Category Archives: Peanutbutter

Hadar Bars — The Next Generation

Didi and Hadar

When does one begin to feel old? The first time it happened to me was when my oldest daughter got her first draft notice. The second time it happened was just a few weeks ago when the first of my youngest daughter’s friends, my baby’s friend Hadar, got engaged at the ripe old age of 18!

Let’s rewind for a moment, all the way back to the 10th grade. Karen and I were good friends, a friendship that pretty much started out due to the immense boredom of a certain class we had most mornings. Together with Audrey we created The Notebook, an early blog of sorts. Actually, since there was no Internet in those days outside of the military, it was pretty much just a log, not a blog. In that Notebook we wrote songs parodying our teachers, we invented recipes for dishes you will never want to cook (I think one popular ingredient that Audrey always included was one hairy pimple — but only one) and we basically just had a three-way conversation in class, in writing. The Notebook has long since disappeared. Karen thinks I took it home and lost it forever. Maybe I did. When I cleaned out my mother’s apartment last December I looked for it, but couldn’t find it, and my mother never threw away anything!

Toasting Hadar and Didi when they started their Sherut Leumi (National Service)

Now fast-forward back to the present. Karen and I lost touch over the years, but our friendship was renewed when I started dating Ju-boy. She and her wonderful husband Eli (my favorite Magyar) are good friends of his. And the friendship has gone up a level or two, because Karen’s twin daughters and my baby Didi were in the same class in high school and are also good friends. And I’m totally freaking out here. It’s not that I think Hadar is too young to get married, it’s that I think that I’m too young to have a baby old enough to have friends who are getting married. Guess I was wrong….

Didi, My Favorite Magyar, Mrs. My Favorite Magyar, The Bride-to-Be

But my happiness is bittersweet. Hadar and her twin Hila are like my second daughters, actually fifth and sixth daughters, if you want to be picky about it). This year I’m in mourning for my mother, and that means I’m not attending any parties. I missed the l’chaim Karen and Eli threw when Hadar first got engaged, I’m going to miss the engagement party tonight, and, sob, I’m not going to the wedding either.

Melded, creamy, yummy, gooey-ness

But all is not lost, I get to feel useful by making Hadar Bars for the engagement party. Hadar Bars came about when I decided to play around with Hadar’s favorite ingredients, fudge and peanut butter. The recipe was originally published on Recipezaar. It’s been a big hit with both the older and younger generations. I like to bring them to the synagogue on Saturday morning. Hadar’s dad brings the single malt, and we have a little tipple and nosh to fortify us after prayers.

Hadar Bars

300 grams (12 ounces) dark chocolate

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

2-2 1/2 cups crushed plain sweet cookie crumbs

Combine the chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl. Nuke for 3 1/2 minutes. Stir to combine into a melded, creamy, yummy, gooey-ness.
Add the cookie crumbs and stir until completely combined.
Using wet hands, form into balls, you get to choose what size. Alternatively, pour into a 13 X 9 pan lined with parchment paper. Cut into squares after chilling.
Chill and guard fridge from curious children.