Gooey Corn Flake PeanutButter Bars

i have such vivid memories tied to these bars, i remember in elementary school, a classmate named Carrie would bring these delicious bars to share for special events, such as field day, or field trips, and they were just the best thing to my 8 year old little heart who grew up in a scarce sugar filled home. so sweet, gooey, crunchy, and peanut buttery, i could eat these every day, if it didn't effect my weight tremendously! haha. oh, but they are worth the calories, let me assure you.. i never knew how her mom made them, and of course as a kid you don't think to ask for the recipe, so i just thought of them plenty of times as i grew up. 

carrie moved on to another school and i didn't see her again till i was in my first year of college and coming out of the church i was attending at the time, and who should i see, but carrie and her mom walking out into the parking lot! i ran up to her and hugged her, just catching up with her and her mom, besides the bars that i so remember, i also spoke to her mom about the impression she had on me in middle school, as she was the one who came into the classroom and gave our 6th grade girls "the talk", if you know what i mean, or "the birds and the bees." i remember her saying something about boys and boobs, i barely even had any at the time, and it baffled my then 12 year old brain that some boy would want to see and touch my boob so i better cover up and protect my body and save my purity for marriage. my mind was getting blown at all this new information concerning the opposite sex, but i am so thankful for carrie's mom teaching us in such a gently, yet informative way, shaping how i would view myself and the "flower" i would one day present to my future husband. it was so all so sweet and innocent, but it definitely made an impression on me. 

fast forward back to that moment in the parking lot. we laughed and reminisced and i brought up those bars and this time, i did not forget to ask how she made them! Mrs. V recited the recipe by heart as i quickly fumbled for pen and the heavily creased church bulletin and jotted down as she spoke. i didn't have to write much because its only a few ingredients! i am forever grateful that was able to get that recipe from her pre internet and google and pinterest where i probably could have found it eventually, this makes it more special that it got handed to me, in person, with wonderful memories and conversation tied to it. 

so, i'll stop chatting and give you dang recipe, already!! try these bars! they are gluten free and dairy free. i never said they were good for you, though..but they ARE good for the heart and soul! 

you'll need:
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of light corn syrup
1 cup creamy peanut butter 
6 cups of corn flakes 

melt sugar and corn syrup together in large pan. stir and mix really well together till the sugar melds into the syrup and creates a smooth liquid. turn off heat. 

stir in peanut butter. thoroughly incorporate.

add in corn flakes, and working kind of quickly, stir and get all of it coated and don't let any of that goodness go to waste!

pour mixture into a 9 x 13 sprayed pan, and pack down gently. 
let cool and then cut into big generous squares. 
eat.
repeat.