In honor of the new year and the spirit of growth, I’m pleased to share with you today a new web design. I’m so lucky to have such a multi-talented hubby who not only tutors and guides me in photography, but is also such a skilled web designer. He came up with the idea for a new design months ago and here we are today, rolling it out. I’m thrilled with it! I hope you are too.
A new web design is really like a fresh twist on an old theme. And rowing down that new theme river, I’m also sharing a golden oldie recipe with a new twist. I call it Peanut Butter Balls 2011. How many new variations can there be on this peanut butter and chocolate theme? I don’t know the answer, but I’m willing to commit myself to the research! See how devoted I am to you? It’s the completely selfless kind of person I am.
I’ve been trying more gluten free recipes lately, not only because it seems to be gaining in popularity but also because I think many of us could use an occasional break from the popular grain. Wheat can be poison for some and can have no impact on others. But no matter how you slice it, taking a break and trying different grains can have its benefits.
My mom made some peanut butter balls for our recent family dinner and that’s when I had this crystal-clear moment of inspiration. It was either that or my sister smacking me in the head. Either way, I thought it would be fun to try a gluten free, vegan version of this recipe. Sometimes I use graham cracker crumbs in this recipe, but this time I decided to try something a little different. Corn chex crumbs. Say that three times fast! Or you could use Rice Chex crumbs if you have those handy.
While my hubby was busy building the new site, I enjoyed every last bite of these delicious morsels. Thanks for the new site, honey! I’ll save you some from the next batch.
Peanut Butter Balls 2011
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Rice or Corn Chex Cereal, finely ground
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup dairy-free margarine, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
Coating:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 1 12 oz bag dairy free chocolate chips
Directions:
- Place rice or corn chex in either a blender or food processor. Pulse until the mixture is finely ground.
- Stir together peanut butter and margarine until well blended. Add brown sugar and stir. Add finely ground chex meal and stir until well combined. Roll into bit-size balls. Refrigerate for about an hour.
- Use your preferred method to melt chocolate chips. I cook the chocolate over very low heat in a small saucepan because I like keeping the chocolate warm as I’m dipping the peanut butter balls. Next add the vegetable shortening together and stir until well-blended. Place a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet. Next, dip peanut butter balls in the melted chocolate using a fork so you can tap off excess chocolate.
- Lay chocolate covered balls on waxed paper until chocolate coating is firm. I place the cookie sheet with peanut butter balls in the fridge to help speed up the process…so I can begin my favorite part – the eating.
Other Sites with Delicious Peanut Butter Ball Recipes
Epicurious Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Joy of Baking Buckeyes
ChooseVeg Peanut Butter Balls
Wow, nice design. I like the colors. Very soothing and professional at the same time. Nice to have that hubby handy eh?
January 11, 2011
1:43 pm
So glad you like it. Yes, he’s handy to have around. I think he’s just trying to encourage me to keep making these goodies…
January 11, 2011
1:59 pm
Love the new look! Rather wish I had a hubby who had a clue about web design.
Funny about the PB balls, I actually just made some (GF, low carb, made with peanut flour) which I will be posting in a few days. I swear they look exactly like yours!
January 11, 2011
1:55 pm
I can’t wait to see them! You know what they say about great minds? They make peanut butter balls!
January 11, 2011
1:58 pm
OMG!…those look so wonderful! Love love love choccie! Lovely new design!
January 11, 2011
4:08 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new design Marly – congrats to you AND that hubby of yours!! as for these peanut butter balls . . . what can i say but that we would love these!!
January 11, 2011
8:28 pm
Thanks, Debra! We’re a hubby/wife team just like you and professor!
January 11, 2011
10:52 pm
I “know” for a fact…these are delicious!!!
January 11, 2011
8:53 pm
Well, I’ll be making some for you and Bruce soon!
January 11, 2011
10:52 pm
Love the new design. So jealous, my husband nor I, have a clue about web design! You can never go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate!
January 11, 2011
9:04 pm
Looks delicious! Cant wait to try them!
January 11, 2011
9:13 pm
Congrats on the new look!!
January 11, 2011
9:42 pm
Love your new design! You’re so lucky to have such a talented hubby who knows web design and photography.
January 11, 2011
10:33 pm
What exactly are rice/corn chex?
I have never heard of it.
Alternatives?
January 11, 2011
11:45 pm
Hi Brooke, Here’s a link to Chex Cereal. Most grocery stores also provide a store-brand version: http://www.chex.com/
January 12, 2011
8:04 am
oh wow! I want to taste these now!!!
January 12, 2011
4:16 am
The new design is so swish! Love it, especially accompanied with pb rice crispy chocolate balls
January 12, 2011
9:01 am
These sound delicious! I love that they use brown sugar and not powdered sugar. It sounds like it would give them a great crunch.
And your blog looks terrific!
January 12, 2011
9:14 am
Marly, love your new design…and like the idea of new start for 2011
The peanut balls look delicious, and I absolutely love the idea of adding chex…what a great treat!
January 12, 2011
9:35 am
Great new look, if your hubby is free can he fix up my blog? It needs a makeover.
January 12, 2011
10:45 pm
Oh your new site looks just beautiful! Isn’t it great to have husbands that enjoy tinkering with things like this? Ryan is working on a new site for me too! I love this recipe that you shared. I have a friend who is both lactose and gluten intolerant. These little balls would be perfect for her! Thank you for sharing with me. Stay warm and safe during the rest of the week!
January 13, 2011
12:10 am
Loving the new look! And PB and chocolate never falls to cheer me up. Great recipe!
January 13, 2011
1:20 am
You gonna kill me with the peanut butter recipes
I gotta try them one of these day
And the new Design looks awesome!
January 13, 2011
2:08 am
Hey Marly! This is great. I love the way the screen looks so wide, open, and very warm & happy-quite nice! You and Shawn did a great job. Oh, and these bites look delicious! I love that you used something besides graham crackers to keep them gluten-free. I bet they would be really pretty in a candy box with those white paper cups too…
January 13, 2011
4:37 pm
Nice design Marly! I like the clean and modern look to it. It’s simple and easy to read. The peanut butter balls aren’t too hard on the eyes either;-)
January 13, 2011
6:47 pm
mmmm I love peanut butter balls! Actually peanut butter anything!
January 16, 2011
12:27 pm
A great dessert for a crowd with gluten-free and vegan diets. Thanks!
January 16, 2011
1:00 pm
Tell your hubby I love the new design! At one time, I had a blog header with similar white swirls on red. Your hubby has a better sense of graphic design & layout than I do, of course, since it’s part of his job.
After being absent from my computer for a long time due to too much work stress, I am actually home from work today and sitting at my computer to come up with a different Blogger template, just for the remaining winter months. It’s refreshing to see a new template on your site. I’ll try not to get discouraged by your raising the template bar with your new design.
January 18, 2011
10:57 am
I really love your new design
And I am loving these peanut butter balls…
Love chocolate and peanut butter
January 21, 2011
2:33 pm