Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Bars

Everyone has those recipes that you make for special occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, holidays.  Well, this recipe is part of my family's Holiday baking ritual...it's probably the least Italian thing my very Italian family produces around Christmas, but it's definitely one of my favorites.

It's peanut butter.  It's chocolatey.  Together.  In one bite.  How could that be wrong?

I recently made this for a gathering and they were a big hit.  I'm not surprised.  You will be delighted. 

Ingredients
About 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 stick butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cups peanut butter chips
(Optional: 1/2 cup toffee bits)

1. In a preheated oven, melt butter in a 13x9 baking pan.

2. When butter is melted, sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs on the bottom of the pan.  The crumbs should completely absorb the melted butter and cover the entire pan bottom.

3. Cover the graham cracker crumbs with the can of sweetened condensed milk. Be careful with this step: if you keep the can in one place and try to spread the condensed milk after you've poured it all out, you'll probably ruin the graham cracker layer.  Try to use a zig-zag motion, going back and forth, covering the whole pan with the condensed milk. It should spread fairly evenly on its own.

4. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and the peanut butter chips onto the condensed milk layer.  Use a solid spatula to press the chips into the condensed milk.

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.  They chips should be soft and meltey (but not entirely melted), and the edges should be golden brown.  Let them sit for at least an hour before you cut them.

I'm not even going to try to calculate the WW points for this dessert...