CHOCOLATE-DRENCHED

Homemade peanut butter eggs are hard to resist at Easter. When I was but a wee one, and my grandmother was sitting me, I can still remember she taking me to church, yeah, there's a visual for you, so she and the other church ladies could start making the hundreds of Easter eggs of peanut butter, coconut and butter crème eggs, to sell which would help supplement the church funds.

At this time of year you find the homemade candies for sale at gas stations, mom and pop shops and the beauty parlor, and of course churches. They often sell for a $1 or more apiece and are individually wrapped in colorful foil wrappers or cellophane bags. Churches, fire halls and other organizations roll them by the thousands as fundraisers. The candy eggs practically sell themselves. If you want to make your own peanut butter or coconut eggs, there are dozens of variations. Some call for cream cheese and butter, others for condensed milk or marshmallow. I can still see and smell the chocolate....and my grandmother walking us in, with her hat and gloves on, to which she would then remove both, and get her apron on....then the other ladies would follow suit and would await directions from my grandmother. This went on for a week!!! And they generally sold out.  My mother and aunt made them also for a couple years, but now my mother goes to a local church to buy them...while my aunt and I make the hot cross buns..another wonderful Easter treat. Should you crave a peanut butter egg...... my grandmother's were to die for.

Margret's Peanut Butter Easter Egg

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 pound cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup to 1 cup peanut butter

1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Melting chocolate wafers

Cream together first three ingredients until very soft. Add sugar, salt and vanilla. Shape into eggs or balls and chill. Melt chocolate coating slowly over low heat. Coat eggs or balls. Chill again, and keep in frig.

And try , just try to eat ONE!