Chocolate & Peanut Rice Bubble Crunch

There's something insanely delicious about nostalgic foods like this. We would always have these at birthday parties growing up, except mum would make the honey version (she was a health nut), which although tasty, is mighty boring compared to these!

I searched the internet high and low for a recipe for ones which were peanut butter and chocolate - only my favourite flavour combination - but surprisingly the internet failed me. All the recipes I found were either a peanut butter crunch with a chocolate topping, or made using cocoa, not actual chocolate, so instead I made my own up, and (thank goodness) it's a flavour hit! Kind of reminds me of M&M's, a cross between the crispy ones, and the peanut butter ones, good luck finding them in NZ, seems to be more of an American thing.

Best of all this recipe is so so easy. I whipped it up in 15 minutes, plus it's easy for little helpers (just be careful on the melting part). Oh, and be sure to lick the bowl!

Ingredients (Makes 1 large 30 x 20cm tray, about 25 pieces): 

• 6 cups of rice bubbles 
• 250 grams of milk chocolate 
• 250 grams of smooth peanut butter 
• 60 grams of butter
• 60 grams of icing sugar
• extra 30 grams chocolate and 1 tbsp butter for topping - optional

Line a large baking tray with cling film, so that the sides over hang. 

In a large bowl, measure out 6 cups of rice bubbles. 

Create a double boiler, in a small saucepan put a little bit of water, place a metallic bowl on top so that it seals the edge. Make sure the water is not touching the bottom of the bowl. Place this onto a low heat. In the bowl, put the chocolate, butter and peanut butter, stirring frequently until melted and smooth. 

Sift in the icing sugar and mix well to combine. 

Use a spatula to pour all of the peanuty, chocolatey goodness into the bowl with the rice bubbles. Mix well until all the rice bubbles are coated. Then pour it all into the lined baking tray. Use the back of a spoon to press it down into the tin. If you hear some of the rice bubbles crunching, that's fine. Once pressed and smoothed, fold the sides of the cling film over to cover it, and pop it in the fridge for an hour (at least) to set. 

Once set, remove from the fridge. You can add some chocolate drizzle as a topping if you like. Simply use the double boiler method to melt the extra chocolate and butter. Once melted use a spoon to drizzle this over the top of the slice. Give that about 20-30 minutes to set, before using a large knife to cut the slice into pieces. 

This is best stored in the fridge (particularly in hot weather) until required. 

Spiced Chicken Pita's with Fix and Fogg Smoke and Fire Peanut Butter.

Are you a peanut butter fan? I most certainly am. On toast, crackers, fruit toast, hot cross buns. Toasted sandwich with banana and peanut butter, and best of all, SATAY. So when Fix and Fogg released their new Smoke & Fire Peanut Butter I was so intrigued. 
One taste and all I could think of was eating it with a chicken pita and slaw, trust me, it did not disappoint. 

In this recipe I have marinated the chicken in a lovely spice blend. I use whole seeds, which I lightly toast in a dry pan and then grind in a mortar and pestle. This is how you'll get the best and freshest flavour from the spices, but you can buy the pre-prepared ground spices if you wish. 
To make the slaw a little lighter in fat and flavour I've made a mix of garlic aioli and plain yogurt. The yogurt adds a subtle tang which accompanies the spice of the rub and Fix and Fogg perfectly.  

Ingredients (Serves 4): 

• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp olive oil 
• 400 grams free range chicken
• 1/4 cabbage
• 2 carrots
• 1/4 red onion
• 1 heaped tbsp garlic aioli (or any good quality mayonnaise)
• 2 heaped tbsp plain yogurt 
• 1-2 tbsp lemon juice 
• 4 large pita pockets 
• 4 (or more) tbsp of Fix and Fogg's Smoke & Fire Peanut Butter

First make the marinade. Toast the cumin and coriander seeds in a dry frying pan until fragrant. Remove to a mortar and pestle and grind. Combine with smoked paprika, salt, and oil in a non-metallic bowl. Slice the chicken into strips, add this to the spice mixture and coat well. Cover and chill for at least 20 minutes. 

