Buckeye Candy

Here is something even a Michigan State fan will like.

For a little background, the Buckeye tree is a species that grows very well in the North, especially in Ohio.  In fact there is an Ohio Buckeye tree.  Because of the very dense and strong fibers which prevent it from splitting, doctors have used the wood for prosthesis’ for years.  Now that different metals are used, the Buckeye is best know as the mascot of THE Ohio State University and the candy I am going to give you the recipe for is made in the form of the one-of-a-kind seed that falls from the tree.

Enough of that, my mouth is already watering.  I’m just putting the basics here but don’t limit yourself to that.  Use your favorite peanut butter, dark chocolate, and maybe vanilla bean instead of vanilla extract.

A little hint.  You want to melt the chocolate in a double boiler but not everyone owns one.  If you are part of that majority, make one.  Use a sauce pan filled half way with water and bring it to a boil.  Then put a glass bowl, that is larger than the sauce pan, on top of the sauce pan making sure that it does not touch the water.  Put the chocolate in the bowl and it will melt.  You can use this method for other recipes calling for a double boiler.

Ingredients:

·   1 stick        Butter

·   1 lb            Confectioners sugar

·   2 ½ cups    Creamy peanut butter

·   2 tsp          Vanilla extract

·   1 lb            Dark chocolate

·   Toothpicks

Directions:

1.      Cream everything, except the chocolate, together

2.      Butter a cookie sheet

3.      Take out about a teaspoon of the creamed mixture, roll it into a ball, and place it on the cookie sheet

4.      Keep doing this, maintaining about a half inch to an inch of space between each one

5.      Refrigerate for 2 hours

6.      After the 2 hours begin to melt the chocolate

7.      Stick a toothpick into the peanut butter ball and dip the ball into the chocolate.  Make sure to cover only about 3/4ths of the ball because a buckeye is only 3/4ths dark brown and 1/4^th light brown

8.      Put the buckeye back onto the cookie sheet, smooth out the toothpick hole with a damp finger, and let cool

My Wife and Daughter have been making this for years, since Kristen was little.  It is a great recipe to make with little children, just keep them away from the boiling water as the steam can burn if they take the bowl off.