My girls went to camp Monday and texted today, Tuesday, to come home. They complained of bugs, heat, dirt, being tired, feeling light-headed, missing their electronics (usually attached to their heads yes so that would account for the light-headedness) and blah, blah, blah. Before they had left my girls knew their Dad, my husband, was coming up tonight Tuesday to help with the shift of fathers who take turn keeping guard over the camp at night. They knew he was coming and they knew that he could bring them home!

It was interesting they texted my husband, as he is a softie, and even more interesting that they could text as they were NOT allowed to bring their phones! As soon as I noticed my husband had been texting for quite some time . . . 19 to be exact . . . I asked who he was texting and the story came out. I grabbed his phone and wrote, “You girls can come home!” send, “On Friday when your supposed too . . .” send!

My eldest wrote back, “At least send some peanut butter bars . . they’re starving us here!”

So, being the sweet, strict mom that I am . . . and knowing my girls had not given up and their quest to come home from camp AND as I said knowing my husband is a softie . . . I baked 4 dozen peanut butter bars for the 25 or so girl campers — they are sooo good the bars, not necessarily but most hopefully the girls too — and packed with a card that said . . . As requested, here are your, “I will make you do extra chores if you come home early so you may as well get over your homesickness” peanut butter bars!

I had to duct tape the box shut so my husband wouldn’t dive into them on the way up the mountain to camp. You think everyone got the message? This is my week . . . me and 1 child and even without a snoring husband for one night . . . have the peanut butter bars and stay at camp! This is my week! Take That!

Here is the recipe — I usually double it!!! I think it was Betty Crocker’s originally! My advice for the day . . . no matter how hot it is to turn the oven on . . . bake the bars and keep the kids at camp! Kim Power Stilson

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup magerine or butter
1/3 crunchy peanut butter
1 egg
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup regular oats
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Mix sugar, butter, peanut butter and egg. stir in flour, baking powder and oats. Pat into a foil covered pan — 9 by 13 or if doubled use a larger rimmed cookie sheet. Bake 17 to 22 minutes on 350 or until golden yummy brown. Cool while making chocolate peanut butter frosting!

Frosting:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
cocoa powder
milk
vanilla
You know what to do with these . . . when creamy spread on bars!!! Pack with a bow and send to camp and then relax!