To prepare the slaw finely shred the cabbage and onion (I used a food processor because I'm lazy, but a large sharp knife will do the same trick). Peel and grate the carrots. Pop all the veggies into a salad bowl and add the aioli, yogurt, and lemon juice. Use two large spoons to toss it all together well, you want the dressing to be lightly coating everything. Cover and set aside in the fridge till serving. You may want to give it another quick toss before serving in case the dressing has settled in the bottom. 

To cook the chicken, heat a large heavy based frying pan. Because the marinade has oil already I don't bother oiling the pan. Place the pieces of chicken in the hot pan and turn them after a few minutes, then continue cooking till cooked through. 

Warm the pita according to packet directions (or a quick pop in the toaster if they will fit). Spread a heaped spoonful of Fix and Fogg's Smoke & Fire Peanut Butter inside each pita pocket before filling with slaw and pieces of chicken. 

Peanut Butter Pie

Are you a peanut butter nutter? Does the sound of Reese's Pieces get you drooling? Did you rush out to buy the Whittaker's Peanut Butter chocolate when it first hit shelves? 

If you answered yes to any (or let's face it, probably all) of those questions, then this is the recipe for you. Another delectable dessert treat from my 'tart' collection. I can practically whip up the pastry with my eyes closed these days, and with the use of a food processor it takes hardly any time at all. This recipe uses the same pastry as my rich Salted Caramel Tart, and my often requested After Dinner Mint Tart. 

Despite the three different layers, it's painlessly easy, but profoundly impressive. After the pastry layer is a not-so-sweet creamy peanut butter buttercream frosting, then topped with a luscious chocolate ganache. Then sprinkled with roasted salted peanuts. 


Ingredients (Serves 12):

Pastry  

• 1 1/2 cups of plain flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1/4 cup of icing sugar 
• 180 grams cold butter, diced
• 1 egg yolk 
• 3 tbsp chilled water
• greaseproof paper
• baking beads or rice 

Peanut Butter Layer

• 90 grams butter
• 3/4 cup icing sugar
• 1 cup of good quality smooth peanut butter - I used the new Mother Earth range

Chocolate Ganache 

• 150 ml cream
• 75 grams Whittaker's 72% Dark Ghana Chocolate
• 75 grams Whittaker's Creamy Milk Chocolate
• 1/4 cup of roasted salted peanuts, roughly chopped

Make the pastry: 

Put flour, cocoa,  and icing sugar into the blender, pulse a couple times, to 'sieve' and combine. 

Add diced butter, pulse till it resembles breadcrumbs. 

Add egg yolk, and 1 tbsp water, pulse. Continue adding two more spoonfuls of water until it starts to come together into a ball (You may only need two spoonfuls depending on the size of your egg yolk). 

Tip pastry onto a floured board and gently knead for a couple of minutes so that it feels smooth. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees celsius and grease a 30 cm fluted tart tin, or 8 mini fluted tart tins. Remove pastry bake to the floured board, or a piece of greaseproof baking paper. Roll the dough out to form a circle slightly larger than your tin, about 5 mm thick. Use the pin to transfer the dough to your greased tin, press gently and roll over the top to cut the excess from the edges. 

Cover the pastry with a piece of greaseproof baking paper and fill with baking beads or uncooked rice. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the paper and baking beads/rice and cook for a further 15 minutes (10 for mini tarts). 

The pastry should be pulling away from the sides of the tin. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin. 

Make the peanut butter layer:

Place butter and icing sugar into a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer till smooth and creamy. Add the peanut butter to the bowl and mix again. 

Spread the peanut butter over the cooled tart base. 

Make the chocolate ganache: 

Warm the cream over a low heat in a small saucepan. When it begins to boil, turn the heat off and drop the squares of chocolate in. Stir once then set aside so the heat of the cream melts the chocolate. After 5 minutes stir the chocolate till smooth and glossy. 

Allow to cool a little, but not set. Then pour over the peanut butter layer. 

While still runny sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the top. 

Chill for an hour before serving. Will keep in the fridge for up to a week, unless of course you eat it first. 

Try these other delectable treats.

Salted Caramel Tart

After Dinner Mint Tart