I'm a girl.
I get emo.
No getting around that issue.
The last six months have been full of so much change, so much loss, so many decisions, honestly, just so very much of everything.

Sunday I woke up with a cold, and just broke.
After church I shut myself in our room and slept the entire day away, which is something I never ever, ever do.  It was so needed.  I recommend indulging in a little breakdown day here and there.

My emo feelings are usually accompanied by chocolate and peanut butter.  Lots of feelings.  Lots of eating of said feelings.  Making things in the kitchen is how I deal.  Oh how I wish that I was one of those starve through your feelings people.  Sign me up for that coping mechanism.

Two things were on the top of my Eat My Feelings list.  Two things that I wanted to make.
First thing?  Buckeye Bark.  Heather put a pic of her eating said feelings via Buckeye bark a few weeks ago.  Yes please.
Second thing? Buckeye Truffles.
The thing is, my feelings needed to be eaten quickly.  Truffles seemed too labor intensive.
A decision needed to be made.  A new recipe needed to be created.  One that would be like if Buckeye Bark and Buckeye Truffles had a baby, and that baby was an amazing therapist.

Meet that delicious baby.
I named it Emotional Breakdown Bark.

Let's call a spade a spade.  If you are going to eat your feelings- EAT YOUR FEELINGS WELL.

Ingredients:
2 bags chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, whatever is your fave)
Shortening
1 cup crushed pretzels
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:
Bottom layer:
Pour one bag of chocolate chips, and one tablespoon shortening in a microwave safe bowl.  Heat in microwave in thirty second increments, stirring in between until smooth and melted.
Spread on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Scatter half of the pretzels on top of melted chocolate.
Chill in freezer.

Middle layer:
Combine peanut butter, melted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
Stir until smooth.
Spread over chilled chocolate/ pretzel layer.

Top layer:
Repeat all the steps of the bottom layer.

Peanut butter drizzle:
Combine 1/2 cup peanut butter chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in a microwave safe bowl.
Heat in microwave in thirty second increments, stirring in between until smooth and melted.
Drizzle over top layer.
Chill in fridge until set.

Cut into squares using a very sharp big knife.
Commence with the eating of the feelings.
Indulge in a little emotional breakdown.



Made anything fun, therapeutic, or delicious lately?
Link up your Pintertest adventures.


28 Comments

  1. i need this.
    buckeye therapy.
    emotional breakdown tuesday was not good.
    2 hour drive.
    6 hour flight.
    staring into space for 8 hours.
    it was the equivalent to locking myself into my bedroom for a day. except surrounded by people.
    and not in my bedroom.
    nor my bed.
    tears flooding.
    swollen eyes.
    i am pretty sure i could have stopped all of that at the 15 min mark if i had some buckeyes.

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  2. i have no idea what you are talking about. i never eat my emotions. never. i ate that entire bag of chocolate chips just for fun. ha! these look amazing. will have to give them a try...ya know just for fun:)

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  3. TOTALLY get this. Totally feel you. I have been feeling a breakdown coming on for about a month. I am a little sceered how it will turn out. :) Thank you for your candidness and honesty. I adore your blog!

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  4. I wish I had a good emo reason to make this, but my diet says no! But when PMS rolls around next month, you bet this is on my list of break down foods :)

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  5. Girl, you just needed a day to do what my sweet Southern Memaw calls "Taking to the Bed." All women need it now and then. I'm so proud of you.

    When you find out where to sign up for the starving-through-your-feelings, please report back here immediately.

    Just between you, me, and the fencepost, I asked my Dr to up my Zoloft recently. I've been on a low dose for a year (postpartum issues) and when my mom's breast cancer came back metastatic this spring, we renovated a house and moved this summer, my 3yo was tentatively diagnosed with autism this autumn, and I have been on crutches for the last three weeks - I knew I needed something before the holidays hit full swing. Best. Decision. Ever. I'm not angry mom now (!) - and only a little stressed. I think prayer is helping with that, too. Imagine that. Thanks for sharing your struggles - and the treats look yummy! Praying for you.

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  6. God bless you. and thank you.

    amen.

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  7. Your killing me! I know have to make these! My favorite combination!

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  8. i'm never gonna loose this baby weight, but with days filled with ADHD tantrums, screaming infants, the terrible two's mixed in with lots of drama... i'm eating my feelings. why do i cope with food, why not no food and a bible?

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  9. There's no amount for the powdered sugar. I think. Maybe I missed it? I only bring this to your attention because I am soooooo in need of this right now. Praying for you! <3

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  10. cried like a big fat baby and wished I had any other coping mechanism other than not wanting to do the things on my to do list (which included all the poopy things in life like laundry). Then I thought about you at the laundromat and felt even worse for my pity party. Love you and a little chocolate goes a long way I've heard (not a fan) but I'll take the pretzels any day!

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  11. Yes, yes, and yes. amen,amen. Soul sisters. However, if i am going to get some relief TODAY, I need to know HOW MUCH POWDERED SUGAR?!? and quickly, please :)

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    Replies
    1. OHMYGOODNESS!!! Thank you so much for catching that. One cup. I edited it above.
      I'd hate for anyone to have to eat extra feelings because of recipe failure!!!

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  12. julie.... i think this blog post may win you a pulitzer prize.
    :)

    they should give awards for blog posts... like grammies for songs.
    this would win.

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  13. Those look sooo good! I definitely need to make myself some!

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  14. I like it. Buckeye therapy.
    Let the counseling commence. :)

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  15. YUM! I think I'm going to add Rice Krispies to the yummy peanut butter drizzle-this is a huge cheat as far as eating goes, but you've gotta GO BIG or GO HOME! Really hope you are feeling better! HUGS!

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  16. I would not have the patience to wait for freezing time,
    Nor would I be bothered with dirtying all those dishes...
    I'd gobble the ingredients neat.....especially the pretzels.

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  17. for someone having an emotional breakdown, you sure do make it productive! All that chopping and spreading and recipe reading....perhaps you are not as broken as you feel!!! By the looks of this beautiful post, you are a highly functioning break downer!!! This looks amazing.

    And don't bother signing up for the "starve your feelings" group. I was a member of that group for many years, and it got me nowhere. Stick with the eating. Because you can't take pictures of the NOTHING you are eating...and your pictures of food are glorious!!!

    Hang in there and..
    keep baking

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  18. Can you please be my therapist? My meds will be chocolate and peanut butter. And I need to take them forever. Thank you.

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  19. Yum! Thank you for this post, it's so nice to know there are others who get the eat your feelings thing. I know too many starve my way through it wonderful people. How do they do that?!? Anyway, thank you!!!

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  20. You are my favorite person tonight.

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  21. ummmm....peanut butter, chocolate & the salty sweet combo of pretzels? Yes, please. I will be making these sometime this week, I have all the ingredients in my pantry. YUM!

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  22. gah. being a girl is hard. i have been hanging on by a thread...and eating desserts like they're going out of style. praying for you, julie.

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  23. i have all the ingredients for an emotional breakdown! going to make this bark to "comfort me" for sure.

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  24. Um, YUM! I just made this today with my little girl. She was num-numming her way through mixing and I thought of you as I tried to control myself while she splattered my kitchen. They turned out great though I think I would use mor peanut butter next time because that's the way we roll in our house. Thanks for the recipe!

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  25. My daughter and I made these for my co-workers on Monday night. It's super easy to make and my co-workers devoured them. After everything that has happened since last Friday I'm glad I took 98% of the bars into work or I would have ate them all!

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