Buckeyes

No swearing in this post, I promise!

For the big game, I made an Ohio favorite for the kids, hubby and me to snack on. It is of course the ever popular Buckeye! And even though my beloved Bucks lost yesterday, we still had awesome treats to munch on each time they scored, and even a few left over today!

My most awesome big sister, Leanne, gave me this recipe. From what I understand, her husband and three daughters, as well as several school teachers and sometimes neighbors get to enjoy these tasty morsels of peanut butter and chocolate goodness several times during the football season. My family is not as fortunate, but come bowl game time, they know they'll be ready for the big game.


Buckeyes

▪ ½ cup peanut butter
▪ 3 tablespoons butter, softened
▪ 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
▪ 4 oz. chocolate flavored candy coating
▪ 4 oz. milk chocolate chips

Stir together the peanut butter and butter until smooth. Gradually add sugar, stirring until combined. Shape into 1 inch balls; place on wax paper. Let stand until dry (about 20 minutes) or refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Melt candy coating and chocolate chips in double boiler or microwave. Cool slightly. Dip balls in chocolate using a toothpick. Let excess chocolate drip off. Place on wax paper; let stand until set (or refrigerate).

Makes about 30


Notes on this recipe: The first time I made these, they turned out pretty ugly. they tasted great, but not pretty!
Some tips I've learned since that first time:
1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. It will stay warmer longer and if you are a slow dipper like me, that's very useful

2. While melting the chocolate, pop the peanut butter balls in the freezer. The peanut butter ball never fell off once when I used this method.

3. Use two toothpicks at once. After dipping one ball, hold it upside down for a few seconds while dipping a second ball. Then place first chocolate dipped ball (buckeye) on waxed paper. I just find the chocolate spreads less and makes for a more authentic lookiing buckeye this way.

4. If you don't want the toothpick hole showing, rub the hole away with your fingers.

5. When I make these, I only get about 25. Might be because I like the peanut butter filling too much, might be because I make them too big. Not sure which it is.

I hope you enjoy these! I know we did, even if the Buck's didn't win. (Don't they look a lot like the real thing?)

Two Fucking Minutes Is Two Minutes Too Long!

Yes, I'm an Ohio State fan. I actually didn't think they had a big chance of winning against Texas, though I still had hope. A college football game often goes to the team who shows up to play, and I thought OSU might be that team tonight.

As the first half ended with them up 6-3, I thought, "Hey, we're still in this. We're even winning!"

Then the second half came and Texas got ahead. I didn't give up on the Bucks, though. They were never down by much, and the possibility of a win still excited me.

Then, with 2:05 to go in the 4th quarter, my Bucks scored a touchdown. They went up 21-17. The thrill of being in the lead so late in the 4th quarter was tempered by my being an Ohio sports fan. I knew 2:05 was too much time on the clock. I have watched way too many Ohio sports teams (pro (Cleveland Browns) and college level) to think that the Bucks had it locked up. My only hope was a strong defense. Please God, could they hold the Longhorns long enough so they couldn't score a touchdown?

And of course, the answer was no. A possible generous placing of the football on 4th down, a missed tackle, and the game was all over.

My husband seemed a little shocked with my cursing and swearing. I am not a foul mouthed person by nature. But big sports events bring it out of me. I'm ultra competitive and when my team doesn't come through, I'm thoroughly disappointed.

Goodbye, Buckeyes. Maybe next year we'll bring home the big game.