[ladyseville]

Salted Peanut Chews

Crust:

1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2/3 C. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 C. margarine or butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
2 egg yolks
3 C. miniature marshmallows

Topping:

2/3 C. corn syrup
1/4 C. margarine or butter
2 t. vanilla
1 (10-ounce) package peanut butter chips
2 C. crisp rice cereal
2 C. salted peanuts

Heat oven to 350° F. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine all crust ingredients except marshmallows at low speed until crumbly. Press firmly into bottom of ungreased 13-by-9-inch pan. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown.

Remove crust from oven. Immediately sprinkle with marshmallows.

Return to oven; bake an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until marshmallows just begin to puff. Cool while preparing topping.

In large saucepan, combine all topping ingredients except cereal and peanuts. Heat just until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in cereal and peanuts. Immediately spoon warm topping over marshmallows; spread to cover. Refrigerate 45 minutes or until firm. Cut into bars.

Yield: 36 bars.

Recipe developed by Gertrude M. Schweitzerhof of Cupertino, Calif., for the 29th Pillsbury Bake-Off in 1980.