Peanut Butter Pretzel Crispy Treats: Southern Peanut Growers’ Recipe Contest Spreads the (Peanut Butter) Love + $50 Giveaway

I was offered to participate in the Southern Peanut Growers’ Recipe Contest Spreads the (Peanut Butter) Love. At the end of this post I will share a recipe I came up with using peanut butter and other goodies.

In celebration of National Peanut Month this March, Southern Peanut Growers (SPG) launched its third annual “PB my way” recipe contest. Peanut butter lovers are encouraged to dig deep into the jar—and recipe box—and share their favorite budget-friendly recipe for a shot at a $500 Visa® gift card. For every recipe received, SPG will donate a jar of peanut butter to hunger relief organization Feeding America.

According to the USDA, the average weekly food cost in December 2011 for a family of four on a “thrifty” to “low-cost” budget was about $9 per meal or $2.23 per serving. With peanut butter ringing up at less than 20 cents per serving, people would be nuts not to dig into this pantry staple.

These photos were last year's winners, don't they sound great! The recipes can be found on their website.

Peanut Butter Breakfast Bread Pudding with Maple-Peanut Sauce, submitted by Theresa, Illinois

Budget-friendly recipes can now be submitted at http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com/ until midnight EST, March 31, 2012. In addition to bragging rights, a one-year supply (one case) of peanut butter will be awarded to the top three who enter the most delicious recipes, and the grand prize winner will receive a $500 Visa® gift card. The winning recipes will be photographed and featured on Southern Peanut Growers’ Facebook, website and e-newsletter. For inspiration, consumers can visit SPG on Facebook throughout March for budget-friendly PB recipes from guest bloggers.

So get brain storming and enter your peanut butter recipe for a chance to win $500!

“Like” Peanut Butter to Help Fight Hunger

New this year, SPG is asking consumers to help spread the peanut butter love by “liking” Southern Peanut Growers on Facebook. When SPG reaches 1,000 likes, it will donate an additional 1,000 jars of peanut butter to Feeding America. That’s enough protein-packed goodness to make 16,000 peanut butter sandwiches.

Southern Peanut Soup, submitted by Danielle, Georgia

About Southern Peanut Growers:

Established in 1980, Southern Peanut Growers is a non-profit trade association representing peanut farmers in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. The organization educates American consumers about the U.S. peanut industry and its products.

Beef Kabobs with Peanut Sauce, submitted by James, Ohio

So I came up with this recipe for a peanut buttery chocolate and pretzel rice crispy treat, which reminds me of a Take 5 candy bar. We like sweet/dessert type peanut buttery recipes. I made these for my Valentine's and decorated them as such. They all loved them, and all I could do was just smell them, ohhh the temptations (not allowed sweets). They surely did not last long. I cut these into small heart shapes but any shape and size will do. I've posted my recipe below so that you may make some for your loved ones. =) Enjoy.

Now for the fun part, aside from Southern Peanut Growers' great giveaway, I am also hosting a giveaway for a $50 Visa Gift Card on my blog. But I would like to hear what peanut butter recipe you would submit, what are your favorite flavors? Tell me about in the entry form below. Enjoy my goodies =)

My Peanut Butter Pretzel Crispy Treats

4 tablespoons non salted Butter

1 package (16 oz.) Mini Marshmallows
3/4 cup Chunky Peanut Butter
6 cups Cocoa Rice Crispy Cereal
1 cup chopped Low Fat Pretzels
1/2 cup Mini Chocolate Chips
1 cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips (for melting)
Sprinkles

In large stock pan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until melted. Add cocoa crispy cereal. Stir until well coated. Add in pretzels and mini chocolate chips and stir until combined (the mini chips may melt a little).

Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan lined with wax paper.  Allow to cool.

Using a double boiler, melt chocolate on low heat, stirring until smooth. Cut cocoa crispies into desired shapes then drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkles.

Like this recipe? Please share it and PIN it so it gets passed around. =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure* I wrote this post for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Southern Peanut Growers. The product(s) used in this post were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting my post. Product info & stock images and giftcards provided by PR or Co.