t touch them. I was the odd kid that loved salad, my nana’s homemade dressing is to die for, so I had my mom pack me salad for my lunchs!
Michelle Wollin 05.16.2012
Tater Tot Casserole or Goulash. Oh and lets not forget Liver and Onions!!! BLECH!
Famous Dave Anderson 05.15.2012
Hi… I am new to your blog but a great studier of all things food. I am amazed by your food photography! What kind of camera do you use and lighting? It appears you’ve taken as many photography courses as you have studied food! I look forward to more of your blogs.
Rib-O-Licioulsy
Famous Dave Anderson, Founder of the World’s Best BBQ Joint and America’s Best Tasting Ribs!
Iowa Girl Eats 05.16.2012
Thanks, Dave! I use a Nikon D3000 and use natural light whenever possible.
Nae 05.15.2012
Wow these look great! Will have to give them a go before the end of the week (will have to find some fresh strawberries – it’s all but winter over here).
Have to say I stumbled upon your blog only in the last week and you’ve given me inspiration, I’m trying to get fitter and the ‘run faster run longer’ post I found is helping me push it that little bit harder. I’m also heading out at 6am these days and it’s still quite dark but I’m loving it, no-one can see when I stop running and walk instead :)
Thank you so much for that little boost!
Lori P 05.15.2012
Never did and never will eat cantalope. I just can’t stand it. I could about eat an entire watermelon in one sitting though!