Our Favorite Peanut Butter Bars with Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 
1 cup all-natural peanut butter 
1/4 teaspoon sea salt 
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted 
8 ounces (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips 
1 cup heavy cream 

Directions:
Coat the bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, stir to combine the confectioners' sugar, graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and melted butter. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish and set aside.

Place the chocolate chips and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in microwave for 2 minutes. Pour the cream over the chocolate, let sit for 1 minute and then whisk until completely melted and smooth.

Pour the ganache over the peanut butter mixture and refrigerate until the chocolate is cooled and set, at least 45 minutes and up to overnight.

Cut into squares to serve.

Almond Butter Crunch

Almond Butter Crunch
By: Theresa Dragon
  Categories: Candies, Chocolate, Nuts
--------------------------------           
   1 1/2 c  Whole blanched almonds chopped (12 oz)
       1 c  Butter or margarine
   1 1/2 c  Sugar
       3 tb Light corn syrup
       3 tb Water
       8 oz Semisweet chocolate squares
 
    1. Place chopped almonds on a cooky sheet; toast in moderate oven
   (375F) 10 minutes, or until lightly golden.
    2. Combine butter or margarine, sugar, corn syrup and water in a
   medium-size heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring
   constantly, to 300F on candy thermometer. (A teaspoonful of syrup
   will separate into brittle threads when dropped in cold water.)
   Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup of the toasted almonds. Pour into a
   buttered 13x9x2″ pan, spreading quickly and evenly; cool. Turn out
   onto wax paper.
    3. Melt chocolate squares in the top of a double boiler over hot
   water; remove from heat. Spread half the melted chocolate over top of
   candy; sprinkle with 1/4 cup nuts; let set for about 20 minutes; turn
   candy over and spread with remaining chocolate and sprinkle with
   remaining nuts. Let stand until set. Break into pieces.
    Makes l pound.