Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Bars

So I was thinking - now that Mr. Vittles and I have been married over a year, are we still considered newlyweds?

I may have to change the whole concept of my blog!

Vittles and Bits: An Old Married Lady's Adventures in Culinary Bliss.

Hmmm... Doesn't really have the same ring to it.

Well I know a year certainly doesn't constitute being an 'old married lady,' but I do have moments where I feel that way.  Marriage part aside, we've been a couple for a good while now, and anyone that's out of the puppy love phase knows how that can be.

One thing that I've noticed is, as time goes on is you stop being embarrassed around your significant other.  I can remember getting sick on our first vacation together 4 months into our relationship, but I refused to let Mr. V see that I wasn't feeling well - even when he was speed-walking through the airport because he thought we were going to miss our connecting flight, while I hobbled along in the far distance, fearing I'd toss my cookies at any moment.

That would never happen today. 

No, today things like this happen - I am in the shower and realize there is a cricket in between the shower curtain & the clear liner, so I yell for Mr. V to come get it.  He happens to grab the curtain right where the cricket is, causing it to drop down into the shower and hop onto my leg.  I freak out, and in my panic I push past him (all suds-up in my birthday suit) and take off down the hall.  When I try to make a hard left into our bedroom, my wet feet slip on the tile floor and I wipe out in the doorway - which startles our parrot into flying circles around the room.

Aside from some bruises from my fall, I was completely unhurt - and miraculously, that includes my ego.

I was not embarrassed in the least.

In fact, I had The Giggles for the next 15 minutes, imagining how chaotic that scene would have looked to any bystanders, and every time I looked at Mr. Vittles we would both crack up.

At moments like that, I wonder if Mr Vittles secretly thinks "How long is forever, again?"

But then I make things like homemade apple pies and peanut butter fudge s'mores and he probably thinks he's the luckiest husband in the world.

At least I like to believe that he thinks that.

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Bars

• 2 C. graham cracker crumbs (from about 11 whole graham crackers)
• 6 T. butter, cut in tablespoons
• 1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 C. peanut butter
• 12 oz. semisweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 2 C. mini marshmallows
• 2 whole graham crackers, broken into small pieces

Line 9x13 pan with waxed paper or foil, letting edges overhang.  Grease with nonstick spray or butter.

Place butter in a medium heatproof bowl, and microwave in 15 second intervals until melted.  Add graham cracker crumbs and stir with a fork until moistened.  Empty bowl into prepared pan and spread crumbs out, pressing evenly into pan.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sweetened condensed milk with peanut butter and chocolate, stirring constantly until melted and smooth.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla until combined. 

Pour over crumb base and quickly spread into an even layer.  Smooth out with a greased spatula, then sprinkle marshmallows evenly over crust.  Press gently into chocolate mixture.  Then stick graham cracker bits in gaps between marshmallows as desired, pressing gently to set.

Cover pan and refrigerate until fudge is firm, about 2 hours.  Lift edges of foil/waxed paper to remove and cut into bars.

Recipe adapted from Annie's Eats; original source Williams Sonoma