Peanut Energy Bars

Jif peanut butter - you are my favorite.😁  I've been a fan for a long time so naturally, I was devastated when they recalled and pulled their peanut butter products from grocery store shelves last Spring.  I reluctantly tried other brands of peanut butter during that time but I was stuck on my old favorite. 😉

I'm embarrassed to admit that I had 6 pounds of Jif peanut butter stored in my pantry at the time of the recall. 😬 6 pounds!! Don't worry, I did my due diligence though, and even though it pained me - I  threw away all of my potentially contaminated peanut butter.😭 

I was more upset about having to discard my delicious snack than I was about the loss of my financial investment that it took to build my peanut butter stockpile. 😅  I filled out the online claim form for reimbursement and then not-so patiently waited for my favorite brand to return to the shelves. 🥜
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After a few months, I received $55.00 worth of Jif couchers in the mail to replace my discarded peanut butter.  It was so generous that it more than covered the cost of the 6 pounds of peanut butter that I threw into the garbage.  More importantly, my favorite brand was available in grocery stores again and back on the shelves of my pantry. 

That wasn't the end of the vouchers though.  In the last 4 weeks, the Smuckers company has mailed me at least 12 vouchers for free peanut butter.  A monetary value of over $100.00!  I don't know the exact number of vouchers that I received because at some point, I started handing them out to friends. (By the way, Do peanut butter coupons make good stocking stuffers?😂 )

The company has been so generous with their vouchers but quite honestly, it would probably take me years to consume that much peanut butter.   And I'm the girl who stocked 6 pounds of the yummy nut butter in my pantry!😅  I decided that I would start redeeming the vouchers and handing jars of peanut butter to people that I come across throughout the day that might be in need of some extra food.  I've also put some of the peanut butter in the free pantry boxes in my little town.  ​

Having my favorite Jif peanut butter back in the house, just makes me feel like all is right with the world again.😅  I'm back to making my favorite peanut butter snacks and even testing out a few new ones.  These Peanut Energy Bars are delicious and amazing.   

Peanut Energy Bars
1/2 cup salted peanuts 
1/4 cup roasted walnuts
​1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup raisins
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups puffed millet
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
½ cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine nuts and sunflower seeds.  

Stir in raisins, oats, rice cereal and wheat germ.

Combine peanut butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan.  

Bring to a boil.  Cook and stir one minute.  Stir in vanilla. 

Pour peanut butter over dry ingredients and stir to combine. 

Transfer to a greased 9x13" pan.  Flatten with a glass.  

Let stand for about 1 hour to harden.  Remove from pan. 

Cut into bars.

If you are someone who could benefit from a Jif peanut butter voucher - please send me your address.  I would be more than happy to share some free peanut butter coupons with you.  I'm all about spreading the peanut butter love.  😅
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Ciao!